Can you remember the last time you watched a sunrise? The slow arrival of a new beginning. The sun stretching across the sky as it awakens the earth. If you have, you can probably attest to the pure contentment of your soul as it connects with the universe at a level that we'll never understand. It's a visceral experience that's not meant to be understood, but to be felt. And there's only one way to get that experience and that's to be there, in that moment. The first step to getting there is to decide you are not going to stay where you are. We are given this opportunity everyday, a new sunrise, and by our actions we choose to accept or deny that experience.  

Today I'm accepting this opportunity as I write the final words on a chapter that has left a lasting imprint on my life. Today marks the start of a new adventure that I'm eager to begin. I don't know what's waiting around the bend, but I have faith that it's better than what I'm leaving behind. I know that God will fulfill His promise to me and it's with that knowledge I will consciously & confidently step forward. 

• My production level was insane this week. Hopefully I can carry it through the weekend.
• This new devotion app; and this Meetup app I can't wait to explore. 
• This French language site. 
• This episode of the Jess Lively podcast. 

• The Path Redefined
  • Written by serial entrepreneur Lauren Maillian Bias who shares her experiences and the life lessons she's learned on her path to success all before 30. I've only read 2 chapters and I can't wait to delve deeper. 

• The Shooting of Sam DuBose
• 10 Ways to Boost Your Confidence
• How to Start Investing

• It's my brother/photographer's birthday today. I love you, Trav! 
• Planning for the new month. I'm so excited about August. I promise, it'll be my best month to date. 
• Working on a new project that I'll be launching in a few months.
• If the sun comes out I'll probably take a break on the beach. 
• No work next week so maybe a mini Netflix marathon. Any recommendations? 

Deciding to make a change is no easy task. It requires a certain mental prowess and of course the will to carry in through. But there are changes that must happen if we want to move forward with our goals. These changes set a foundation for the work we're building and will ultimately make our path smoother.  One such change is our morning routine. What we do in the first hour of our day has an intricate part in the outcome of our day. If we can create a morning routine that uplifts and energizes us then we can use that same energy to propel our goals forward. Setting up a routine that works for your life is a personal matter, but there are a few elements that can elevate your routine. These tools are meant to cultivate a morning of ease that gets us in the right state-of-mind to conquer our day.  

Wake Up Early

This is by far the most challenging, but it is undoubtedly the most important. The earlier we rise the more time we have and the slower we can move. It is pure bliss to start the day at a leisurely slow pace. There's a real elegance in moving slowly that extends beyond our morning. With more time were are able set the tone and pace for the day. We can do more and not feel rushed.  

Take Time for Yourself

Carving out time and space for a moment of solitude is a gift we should have daily, even if it's only five minutes. Take this time to connect with your soul, whether that's through reflection, prayer, Bible study, or just be. Sometimes I just admire the beauty of the flowers in my room. That may sound odd, but it puts me in a positive state. Whatever you choose to do, make it yours and make it a priority. 

Mindful Movement 

There's nothing I love more about my mornings than my meditation and yoga. I feel so accomplished and ready for the day. This is the part of our morning that gets us physically ready for the day. It doesn't have to be anything strenuous, a simple morning routine is all you'll need. 

Breakfast

There's a reason it's the most important. Getting a nutritious meal first thing in the morning is the best way to get the energy we'll need to get through our to-dos. If you do only one of these five I hope it's this, because you'll notice a difference. And it doesn't have to be complicated. There are some amazingly simple and nutritious breakfasts recipes that will get you going. 

  

Visualize Your Day

Before you step out the door or into your home office, have a clear picture of what you want from this day. What will you do to make today a success? Visualize it and keep that image in the forefront of your mind as you go through the day. Use that image to keep you going and to keep any negative vibes away. 

Creating a morning routine that allows you to start your day on your terms and at your pace sounds real good, doesn't it! And it's a real possibility for each of us. So today take a conscious look at your morning and then intentionally implement changes that will usher forth a lovely morning and an even lovelier day.

À la prochaine,

Marie 

Image Source

I'm so thrilled to share with you my collaboration with The Shopping Bag!!! An online boutique that specialize in curated pieces for the young modern woman. I was so happy to receive their Valencia Bib Necklace, which is in the loveliest lavender you could ever find.  I love that this piece can complement a sleek and chic look or a more feminine chic, as I did for this shoot. Versatility and beauty at an affordable price point. 

