Pregs & Regs

I am all about purchasing non-maternity maternity clothes to wear pregs (pregnant) and regs (not pregnant!) Tbh, the maternity section on most websites and in stores terrifies me. All the styles look so dated and un-flattering - for example, I’ve only seen maternity “skinny” jeans and everyone knows those are out! Here are some pieces I’ve picked up and wear out in public - at home, I am wearing leggings and the biggest t-shirt I can find! Some of these I had before I was pregnant, and some I have purchased in the recent weeks in a size (or 3) up from my pre-pregnancy size to wear until my due date and most likely after! (I am currently 23 weeks and due July 15th.)

Sedona Jeans - These are great bc the back is elastic (like a toddler) and fits over the bump currently! Bonus points for not being a “skinny” jean and something I hope to wear post pregnancy as well.

Tegan Jumper - I love any romper or jumpsuit mumu makes! I just sized up and hope to wear this until July (we will see!) this one is great for early spring and late fall since it’s thicker and has long sleeves!

Target jumpsuit - LOVE a target jumpsuit. This one is light and stretchy, I sized up 3 sizes I think!

Boyd Button Down Dress - I purchased this for vacation and it is the best! I need them to make it in black, white, basically any other color! So flowy and comfortable - which if you can’t tell, is my pregnancy style & non pregnancy style.

Feeling Grovy Maxi - I found a blue and white one on poshmark (they no longer sell the specific one online, but tons on poshmark) but I love all of these colors! I didn’t size up at all, FP runs big so I got a medium!

Three Birds Romper - I found this boutique on instagram and love this little romper for spring, so comfy and oversized!

Old Navy Bodysuit- There is a higher priced website/clothing line called “bumpsuit” and I am sure they are nice but this is a non maternity jumpsuit from Old navy for like 1/4th the price!

Hotshot Onesie - I had this pre pregnancy (size small - again FP runs huge) and this is the best jumpsuit ever. I need to purchase more colors!

Align bike shorts - Perfect under an oversized t-shirt. I have also been wearing them under flowy dresses (kind of like spanx but less compression, for more support!)

Align leggings - Just the best leggings. These are pre-pregnancy that still fit because they are so stretchy!

Natural life Johnnie jumpsuit - This also was a targeted ad. Super comfy, oversized jumpsuit. Size down, this thing is huge!

Natural life Knit jumpsuit - I’m not kidding, someone stopped me in the grocery store and asked where this was from! It’s one size and so comfy but it looks like you put together an outfit!

FP crop - Honorable mention (pre pregnancy purchase) i have loved these for years and they are the best as a bra or under the jumpsuits since they are longer!

Hopefully, these will last me until July - I am sure I will pick up a few summer dresses when it gets warmer!

xo,

Morgan

Organizing for baby | Guest room to Nursery

We just recently announced we are expecting in July and we cannot wait! Our home has the perfect room for a nursery but it is currently functioning as a guest bedroom with extra storage, basically a finished attic space, which is so nice but has collected a lot of junk in the short 2 years since we have moved! As soon as we found out we were pregnant, I couldn’t wait to get up there to organize, donate anything we aren’t using and of course, decorate! It’s a huge room that I can not wait to fill up, but first I need to organize my own closet (bye bye pre-pregnancy clothes) and declutter the future nursery so I can start the fun part! I like to decorate my house myself but I have decided I am going to work with a designer virtually to make the space come together exactly how I want. But first, I needed to start with a clean slate!

So how am I organizing a room that is mainly storage with a lot of extra furniture we won’t be using for the nursery? Small steps that will, hopefully, get the nursery ready by July!

Declutter

Decluttering is the best first step in any moving or renovation/redecorating process! We started by going through the guest room and storage closet and making with three sections: donate, save, and trash. It’s pretty obvious, but it makes things move a lot faster and keeps you organized. Plus, I love to donate anything I am not using! Anything we saved went into a storage tub that I labeled or was moved to another room where we would actually use it. We were able to make so much room in the storage space for more (baby) stuff as well as get rid of anything in the guest room we were not using! It feels so much better to be able step into the storage closet and see everything organized as opposed to the giant mess it was before. I love how empty the guest room looks now so I can envision how it will look as a nursery.

Organize 

I am also prioritizing organizing our clothes closet! Since I am 17 weeks pregnant, a lot of my pre-pregnancy clothes (aka jeans) do not fit. So I started taking these down from my closet and folding them to put away in storage bins until next fall. I will most likely do this again in a couple of months when it warms up to put away all my warm sweaters, or anything else that doesn’t fit, to make more room in my closet for summer. (Which I can store upstairs in the storage space, thank goodness!) I also have some baby clothes my best friend gave me and I have those safely stored away until it’s closer to my due date but have them easily accessible upstairs since I love to look at them.

