From Crop to Cup

What little things each day can you do to make a difference in the lives of others? I'm a Westrock Coffee Ambassador and I'm calling out to all of you coffee-drinkers: if you are going to drink coffee every day, why not choose to be sustainable and purchase from a company that is truly focused on improving the lives of others?

Through honest, direct trade with our coffee farmers and being a part of the entire coffee supply chain (exporting, trading and roasting the coffee), Westrock is able to ensure that our farmers are paid a proper wage for their crops and our that we are delivering high-quality coffee to the consumer - from crop to cup! 

That being said- I encourage YOU to take the small step in making a difference in the lives of others by purchasing Westrock coffee to keep changing the lives of these farmers and their families. #FromCropToCup

https://www.westrockcoffee.com/

Realistic Resolutions

NEW YEAR, NEW FEELS, NEW CHANCES. SAME DREAMS,  FRESH STARTS.

Below are some ideas for resolutions that are doable and fun to lead you to your best self.

1. Have 10 minutes of quiet time each day. No phone, no computer, no distractions. Just you and some silence to clear you mind, relax, and collect your thoughts.

2. Build exercise into your daily routine. Take the stairs. Walk instead of riding the bus. Do calf-raises or squats while you brush your teeth. A little cardio here and there adds up.

3. Journal. I'll be the first to admit that I have the worst hand writing and my journal entries aren't visually appealing. However, getting your thoughts out on paper can be beneficial for self reflection and relieving built-up stress.

4. Stretch in the mornings. Slowly develop your own routine. Stretching is a great way to wake yourself up and it feels amazing.

5. Watch 20 minutes of Netflix every day. This is a personal goal for me because it helps me de-stress a little throughout the day and stay up to date on my favorite series. 

6. Read a little each day. Books, newspapers, food labels, magazines, blogs, anything. Just read more. Easy enough. 

7. Say I love you and thank you more often. Let people know they are appreciated.

8. Be intentional. If you say you're going to do something, do it. If you want or need something, say it. Be more straightforward. This saves you some time and stress.

9. Be spontaneous. Drive an hour to surprise your best friend. Order dessert. Go out for pizza at 3am. Do crazy things and be proud of it. 

10. Appreciate your surroundings. When's the last time you star-gazed? When's the last time you stared in awe of the mountains or the shore? Cuddled your pet? Hugged your parents? Time flies and half the time we're too caught up with materialistic things we forget how lucky we are. 

-Morgan

50 Things I Love

I’d like to kick off the New Year by reflecting on 2017 and sharing 50 random things I love (in no particular order).

1. Picnics at sunset
2. Early morning walks (has to be before 7 a.m.)
3. Finishing a book (I have a bad habit of starting books and not finishing them)
4. Clinique Happy perfume
5. Planning trips
6. Collecting mugs
7. Donuts
8. The movie, Sisters
9. Spontaneous road trips
10. Black skinny jeans
11. My large, crazy, & dysfunctional family
12. Anything coconut- food, lotion, perfume, etc.
13. The song, Young Dumb and Broke
14. Crumb cakes
15. My soulmate and best friend, Carly Porter
16. Red roses
17. Ice skating
18. Mango smoothies
19. Homemade chocolate chip cookies
20. My mom
21. Black dresses
22. Shemar Moore
23. New Girl
24. Shrimp tacos
25. Iced dirty chai lattes
26. Hiking
27. Hand-written notes
28. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
29. Avocado & egg toast
30. Snow
31. Drive-in movie theaters
32. Evergreen trees
33. Gold jewelry
34. Laying out and watching the stars
35. Late night talks
36. Sushi
37. Jillian Michaels workout DVDs
38. Dallas Cowboys
39. Science (nerdy, I know)
40. Long drives (preferably early in the morning)
41. Musicals
42. Red lipstick
43. Glitter
44. The Color Run
45. Fluffy cats
46. The feeling of sand in my toes
47. Kayaking
48. Freshly cut wood
49. Cinnamon
50. Saying I love you

I am grateful for new beginnings in 2018. 2017 was a rough year for my family, and I am ready to put 2017 behind me and have a fresh start. I had too many great memories to count, I survived my first semester of college, gained the most wonderful friends, and discovered some new passions. 365 New Days, 365 New Chances. Make 2018 the best one yet.