With the weather being what it is, HOT and HUMID, I wanted a soft and fresh summer palette. The soft textures, muted tones, and the feminine silhouette were the only ingredients needed for this chic, comfortable, and stylish look. The necklace elevated the look from a bit plain to effortless chic. Keeping the style simple really allowed the necklace to fit seamlessly in the ensemble.

If you enjoy this look check out The Shopping Bag for even more affordable and curated pieces that will really bring out your closet. And they also have a Home and Office section. If you find anything interesting you can get 25% OFF your entire order with the special promotion code: THESTYLISHGRACE. 

With Love,

Marie 

Get Valencia Necklace at The Shopping Bag

Disappointments WILL happen, but it's how we carry ourselves and the subsequent actions we take that will determine our ultimate outcome. Initially this isn't easy, but the alternative will jolt us into action. To quit is not an option for women like us. So what do we do? What we've always done. Take deep breath, say a prayer, and get up. Know that you are enough, don't allow anyone or any situation to get the best of you. Other's won't always see your vision, but they don't need to, you need to, always. 

So stand firm in your beliefs, work harder, be patient, and most importantly have faith. You and I are going to be more than okay. So today and everyday let's do as this quote says:  

Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience.”

-Edward V. Rickenbacker

What I'm Loving:

Book Recommendation:

Weekend Reading:

Weekend Plans:

Thanks for reading, I really appreciate you doing so. I hope you have a great and slow weekend. Until Monday. À bientôt!
.

With Love,

Marie

Image Source  

It's been over a two months since I've shared a style post here on the blog. It's well overdue. I love style post because they're such a fun and silly experience to have. My photographers are usually my brothers, maybe a friend, or a nephew. So the set is very carefree and light. I do love being in front of the lense, but I love setting up even more. It's slightly more demanding; I've got to find the right location, the outfit, and coordinate that with everyone. Way less serious than it sounds. But as I'm sure you can guess, it's a fun affair, a time to just feel pretty and free. I strongly recommend that you do this for yourself, even if you're the only one who's going to see the finish product. 

This shoot is a few months old, as things have been quite busy for the past couple of months, but it's one I still wanted to share because it's a very simple and fun summer look. This is about as "girly" as my looks get, I just don't own a lot of pink clothing items. I started this outfit with the shoes; I had just gotten these chunky heels and couldn't wait to shoot them. The lace detailing of the skirt and on the back of the shirt complemented the soft look. The addition of the pink bag made the look more "girly" than usual, but I added the hat to keep it chic. I hope you find some inspiration in this outfit. Merci. 

And shoutout to my handsome prop assistant/little cameraman, my 7 year-old nephew. Love him. 






Bon chance,

Marie 

I like to think of myself as someone who embraces change and leaps at the opportunity to do something novel and groundbreaking. However, no matter how many times I've had to make some big changes, quite a few in the past five years, I rarely ever leap with joy or enthusiasm. But like many others, I am hesitant, anxious, and tense when it comes time for a change. I've written about some of these recent changes, here, here, and here. Looking back on some of those posts has allowed me to somewhat objectively examine how the changes came to be. Because of this I now have a deeper appreciation for the beauty of change. 

What I've come to understand is that change is an inevitable part of life. We undergo some form of it everyday. But it is the big, or seemingly big, changes that invoke a visceral reaction. But change is really just trust. Trust in the process that happening. To trust the process is an act of faith. The assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things unseen. That is faith.

I'm reminded of the last Weekly Notes where I shared this enlightening quote "A bird sitting on the tree is never afraid of the branch breaking. Because her trust is not in the branch, but in her own wings." Like the bird, our faith must not be on the external, but the internal. The process of change begins from the inside out. The hesitancy, anxiety, and unease are the marks of our inner self recognizing that shift is happening. Making it through this phase is the most critical because it sets the foundation for what is to become. But this phase can also be the most challenging. We are more likely to give-up, give-in, or give-out.

But if we just have a lil' bitty bit of faith, I mean the size of a mustard seed, we can hang on long enough to make it through and see our transformation. Our faith allows to go through ANYTHING and come out better than before. God sees our faith and He says "Gurl, your faith has made you well. Go in peace." Yasss! 