Move

This is where gameday movers comes in! There are, of course, tons of small things we moved around in the nursery by ourselves but we do have a few antique rugs, small tables, as well as a sofa in the guest room that we are not keeping. It feels so good to move out furniture we no longer will use since it won’t work for the space. Big furniture is a little bit trickier to get out of our upstairs and I definitely cannot help this time. Not sure I helped the first time much, either! Navigating stairs when moving big items is definitely something we want to be careful with since our home is historic. Hiring movers to tackle the bigger items will definitely take the pressure off and help me stress less! Gameday Moving Services offers a large amount of services, including residential moving, packaging and labor, antique and art moving and long distance moving in Athens GA!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Make a running to do list

I have a growing to do list with items to check off on my guest room to nursery project! Paint, re-tile fireplace, purchase furniture and furnishings, book movers, plus I want the clothes closet in the nursery redone as well! So much to do, but I still feel like I have a lot of time. Keeping a running list on my phone helps me feel organized, less stressed and makes this pregnancy brain feel less crazy! It also feels nice to check things off, but still have them on the list to see what all you have accomplished.

I can’t wait to keep working on this little project & hope you will stay tuned!

xo,

Morgan

The Samsung Frame TV

When we moved I loved (and still do) the layout of our house. But it’s old (build in 1912) and features a lot of fireplaces and a lot of woodwork and beautiful doors that make it hard to place things and style my living room. I have never liked a TV over a fireplace, especially in an old house. But I broke my own rule. I could not style my living room how I wanted in my head and then I saw the frame TV on Instagram and knew I had to have it to complete my living room. Our only other TV is in a space to the right of our living room that we call the ‘study’ so when people are over and you want to watch a football game or a movie, you have to go in there and it’s kind of small. I liked the idea of the frame TV being art when we are not using it as a TV, but being able to switch it to a movie or a game if we have people over. The main problem I had to figure out was installing a new state-of-the-art TV in my house that was built before TVs existed and how to make it flow and blend. I didn’t want to drill any holes into the walls and it turns out there is brick where I wanted the TV anyway, so that wasn’t even an option. Here is what I did instead -

The Frame TV comes with a ‘box’ that connects it to power/internet via a small clear & really long wire, so if you live in a house with drywall you can just install that behind the TV in the wall and run it to power. So since that wasn’t an option, I had a guy come and mount the TV (it includes mounting hardware) and I ran the clear wire down and to the left (hid it with something I got on amazon because even though it’s clear, it’s shiny and stands out against brick and wood.) And put the ‘box’ in a decorative box on the floor right below the power outlet. I would really like to hide this box but for now, this works. Here is what I ordered from amazon (pictured on the right!)

I think it turned out great! The subscription for the art is $4.99 a month and includes SO MANY options. You can also upload your own prints or pictures as well for free. Let me know if you purchased the samsung fame TV!

Links: Frame TV (mine is 50 inches & I ordered the beige bezel with it!)

Amazon Woven Box

Amazon cable concealer

xo,

Morgan

arrows to show “hidden” wires!

WFH Essentials

It’s 2021, finally! I am currently working from home still and plan to…hopefully forever. I haven’t posted to my blog since July…yikes! But that is because I started a new job in September (with Peloton!!) and I’ve been super busy getting into the swing of things and then the holiday rush. I didn’t even know about the job posting with Peloton when I posted my last blog post…about my love for Peloton. It’s crazy how things work out. Anyways, I am working fully remote from home and my last job was remote, so I have now been a part of the WFH life for over a year. I have searched amazon and the rest of internet for the best products for working from home and tested them out myself.

Here are my top work from home essentials.

Desk - L shaped desk from Amazon. When we first moved I bought the cutest writing desk from Target, but when I started my new job I was provided with two huge monitors and needed a bigger desk. This desk is big enough for my chromebook, second monitor and personal laptop as well as everything else I am about to list!

Office Chair - Also, when we first moved I bought the cutest vintage green leather desk chair for my office and it’s comfortable, just not for an 8 hour work day. I searched amazon for weeks for a cute but more practical/comfortable/affordable office chair and I think I found it. I am sure there is something more aesthetically pleasing out there but it’ll definitely cost more than this.

Planner - I love ban.do planners, I think I’ve used one from ban.do for three or four years but I didn’t love any of the designs for 2021. I spotted the cutest planner at Target and have been really pleased with the layout and design of the months and weeks which is really important to me,

Foot Rest - If you are short and always crossing your legs under your desk trying to get comfy, you need this!

Glass Memo Board - I saw this on an instagram ad and as soon as I saw it I knew I needed it. I had a notebook out on my desk to write down reminders and notes during the work day (different than my planner where I put my main goals and tasks for the day) but it made my desk cluttered. This keeps everything neat, is tilted so it’s easier to write on and has a little drawer.

