Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

July 13, 2020July 13, 20204 Comments

I started my blog back in 2016 after I graduated college. That was almost 4 years ago! Ever since I started blogging, many of my friends have come to me for advice about starting their own blog. I love this because it means they notice that I’m doing things and as a blogger, recognition is good. However, having to give advice over Snapchat or Instagram, or whatever message platform is hard and much more time consuming than I have time for so I decided to write this post so that I can send it to those who ask me for tips about blogging.

Put aside a few consecutive hours a week to focus on blog related things. (Really focus!)

Honestly, if you can master this and make it a habit, the rest of these things will come pretty easily to you. My biggest struggle over the last year and half or so has been finding the time to just sit down and work on my blog for extended periods of time, without distractions. I read a post from Mattie James (mattiejames.com) that discusses the concept of batch work. Batch work is basically creating a bunch of content all at once. My effectiveness in this comes and goes but as of lately it’s been something I am aiming to make routine.

Figure out your main topics/focus aka niche (Keep this list small)

When I first started blogging I wanted to talk about everything under the sun: health and fitness, pop culture, social justice issues, self-growth and development, mental health, anything and everything. It wasn’t until after I tried writing about all of these topics and realized that I was headed nowhere fast that I decide to dial back on the topics I was going to focus on for my blog. Now I focus on self-reflection, self-growth/self-development, and goal-setting with a sprinkle of health and fitness and travel thrown in every so often. Keeping your list of topics small is key to avoiding being overwhelmed as a blogger. Even the person who loves writing more than life CAN’T write about everything. I know that once I establish myself as a blogger with a brand, other opportunities to talk about my various interests will present themselves.

Consistently creating content (and posting it) is the hardest thing to master.

It’s so funny because whenever people ask me what advice I have about blogging I tell them “don’t underestimate how hard it is to consistently write and create content.” Many of the time they tell me they’re not worried about that because they have so many things to write about that creating content won’t be hard for them. Fast forward a few weeks later and either 1. They haven’t started their blog because they’re busy or 2. They have started it but only post once in a blue moon (like myself, guilty as charged haha). The thing people don’t understand is that writing a blog post isn’t hard (per say) but what is hard is writing a blog post worth reading. There have been many times I have written a post, read it back, tried to edit it, and just realized it wasn’t even worth reading for me, much less to put out. Creating consistent and worthy content is hard. Don’t underestimate it.

Friends =/= Supporters and that’s okay! (Don’t take it personal)

Just because you are friends with someone does not mean they are obligated to support your blog. I know. That sounds insane. Why wouldn’t your friends support you? They’re your friends! That’s what friends do for each other. I know that’s what we’re taught to believe but the fact of the matter is that friends =/= supporters and that doesn’t make them bad people. Maybe your niche is just not FOR THEM. When I first started blogging I was sad that all of my friends weren’t reading my blog (the clicks don’t lie!) but then I realized that doesn’t matter. I love all of my friends and our differences in interests and hobbies. That being said if one of my friends started a horseback riding podcast I can’t necessarily say I would be tuning in every week to hear about life at the stables. I probably would retweet all of their new episodes but that’s as far as that would go. That doesn’t make me a bad person. Some people won’t even retweet you, and that’s fine too. We are all inclined to support things that interest us. I know my content isn’t for everybody, I focus on writing for the people who it’s intended for.

Reading other bloggers, watching blogging webinars, and whatever else is useless if you don’t apply the knowledge! (Seriously, don’t waste your time)

I tried to read every blog post and watch every webinar I could about blogging when I first started. There where countless Google searches for content about blogging from my phone and laptop. If it was free, it was for me! After reading and watching all of this stuff I can say I have maybe applied 1 or 2 things out of the 25 I’ve learned. That’s because I was more focused on indulging in information to try to imitate the greats instead of reading/learning some and then applying it, reading/learning something else and applying, and so on and so on. I’m sure I would have gotten way farther in a quicker time if I took it one step at time. This whole blogger life is a learning process though and Mara went through it so you don’t have to!

This shit is not cheap/free (If you want to be next level)

Okay so I never knew that I was going to have to spend so much money JUST to make blog appear legit. Between having my own domain, needing a PO Box for my newsletter, paying for stock photos, and eventually attending blogging conventions, this blogging life gets REAL costly REAL quick! If blogging is just a hobby for you it’s not something you have to worry about but I eventually want to take my blog to another level as a source of income like many of the women I admire. If you have similar ambitions as me, it’s going to cost you before it pays you. Don’t get discouraged and make sure you can finance your dreams.