So the next time we start feeling those unpleasant sensations let's remind ourselves that our faith will make us well. Our big dreams, desires, goals, vision, whatever you choose to call them are just on the other side of change. It is our faith that will get us across. Let's trust our wings and soar higher than before, because you and I have BIG things coming our way. 

Stay Blessed,

Marie 

Image Source

This week has been a breath of fresh summery air! This was doubtless one of my best weeks of the year so far, and I don't say that lightly. I knew months in advance that this week was coming and I, along with friends and family, predicted an anxious and frightened affair. I had originally scheduled THREE entrance exams that were each at least FOUR hours long, all to be taken this week. Yeah, you read that correctly, 3 four hours exams in one week. Trust me, it wasn't intentional. So it is quite shocking that this week's outcome was diametrically opposite of what was predicted. Life's always teaching me something. But the joy I found this week was no accident. It started once I became honest with myself. I knew that all three exams had to be taken, and although all were time-sensitive, I knew that I simply would not excel the way I know that I can if I stuck with the original plan. Once I accepted that I would not, and should not, go through what I was planning on doing for months, I was able to find an inner peace that could only be grace. The strength required to forgo a plan without feeling like a failure can only come from grace. Cancelling and rescheduling two of those exams was not something I wanted to do, but something I knew I had to do. It takes a lot of faith to press the pause button on a dream, but God reminded me that I'm doing just that, pausing, not stopping. It was in that realization I found joy. 

What I'm Loving:

Book Recommendation:

Weekend Reading:

Weekend Plans: 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and whatever you choose to do, do it because it's what you want. Let your faith do the rest.

Bon weekend,

Marie 

Image Source

Over the weekend I repurchased a few of my favorite natural skincare products and I couldn't help but share what I got with you. I also want to share the brands I love and those I have on my wishlist. I'm so happy that the beauty industry, as I'm sure you are as well, is taking a more holistic approach to the products they produce. Most of the brands I use are accessible and inexpensive, there are a few on the pricer end that I think are worth the investment. I choose the word 'natural' as opposed to 'organic' because it's a bit more inclusive. However, I'll also be sharing some great shops that allow you to search for brands and products based on the varying terms and certifications. As a beginner myself I'm also linking a few blogs I follow that can provide more in-depth information than I currently can. Let's look at the list.

Brands I've Tried & Love

• Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash
  
  • This is the only face wash I've purchased for over a year! The product junkie in me has attempted to stray away and try new products, but I always return to this one. It does what it says, cleans and brightens. You'll notice my list has a lot of brightening products and they work very well to even-out my skin tone and get rid of hyperpigmented spots from breakouts. This wash is the foundation for everything I do on my face. And I love that I can get it for under $10 at Target. 
• Botanics All Bright Micellar Cleansing Solution
  • This is the only thing I use to wipe my face down once I get home and to take off my makeup.  It's not harsh and works to even-out the skin. It's very pleasant on the skin and leaves a fresh feel.  
• Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream
  • Works great in tandem with the above products to clarify and even-out the skin. It's a great introductory brightening moisturizer, currently love it, but my eyes are straying. 
• Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub
  • The only face scrub I use on my sensitive skin. I use it once a week and on days when my skin feels/looks a bit dull. Smells amazing and leaves my skin very soft. Applying the product is like using a gentle scrub to remove excess and dead skin. Absolutely love this. 
• One Love Organics Skin Savior
  • I primarily use this on my hair/scalp, which loves this thing. My hair is always in need of more moisture and this does an excellent job. It's great during the dry winter months for extra moisture. 
• Balm Balm Frankincense Light Facial Oil
  • My skin is not very receptive to facial oils, except this one. I apply this at night and my skin just soaks it in. It feels luxurious and smells wonderful. Completely organic with jojoba oil, rosehip oil, evening primrose, and the frankincense oil, which clarifies and leaves the skin more supple. I purchased this from feelunique.com, based in the UK.

• Amala Beauty
• W3ll People
• Tammy Fender
• Inner Soul Organics

Online Shops

Blogs

I'm so happy to have shared this with you all. I hope you've gotten something from this post and I will be updating in the future as my collection and expertise develops. If you're using some of these products or other natural ones I would LOVE to hear what you think and any advice/suggestions you have. Thank you so much for stopping by.

À tout à l'heure,

Marie