Keyboard Wrist Pad - I haven’t had one of these since middle school when I had a dell desktop but constantly being on a keyboard (not laptop) and resting my wrist on my desk started to hurt! I ordered the most non offensive one I could find and so far, so good.

Desk Organizer - Self explanatory, but a gold one is obviously essential!

Blue light glasses - I purchased prescription Ray-Ban glasses last year (I actually have great vision, so my prescription is really small but I was able use insurance) and got the blue light filter added on! I also have cheaper ones from amazon.

Fun things I like in my office that don’t affect my work day, but they boost my mood:

• Candles

  • capri blue volcano or this new target candle

• Palo Santo

• La Croix

• Lip balm

  • la neige

Peloton/Home Workout Set Up

I did a poll a few days ago on instagram about my peloton set up and got a pretty good response, so I thought I’d share my home workout/peloton setup and routine! I am no fitness expert, but I really enjoy working out (most days) and have been loving my peloton and working out at home after years of studio fitness!

AMAZON STORE for set up!

click to shop!

Peloton set up

I have a cart that I have owned for years next to my bike with the clip in peloton shoes, windex screen wipes, lip balm, extra hair ties, extra pair of socks (my bike is upstairs and I like to keep extra socks by the bike incase I’m not wearing socks when I go up there - aka I’m lazy) & surface spray. I also keep my yoga blocks, yoga blanket, workout bands, and a foam roller for other various at home workouts in the cart. Most of the time I just put my yoga mat next to the cart or inside a closet. I have debated putting the entire cart in a closet for a cleaner look, but it’s just easier to have it next to the bike so I can place my phone in it and have access to extra hair ties, water etc. The bike has two water bottle holders but they only fit a smaller water bottle, so most of the time I just bring a big bottle upstairs and have it on the cart. I bought the peloton essentials package with the bike, shoes & cleats, weights and headphones. There are multiple packages and one that includes a mat for the bike to set up but I just used a promotional yoga mat I got in college and it works perfectly. The headphones I debated since I have AirPods but like I said, I am lazy and I don’t have to to look for them before my workout and when I go upstairs everything I need is already up there. I highly recommend using headphones for the cycle workouts it really helps to submerge you in the experience and focus. Also - phone on do not disturb!

Routine

There is no routine. Kidding, kind of. It just varies, like most people I am sure. I try to spin anywhere from 3-5x a week. I do yoga or a strength peloton app workout when I don’t want to spin. I walk my dog Grover everyday for at least 20+ minutes so sometimes that is the only workout I get in, but recently posted my goals for July which is to do a minimum of a 5 minute peloton workout per day.

Price breakdown

The bike is expensive. I am aware of this. Right now, and when I bought mine, it’s 0% financing which breaks down to about $60 per month until it’s paid off. Then, you do have to pay for monthly access to the app which is $39 a month. So right now, I pay around $100 a month for Peloton. This is less than what I paid for unlimited Orange Theory classes and various other gyms/fitness studios I have been a member of. So, it is worth it to me since I love the class experience and there isn’t many group fitness centers where we live. If you want to purchase the bike with an accessory package (shoes, weights, etc) you can use a referral code! Everyone who owns a peloton gets one! You need to get the shoes to clip into the bike, they don’t have to be peloton brand of course but shoes with cleats. I think you can order regular pedals on amazon if you don’t want to clip in but I have not done any research on that!

My favorite workout clothes

Lululemon wonder under leggings. CRZ leggings on amazon. NUX leggings - I got a pair on the peloton store and I love them! Lululemon energy sports bra. Free people happiness runs crop - the best, holds everything in and you don’t need a bra with it. Lululemon yoga mat. Outdoor voices exercise dress. Adidas Ultraboost shoes for walks/strength workouts. All linked here!

Tell me your at home workout routine & favorite workout gear!

xo, Morgan

We moved!

We bought a house! And we moved, from Atlanta, back to our hometown. I don’t really know where to start and I know I don’t have to explain anything to anyone, but I wanted to blog a little bit about our home buying process and why we decided to move.

We started talking about potentially moving back (to our hometown) last year in 2019, after 10 years of living in Athens + Atlanta. We didn’t have a real timeline, we are more go with the flow with most things. We love Decatur and all the things to do in Atlanta. But….we didn’t love the housing prices (or afford them) and traffic. We both have family here and just missed a sense community to be honest. None of our neighbors in Decatur ever really tried to get to know us, maybe because we were just renting and/or didn’t have kids and but I think that’s what it’s like in bigger cities and I understand. We looked at a lot of homes in Atlanta a couple of years ago and weren’t very impressed anyways. Most homes in desirable neighborhoods were too close together or were quick flips that just lacked character, or were WAY out of our budget. So we started looking online for houses in our hometown probably around October, but not very seriously. After living in 4 different houses/apartments within 3.5 years in Athens, Decatur, City of Atlanta and back to Decatur, we knew what kind of house we wanted. The older and more character the better, fireplaces and a yard were a must, bonus points for historic and in a good location where we could walk to town. We didn’t really love anything we saw online, until one day in February when Cody emailed me a link to a house he had not even looked at yet. I immediately loved it and said it was perfect. So we texted our realtor and waited. The next day we learned the house went under contract with another couple in less than 24 hours.