-Morgan

Stationery Favorites

Is there an adjective that can describe the small thrill of opening a beautiful new agenda? Or the delight at the smoothness of your favorite pen as it glides across a page for the first time? Seeing the layers of unmarked paper signifying the new year, I always get giddy with the thought of filling them with colorful writing, sticky notes, and memories.

So for all of those who, like me, still prefer the pen and paper method in this digital world, I've rounded up my favorite stationery items that help keep my life (and desk) colorful and organized.

March To Do List

Can you believe we're already 3 months into the new year? I certainly can't. It seems like only yesterday I was writing down my New Years Resolutions plans. Speaking of which, it's often around this time of the year that we begin to settle into the routine of things, often times forgetting the goals and aspirations we committed ourselves to. So this month's To Do's are all about trying new things.

February To Do List

It's that time of year again when boxes of delicately wrapped chocolates decorate the fronts of stores and red roses are sold in bunches by the dozen. Everything this time of year seems to be some shade of pink or red (including my nose) but I don't mind at all. I love February! The chilly weather lets me continue wearing my favorite winter outfits and Valentines Day gives me an excuse to bake treats. Here are some things you can enjoy, whether or not you have someone special on the 14th. 

January To Do List

Happy new year friends! Can you believe it's already 2017? The past year has been so busy for me with college applications and such, I've hardly noticed the time go by. While I definitely enjoyed many parts of 2016, it's also very refreshing to open my planner to a brand new page. That's what I love most about resetting the calendar—the opportunity to reflect on the past as well as plan what's to come. As they say, "New chances. Same dreams. Fresh starts." That said, here are some things to make sure to try in January!

My List

With my college applications finally coming to an close, I've started dreaming of the things I could do with my free time. So in honor of 2017 coming around the corner, I humbly present to you My List: a constantly growing compilation of things I hope/plan to do in the near future.

Dream big, friends!

FITNESS

Run a half marathon
Run  full marathon
Participate in a triathlon
Go sub 1:25 in 100 breaststroke

HEALTH

Try going vegan for 10 days
Eliminate processed foods for a month
Attend a yoga class

TRAVEL

Visit Rome
Visit London
Visit Paris
Ski at Whistler-Blackcomb
Ski in Japan
Ski with friends
Go on a cruise
Visit all 50 states

ADVENTURE

Go sailing in Maine
Ice skate on a frozen pond
Swim with dolphins
Go indoor skydiving
Join a ski team
Ski down a mountain peak
Ski down a double black diamond (out west)

SPREAD JOY

Help turtles hatch and make it to the ocean
Hand out "care-kits" to homeless people
Read books to children in the Philippines

PERSONAL

Get a dog
Get married
Live in the Northeast
Live next to a frozen pond for ice skating
Name a daughter Cadence

SKILLS

Learn to figure skate
Successfully make croissants from scratch
Create beautiful latte art
Become fluent in Spanish
Read Tagalog fluently

CAREER

Graduate from college
Graduate from medical school
Work at J. Crew
Work as a barista
Work as a mountain doctor

BLOGGING

Start a blog

Quotes to brighten your day

Hello everyone! I hope you all have been having a great week. I only wish I could say the same for myself but I've honestly been so bogged down with school work and college applications. I thought I'd share my favorite quotes for inspiration in case any of you have been having a week like mine, or if you just need some uplifting :)

December To Do's

Anyone who knows me knows I have an slight obsession with creating lists: packing lists, gift lists, shopping lists, you name it. But by far the most common has to be To Do lists. For me, there's nothing more satisfying than putting an X in a box next to a completed task. So I thought, why not create even more of them, but make them enjoyable.