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create more “me-time”

August 14, 2017 • By almostmadison

Happy Monday! This weekend was a rare one in that I hardly had anything planned to do. On Saturday, it rained so we just watched movies and lounge around the house. Heaven! I have some busy weeks ahead of me, so it was great to be able to take a beat and relax.

When you’re busy, me-time (or just general “not working” time) is so easily overlooked as time that can be sacrificed. For me, I find it hard sometimes to schedule in a social life. With two jobs and this blog, my schedule fills up quickly! And truthfully, I prefer to stay busy because I am way more productive when there is a lot to do. I know I am not alone in procrastinating when I have time to get a project done. But my me-time and my social life are definitely what takes a hit when I am busy.

If I don’t actively schedule time for myself, I get burnt out and lose my creativity. Plus, I turn into an overall grump. Not good for me OR the people around me. Though it takes some finessing to juggle all my short term deadlines and projects, I have a few time management tips that have helped keep me on track in my professional life and blogosphere which allows me to create more time for myself.

LISTS

I wouldn’t get a damn thing done if it weren’t for lists. My life is basically structured by to-do lists. They’re quick to jot down, easy to reprioritize and that feeling when you cross something off the list, there’s nothing like it.

NOTEBOOKS

Keeping separate notebooks for everything helps keep everything organized. I have one for my full-time job, one of for my side job and one for the blog. My to-do lists go within each of those (as well as an additional general life to-do list). This is also where I keep any project notes that I need to keep in order. Having separate notebooks helps me keep everything straight and cuts down on trying to find the information I know I wrote down. When I need something, I know where to find it.

FLEXIBILITY

A lot of people swear by planners. I’ve never been a planner or scheduler type person, it’s just not a flexible option for my lifestyle. My creative juices and motivation, unfortunately, are not always “on call” so I go with what I’m feeling instead of planning out my week. I find it much easier to pick a few things off my to-do list each day to tackle and do the small tasks as they come in.

I know these tips are nothing crazy, but they help! With all the projects I juggle day-to-day, they help me stay organized and more importantly stay sane. I hate saying no to all the fun social things I want to do or to take time for myself, and getting sh*t done is definitely the key to saying YES! Do you have any productivity tips that create more me-time? Let me know in the comments!

-Madison

Style

beehive babe

August 9, 2017 • By almostmadison

Plaid Skirt

Beehive Tee | Vintage Skirt | Brixton Hat | Madewell Clutch (similar) | ASOS Booties (similar)

Hey hey babes!

I’m pretty sure it’s no secret that I’m totally head over heels for Beehive. I mean, the proof is in the pudding, right? If I could sum up the Beehive vibe, it’s basically like pulling over to a fresh fruit stand during a spontaneous road trip. You know what I mean? Everything about Beehive is just vibrant, eccentric, free spirited and fun.

That’s why I am so happy to announce I am officially a Beehive Babe!

And wouldn’t you know it, they are having a little soiree this Friday night. There will be drinks, tunes from Ronnie Heart and all the shopping you could hope for. Added bonus – show the coupon below for 15% off your entire purchase! See you there honey bees!

-Madison

Beehive Fort Worth Beehive Babe

Style

rose romper

August 6, 2017 • By almostmadison

Rose Romper

Audrey 3+1 Romper | Madewell Clutch (similar) | DV8 Slides (similar) | Celine Sunnies

Every girl has that “one garment” outfit. A throw-on-and-go look. That’s why I love this little rose romper. First off, it’s a muted rosey hue, the universal color de jour for the last 500+ jours. Secondly, it’s so flowy and airy, which is 100% necessary with the 100-degree weather we have been having here in Texas. Seriously, we nearly melted while taking these photos!

We decided to take it very (I mean veeeery) easy this weekend. We started it off by staying in Friday night and planned out some *possible* trips and are winding down this Sunday with Game of Thrones and popcorn. Lazy weekends are the absolute best.

On another note, my friend and co-worker Pedro drew the last photo in this post! I have never been drawn before, and Pedro is so so talented, so I am super excited about it. You can check it out here! THANK YOU Pedro, you made my week!

-Madison

Lifestyle, Style

ruffles and fringe

August 3, 2017 • By almostmadison

Ruffles and Fringe

Ruffle Top

Ruffles and Fringe

Blue Ruffles

Ruffles and Fringe

Blue Ruffle Top

Ruffles and Fringe

Blue Ruffle Top

Ruffles and Fringe

Ruffle Top

Cotton Candy LA Ruffle Shirt | Zara Knit Shorts | Celine Sunglasses | Stitch Fix Bag | Zara Shoes

Maximum style with minimal effort is what I am all about. On those days when you’d like to embody a life of leisure but act the exact opposite, pick an outfit slightly resembling sleepwear. Dress it up with granny heels and a statement bag and call it a day.

The trick to executing this oh-so-comfy look is all in the details. I like to choose a few on trend but subtle accents to spice up the ensemble. In this case, those accents come in the form of ruffles and fringe. Who knew the two could live together in harmony?

Not being one to shy away from bohemian accessories, fringe is no stranger to my wardrobe. Ruffles, on the other hand, are a new addition to my rotation. This season, they seem to be out in full force! Their ability to turn an otherwise basic garment into something effortlessly feminine (not to be confused with girly) is not lost on me. I especially love a good structured ruffle, like the one on this Zara skirt. It most definitely adds an element of edge on top of the already feminine feel. With the sheer amount of ruffle styles available right now, there’s surely something for everyone. Have you embraced the frilled life?

-Madison

Style

getting out of a style rut

July 31, 2017 • By almostmadison

Cotton Candy LA Shirt | One Teaspoon Bandit Shorts | Brixton Hat | Cape Robbin Mules | Vintage Bag

Getting out of a style rut can be daunting. Styling a look that is both effortless and indicative of your personal style takes creativity, and sometimes it is just too tempting to resort to black on black or a basic jeans and tee ensemble. For those times when I’m staring down a closet full of clothes, wondering what went wrong, I use these three tips to pull inspiration.

Revisit Old Favorites

I wore this hat for maybe 50% of 2013. For the past couple years, it has been hanging on my hat rack untouched. However, a few days ago I was compelled to pick it back up. I had forgotten how much I love this look! I ended up buying the one pictured here from the Nordstroms Sale. Sometimes just revisiting an old favorite can spark up some outfit inspiration.

Dive Deeper into a Style

Take note of what styles have been catching your eye. These are usually styles or trends that you have interests in trying yourself, so try to recreate them. In my last post, I talked about how I have been loving the oversized blazer look, so I thrifted a few to try myself. Just these few pieces helped me get out of my style rut and breathe some life into old outfits.

Refresh your Basics

You may be unaware of a gap in your closet that is making it harder for you to put a look together. 9 times out of 10, that gap is in the basics department. It is SO much easier to style when you have the appropriate basics. Take a quick inventory of your basics and see what you’re missing. A few weeks ago, I realized I didn’t own a classic white button down shirt. I bought the one pictured here, which admittedly isn’t really classic, but already I’ve been able to create a ton of different looks with the addition of this piece into my wardrobe.

-Madison