Since we were in Atlanta and it was a Monday, we couldn’t get there to look at it anyways but I really had a feeling that this house was ours. We were sad since now we wouldn’t even get a chance, but we both kept looking at it online and thinking about it, hoping that we could somehow still have a chance. On Friday, our realtor called and said we could come down and look at it if we wanted to and put in a backup offer incase the other offer fell through. So that’s what we did! We had to patiently wait and not tell any friends because this was just a backup offer and it might not even happen. Over Valentine’s Day weekend though, the other offer fell through and we went under contract!

celebrating our first night with our friend Bob, Veuve and Red Lobster

We say we didn’t have a timeline because when we started looking at houses more seriously online, we already knew Cody was going to work for his dad when we moved. So that’s why we didn’t have to move by a certain time frame even though the sooner he could start working with his dad, the better. I was hoping to keep my job with ClassPass since it was a remote role, but the role was outside sales based in Atlanta. I told them as soon as we closed on the house and they decided they needed someone based in Atlanta. I totally understood, but was sad because I had a great team and really enjoyed my time at ClassPass, the startup culture, working for a great company and learning so much about the fitness industry - another post for another time though. We decided to move in mid March which happened to be right before the Covid19 got really got crazy. I think we moved the second weekend of quarantine and I was scared our movers were going to cancel on us but they didn’t and they were great! I worked the rest of the month through all the pandemic changes and 2 days after my last day at ClassPass, my team was let go or furloughed. So March was crazy to say the least but in April I kept busy painting, taking down wallpaper, putting up wallpaper and trying to get our house unpacked and furnished. So, I am still looking for a job or new career and posting on instagram/my blog to pass the time and potentially turn it into a side hustle in the social media world.

We love our house and it was probably a huge blessing in disguise that we moved when we did and how things all workout. Everything happens for a reason.

xo,

morgan

Things I Bought & Liked (quarantine & new move edition)

Things I Bought & Liked is my most popular post so I wanted to post another one, quarantine edition, because why not? I genuinely love TIBAL (the inventor of Things I Bought & Liked) and she is a must follow on instagram! These are all things I have bought (& liked) since March 13th 2020, aka since quarantine and when we moved into our new home!

Glass Straws

I’m kind of obsessed with finding the perfect reusable straw. I’ve had metal ones for years, we know paper straws suck and I bought silicone ones last year and hate them. I have wanted these glass ones for months but didn’t want to keep buying straws, plus my husband thinks I’m insane. But I finally ordered them and they are the perfect reusable straw! The glass straws are exactly what I wanted, don’t have a weird taste, and come in two shapes that are perfect for iced coffee, water or anything really!

Liquid IV

A must have for me now! I started buying these at WholeFoods but we moved so I just ordered these on amazon. But they posted this week they are now going to be at Target! Liquid IV is like a less sugary gatorade to me and really helps with dehydration, headaches and midday fatigue. It’s expensive, but worth it. Lemon lime is my favorite.

Bathtub Tray

When we knew we were moving and I would have my own clawfoot tub just for baths, I placed this order immediately. I’ve always wanted one and I looked at tons of options on amazon trying to find the perfect most affordable option and I think I found it. It holds an ipad or book, wine glass and has space for a candle, soap and your phone. What else do you need?

Garden Tile Mugs

I’ve already posted these a ton on my instagram because they are just so cute and make me so happy! I has been eyeing these on anthropologie.com for months and decided to get them for the new house. They are just coffee mugs, nothing too special except how pretty they are! I got the butterfly and the beetle ones, the bumblebee mugs were out of stock but now I am tempted to order those too.

stay safe,

morgan

How to read e-books for free!

I like to post the books I read on instagram, because I love when other people to get suggestions and to hold myself accountable. (Also because I am a millennial and I have to post everything I do.)

Anyways, I posted that I get free e-books on my iPad and a lot of people were interested. I love “hacks” and if you don’t know about your local library, this is going to blow your mind! My husband and I are huge fans of the library. We started going to the Athens Clarke county library when we lived there but once we moved to Decatur, we joined the DeKalb library system and I discovered you can read free e-books on an app called Libby. I did some research and you can get a library card online in DeKalb County and I am sure other counties too. But, I really think you should go in person if you are close to one and check out real books too! Once you have a library card, you can make an account online and request books to pick up so you don’t even have to find them yourself. This is really great if you are intimidated by the library and don’t remember how to use the dewey decimal system because they gather them for you and email you when they are ready for pick up. It’s also good for specific books you can’t find or ones that are on hold - they trade books with libraries all over the state and can get you pretty much anything. They also email you a receipt that tells you how much money you saved by using the library, Cody’s is currently at $2164.80 which you know he is pumped about.

But, if you have an iPad or kindle/e-reader - you can use the Libby app. You register your library card and can browse the libraries selection of e-books and even audio books! For more popular titles, you do have to place them on hold and it will email you when it’s available and then gives you 21 days to read it before it’s automatically returned.

Super simple! I also am a huge fan of the Good Reads app. I use it to keep track of books I’ve read & want to read. You can follow friends and see what other you know are reading, it’s basically Facebook for books.

websites mentioned

• DeKalb Library

• Libby

• Goodreads - follow me here

xo, morgan

Top 5 Beauty Products of 2019

I love following people on social media who show what products they use, especially beauty things. I have loved all things makeup, beauty, and hair for as long as I can remember. When I started blogging right after I graduated college - 2015ish (and yes I’ve hidden all those posts), it was till fairly new and I use to think I had to have new clothes, makeups and accessories to post on here or instagram. Then I quit, because I didn’t have new clothes/shoes every week. I wish I would have stuck with it because now bloggers are making more than I can imagine, but also I am glad I didn’t because I can see how it quickly would have spiraled into me over spending and turning into one of the influencers now who post every second of every day, new STUFF that just came in the mail. I mean, who can keep up with that life as a normal person?! So when I decided to really commit this year and post more, I want to share things I use and repurchase and valuable content, not haul after haul. Ok rant over - here are some things I think are worth purchasing and I didn’t just get in the mail today. These are clickable links which kind of makes me seem like a hypocrite, but I promise I’m not. Just want to help if you do want to purchase!

• Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

  • The best! Super hydrating, smells expensive and luxurious but not overwhelming. I have never used this as a mask (aka wiping it off.) I use it when I have really dry skin, when I am traveling or in the winter and daily as a makeup primer/moisturizer.

• Laneige Lip Mask

  • This is my third repurchase I think. The BEST lip balm I have ever used. Pricey but worth it, Also, I don’t just use it as a mask I use all day, every day. It is great before a matte lip stick (mainly Kylie lip kits) to prep your lips - apply while doing makeup and lightly wipe off before lip stick!

• Bumble & Bumble All Style

  • My hair stylist recommended this in early 2019 and I love it for extending non wash days! It helps absorb excess oil - you use it on wet hair after you shower and it almost feels powdery once it’s dry. It is kind of like using dry shampoo on day one hair to help counteract oil on day two. I notice a huge difference when I don’t use it but you do still need a dry shampoo when you use it.

• Lush Sleepy Lotion

  • I think I have used this for over two years now. It smells amazing & I repurchase as soon as I run out. I mainly use it on my hands before bed or my body if I take a bath/shower at night. I used it once on a plane and the girl next to me asked what I used and because it smells so good. (Also - save your Lush containers and once you have 5 you can take them in the store for them to recycle and you get a free face mask!! Read about it here.)

• Native Deodorant

  • I have struggled with finding a natural deo for probably a decade. When I used regular ones (with aluminum) my armpits and chest would itch off and on and I knew the chemicals in them made me have those reactions. I have a tried LOTS of natural deodorants and most don’t work (one caused my arm pits to have an even worse reaction) but Native is hands down the best. They all smell good and work great - yes you still sweat because they don’t contain anti-perspirant but it does absorb odor and some sweat where you don’t have that wet cold sweat feeling I have experienced with most natural deodorants.

xo, morgan

How to wake up early & workout

Let me start with this, I still do not consider myself a morning person…but as I’ve gotten older I no longer sleep in & I feel all around more productive when I wake up early & get my workout over with & it isn’t looming over my head - you will not find me working out past 1pm if I can help it. Late last year, I started working out at 6am twice a week which forced me to start my day at 5am. Here are some tips that help me continue to do this 2-3 days a week - I do not wake up everyday at 5am, I’m not crazy.

• Set out workout clothes the night before (shoes, socks, sports bra, everything)

• Go to bed early. Duh, but really, I try to go to bed by at least 8pm when I have to wake up at 5am, sometimes even earlier and I LOVE it.

• Set out coffee/pre workout: Program your coffee to brew when you wake up or go ahead and put your pre workout in a cup the night before & add water before you walk out the door!

• Sign up for a class you can’t cancel without being charged $ (ClassPass helps with this)

• When you’re in class, no phone & turn on do not disturb on your apple watch if you have one. This has been a huge game changer for me and might seem obvious, but I would be distracted by work emails or texts. Even if it’s only 30 seconds, it throws off the focus.

• Track workouts & set goals! I am really motivated by my apple watch but even if you don't have one, keeping a log in a journal or on the health app on your phone works too.

Good luck,

Morgan

2020 Goals

I wrote a few goals for 2020 on instagram last week, but wanted to elaborate and write down my goals here to be held accountable, plus I didn’t want to write a novel insta caption. I wrote them in a notebook + my planner but somehow writing them on my blog and sharing with anyone who finds this, I feel more obligated to follow through. I highly recommend writing your goals somewhere to visualize them and to look back on as the months go by. I am writing my 2020 goals here and breaking it down monthly to help actually implement them! I also made a vision board for the first time a few nights before NYE and it was a fun creative project that I hope will serve as a reminder for the year.

Shop my ban.do planner here

• Read 20 books in 2020

  • Goal is 2 a month which would be 24 but I know some months I will read more or less!

• Workout 5x a week

  • Goal is 30 workouts recorded on my apple watch monthly

  • Burn 10,000 calories for January on my workouts watch app (my best month was December 2019 & I burned 9,769 calories)

• Write down 3 things I am grateful for & 3 affirmations (ideally daily)

  • I like to do this before I do anything work related and start my day on a positive note.

• Use less plastic/paper products

  • Reusable grocery/produce bags

  • Reusable straws

  • Less paper towels

• Post & consume valuable content

  • I love social media but sometimes (aka most of the time) I am scrolling mindlessly. I want to scroll more intentionally - is that a thing? And also post valuable content as well.

• Save $$$

  • My goal is to save $100 monthly just as a rainy day fund, but hopefully more

  • Buy no coffee out - I am 12 days in and am doing well! I did get a gift card from work and already used that, but that doesn’t count!

Favorite workouts in Atlanta

So, if you read my post back in May - I was on the hunt for a new job/career move & I never gave an update…but I am now so happy to say I am employed by ClassPass. I started with ClassPass in July, but I actually joined ClassPass as a user in January of 2018 and it is a dream company to work for. And yes, I get to workout a lot so I wanted to put together a list of my personal favorites in Atlanta to workout - and wellness options too! “The postings on this site are my own and do not reflect the views of ClassPass.”

Strength Training/HIIT *Strength Training and HIIT are my favorite types of workouts which is why I have so many

FastTwitch - I love FastTwitch at the Forum when I want a hardcore workout with less cardio. There are many stations you just rotate through so you are doing something different the entire class and you will never be bored. I also like using the sauna after in the locker room.

MADabolic - MADabolic is most similar to FastTwitch, but the classes are more intimate and they have specific cardio days and strength training days. It also is in a prime spot on the beltline!

Pinnacle Fitness Decatur (also located in Smyrna) - Pinnacle is one of my favorites in Decatur because it is close to my house and the workouts are challenging but basic & effective. Some studios get so caught up in doing all the things and sometimes it’s nice just to do workouts that are simple and to the point.

Barry’s Bootcamp - When I first joined ClassPass I loved using my credits to go to Barry’s. It is kind of a splurge in terms of credits, but worth it in my opinion. If you have ever done Orange Theory - the concept is the same but a little more intense. They have awesome amenities like Oribe products in the bathrooms and cold wet aromatherapy towels after class. Also, a bomb smoothie bar!

Boxing

Fit9 - Best place for boxing + cardio. It is so hard and to be honest - the first time I went I HATED it. Probably because I was so bad at it. Now that I’ve been a decent amount of times I like it so much more, but it doesn’t get easier.

Pantheon - Pantheon is a fairly new studio that is great for technique boxing! Super challenging, but a great workout if you enjoy boxing or want to improve your skills. They also have a jump rope class that I am dying/dreading to take!

Spin

Rukus - Amazing spin class. They have smart bikes, there is an arm track and my abs get a serious workout which I didn’t think was possible at a spin class. They have 2 locations currently in Atlanta and are adding more soon. I hadn’t done spin in so long and was kind of dreading it, but now I go every week!

Pace23 - Pace23 is a small locally owned spin and strength training studio. I love Pace Rhythm here with Bailey! have only been to spin here but I need to try there other classes.

Yoga

Village Vitality - I love doing yoga here on the weekends when I want a more chill, less intense workout. Sometimes I don’t look forward to yoga but after, I am so glad I went!

Follow me on instagram where most every time I workout I instagram story, which is either really annoying or motivating <3

Gallery Block

This is an example. To display your Instagram posts, double-click here to add an account or select an existing connected account. Learn more

Things I Bought & Liked

TIBAL - Yes I stole this title. See below.

So I found a new podcast a few weeks ago called Be There In Five. OBSESSED. She’s hilarious, smart and talks all things pop culture and has a three part deep dive series into Mormon Mommy bloggers, yes it’s a thing. She is a way better writer than me and I am obsessed with any and everything she posts about on insta. One of the things she posted about that I had not heard of or followed yet, was Things I Bought and Liked. An account dedicated solely to what this mystery person (really, there are no selfies or “like to know it” styled photoshoots) has bought and then liked. I LOVE LISTS LIKE THIS. So I stole the idea and cry because I didn’t think of it first but here are my top 5 things I have recently-ish bought and liked.

White Croc Birkenstocks // Not the official name

I bought these for the beach but they are so comfy I like to wear them at home and even in public when I have a phobia of wearing plastic “pool” type shoes on dry land.

Laptop Sleeve/Envelope

My work computer is so sleek and shiny and new and I didn’t want to add bulk to it with a huge case I have to travel with it and carry it around day to day in my bag so I found this and love! Works great for in your bag laptop protection.

Laptop Stand

Again, new work laptop, new work set up. This is nice because it elevates the computer so it’s more eye level and I hunch over less.

AirPods Case

I just wanted case with a keychain so I could hook it to my keys, Grover’s leash, etc. Super handy!

Laneige Lip Mask

Just buy it. It’s so good. I use it whenever not just at night.

Beach Favorites

I just got back from one of my favorite places in the world…30A! I love the beach and the gulf coast has the best beaches in my opinion. Honestly, packing for the beach or any trip makes me so excited and I love going on Amazon to find new things to make my trip easier! I wanted to make a post of my favorite beach products because you just can’t go to the beach empty handed…or at least I can’t. I love knowing what people pack for the beach because I am nosey and I live for a good packing list. Even though I believe in shopping local and supporting small businesses, i’m not above Amazon. Here are some of my favorite products for a beach trip - pictures are links that you can click!

• Chair - I love this chair for 3 reasons. 1. It has backpack straps so you can carry the rest of your beach gear. Pretty simple but necessary! 2. Face hole. KEY - if you want to tan your backside and/or read without breaking your neck. 3. Affordable. The one thing I hate when people share their favorite products is a $200 price tag on something that looks really useful but is unaffordable. This is under $50 and has held up great for a year so far!

• Cover up - I’m all about the cute but comfortable cover up life for summer! I was nervous to order this since it looks too good to be true, but trust me, it’s not. This cover up is so easy to throw on and go and it looks amazing on! It goes over any swimsuit and is also super flowy, soft. The only thing is that it’s ‘one size fits all’ which I know is tricky, but since it’s an oversized look I think it can work with a lot of body types. Super impressed with the quality for the very affordable price of $22.

• Skin Saver - I love a good beauty product, especially one for after sun skin care. I first tried this at the beach because my mom had it (purchased locally - if you’re on 30A, they have it at the Zoo Gallery!) and I am obsessed. It’s a fine mist spray you can put on after the beach, pool or any day you’ve been outside in the sun. It is supposed to help moisturize and restore your skin from UV damage and it feels so good. It also smells amazing and even if this product does nothing for my skin I will still repurchase because it’s so soothing to mist on throughout the day and not sticky like aloe gel.

• Hat - Obviously I’m not too specific on this and any hat will do. I bought my favorite summer straw hat locally (Willow in Seaside - https://wearwillow.com/) but they don’t have products on their website yet so I found a similar one on amazon. I cannot go to the beach without a hat, my face is so sensitive to the sun and hello, skin damage! You need to have a hat at the beach to protect your face. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a cute one. When I wear a hat people always compliment it and think i’m really put together and I swear it’s just the hat! Try it.

• Beach Bag - I love this Scout Uptown Girl bag. It’s a great compact size but has lots of pockets to organize your beach essentials. It is also waterproof and is easy to get sand off of. It’s nothing too special but I have used it for years for everything from work, to the beach and pool. It’s also not the cheapest bag in the world but it has held up great and there’s nothing worse than a cheap bag that breaks after you use it a couple of times.

Let me know your beach favorites & if you try any of mine!

xo, morgan

Lemons

Well. I’m here again. I’m going to skip the excuses and get to the point. I’ve tried to document my fashion choices and life via this blog since apparently 2015. And now, I’m not even sure blogs are still relevant. But if you’re here, keep reading…apologies in adanvace to my high school English teacher. I am really good at reading, but not so much at writing or proof reading. Sorry Mrs. Peirce.

At the beginning of the year I actually made New Years resolutions, something I haven’t done seriously, maybe ever. One of my resolutions was to blog again, no matter if no one reads or cares…so far this year I’ve written one post. And hid my old ones. Yikes. But also this year, I sold my airstream, that served as my boutique and personal closet for the past four years, and dissolved my business. Got a new job. Broke a lease. Moved backed to Decatur from West Atlanta. And then…lost my new job. I contemplated renaiming my blog ‘the struggle is real. But I also hate when people say that, so I didn’t.

And this brings me to the point of starting to blog again. Originally, when I started this, I was a recent college grad trying to figure my life out. Here I am 5 years later, still doing the same! After owning a store and making trend forecasting and buying my job, it lost the sparkle to me. I still love clothes & fashion, don’t get me wrong. But I am getting older and starting to see a bigger picture. Or I’m just jaded from owning a small business. Who knows? So here I am…resurrecting my old website to blog about things I care about, am interested in, my life experiences, not just fAsHiOn. Anyways, the original inspo for this was because, long story short, I got fired. I was hired in February and spent three weeks traveling and training. I was right in the middle of selling my beloved airstream and dissolving my business, my baby for the past four years when I got the job. And I was let go in May, hardly three months in. The Glassdoor reviews on this company are not “5 stars/would recommend”, that’s all I will say. (But I try to go into anything I do with an open mind and form my own opinions, as anyone should.)

So here I am, I’m 27 and unemployed. I have had a job since I was 16. Most of the time, even two jobs. I am writing this in my backyard while I try to pretend I’m not having a quarter life crisis. No, really, this was a blessing in disguise, I am sure of it. I’ve always been the biggest advocate for doing what you love, and most of the time what I love, is doing what I want, if that makes sense. I loved Rolling Runway and still do. I love reading peoples real stories on instagram and blogs (yes i sometimes still read blogs!) I’m writing this for myself but also for anyone else that’s been let go. It’s not fun and it’s isolating, to be honest. But everything happens for a reason. So I guess I am writing this to reach anyone else this has happened to too, it happens and we will get over it.. And also to get my resume out there. Are you hiring? Email me ;)

Top 5 Podcasts

my top five favorite podcasts

Podcasts are like TV for millennials. Okay, maybe I made that up, but if you don’t listen to podcasts what are you doing? I love listening to podcasts while I clean, do laundry, take marta and of course in the car during rush hour ATL traffic. Even when I am alone at home and eating lunch, I am probably listening to a podcast. Ok, you get the point! Here are my top five favorite podcasts to listen to & some honorable mentions.

• My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark | Hands down my favorite podcast. It’s true crime combined with comedy, which might sound like a weird combo but Karen & Georgia make it work. Each week they share a true crime story as well as hilarious conversation about toxic masculinity and cults. They also have mini-sodes featuring hometown stories which I love! Even though they have tons of episodes (156 at the time of writing this) I would start at the beginning to get the feel of the show and be in on all the inside jokes. If not, you might be a little lost, confused, & annoyed at how much they talk…but that’s part of the charm to me. Stay sexy & don’t get murdered!

• Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard | Dax’s podcast was definitely my new favorite podcast from last year. He is so honest, funny & real on his podcast but also has an all star line up of celebrity guests who I really enjoy. Favorite episodes include the first one with his wife Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis’ episode and the one with his mom! (Also just now realizing these all feature women.) You don’t really have to listen to these in order…but I still would recommend it, incase you miss an inside joke. Also, shout out to his assistant Monica who is from Atlanta & graduated from UGA.

• The Lady Gang with Becca Tobin, Keltie Knight & Jac Vaneck | Hello, hello, hello & welcome to the lady gang! This is my favorite podcast to listen to when I need to zone out and listen pop culture gossip, mindless chatter & advice from these hollywood babes. They feature some awesome guests and girl bosses like Alli Webb (founder of Dry Bar) & but honestly I prefer the episodes where it’s just them most of the time. Still waiting on that Atlanta live show ladies!

• Criminal with Phoebe Judge | I could listen to Phoebe Judge read the dictionary. Her voice is that good. But thank goodness we don’t have to, because Criminal is amazing! It features short stories focused on…you guessed it, crime! The show describes itself as stories of people who've done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. I can’t describe it better than that, just listen to it! Also, it’s not scary at all in case like true crime but hate being scared.

• The Fall Line | The Fall Lines’ first & second seasons features a fascinating but heartbreaking story about two abductions. Two 15 year old african american twins who were abducted without a trace from Augusta, Georgia in the 1980s & two african american siblings who disappeared from Brunswick, Ga. The lack of police investigation is infuriating as well as the lack of evidence in both cases. The third season, which is halfway through, is about Grady Babies. Babies born at Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta from 1989-1993, who were either abducted from Grady or were born there and abducted shortly after. Again, this focuses on minorities which…* This podcast hits close to home since anytime I go anywhere in Atlanta now, I pass by Grady. These stories were not that long ago and some of the cases are still unsolved.

Other favorites:

True Crime: Moms and Murder, Generation Why, Case File, Sword & Scale (really intense), In Sight, S-Town

Lifestyle: How I Built This, What We Said, Broadly Speaking, Gals on the Go, How Stuff Works