Engagement is a major key.

Okay so something I’ve recently learned is blogging doesn’t stop at the blog posts. In order to have people actually give a damn about what you have to say, you have to engage with your social media followers. I know that is so obvious…how didn’t realize it before? I don’t know, honestly. Even after reading it from many people who blog it never clicked until recently.

This is just a little bit of what I wish I knew when I started blogging. Even with utilizing these tips there are still so many things left for bloggers to learn. The best thing is to do your research!

If you are fellow blogger or have a podcast/website, I wish you luck and success! It’s not an easy task to be successful on these e-streets.

Are you a blogger? What is one thing you wish you knew when you started blogging? Let me know in the comments!

3 Tips for Balancing Your Busy Life

July 10, 20203 Comments

One question I get asked pretty often as someone who has many different hobbies and commitments is how do I manage to balance it all? Between law school, work, fitness, this blog, my podcast, and everything else, I’m definitely someone who knows how to keep busy. The truth is that is when I’m at my best! If I’m given too much free-time I will literally get nothing done. Isn’t that ironic? Due to the fact that balancing a busy life is such a big part my brand and content that I create, I decided to write a post about the way I am able to achieve a balanced life when I’m busy as hell.

Get Clear on Your Priorities and Dedicate Your Time Accordingly

You can’t achieve balance if you aren’t crystal clear on exactly what it is you’re prioritizing. Once you know what your priorities are, you will have an idea of where most of your time should be going and how much time to dedicate to less important things. One way I get clear on my priorities is when I set goals as if anything is possible. By setting goals, you understand what it is you truly desire. This allows you to move forward in prioritizing your time and balancing your many aspirations. Having regular goal setting sessions is super important. I recently wrote a guide to completing a mid-year goal setting session. You can find that post here.

Be Realistic

I’m not sure about your reader but when I was in high school I learned about something called SMART goals. The R is smart goals stands for realistic and I feel that this is such an important part of goal setting and achieving balance between all aspects of our lives. While I do believe that we can do all we set our minds to, we also need to be semi-realistic when striving for balance in our work/school life. For example: if I want to achieve a school/life balance, I cannot set goals that would take much more time and dedication to achieve. For example: if I’m trying to make sure my grades are at least average or slightly above average (shout out to the law school curve), I can’t make one of my goals to be a nationally recognized body builder in the next 3 months who also goes out every weekend. Getting good grades takes many many hours of studying, being a Nationally ranked body builder takes many many hours of training and hyper focusing on nutrition, and going out every weekend takes energy and uses time that could be used for studying or bodybuilding. All three of these goals can be achieved in a lifetime but in 3 months (based on my experience in law school only since I’ve never been a bodybuilder much less a national recognized one) they are almost impossible to achieve all at the same time.

Use Your Planner

My planner is one of the most important tools I have for keeping achieving balanced in my life. I personally like the write things done because the power of writing things down has been long documented. Anyone who knows me or has been reading my blog for a while knows that I live for my passion planner. However, for my friends who do not love the paper planner life, I also live for my google calendar (simply for the fact that it’s easier to edit when things come up and I have to make last minute changes). If you’re not a big paper planner person, you can also use Google Calendar. I like to use Google Calendar to time block when things are really important.

Being a busy bee can be stressful but that doesn’t mean you can’t live a balanced life. If you’re clear on your priorities, are realistic with what you can accomplish, and use some sort of planning system, you can do what you need to do to handle your business.

Did you find any of these tips helpful? Which one(s) do you plan on using in your life moving forward? Are there any other tips you have for maintaining work/school life balance? Leave a comment below!

Share this article with a busy person in your life who may benefit from these tips!

My Favorite Healthy-ish Snacks

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020Leave a comment

One of my biggest struggles when losing weight has always been the fact that I love to snack. Snacking isn’t always the problem but snacking on junk food too often definitely doesn’t make for a successful health & fitness journey. One thing I noticed once I started law school back in 2018 was that I am definitely a stress eater. In the last few months I’ve been super stressed and thus my snack attacks have gotten worse. I recently started a new fitness program (which I will blog about more later) and I knew if I wanted to make sure that I didn’t waste my money and was successful, I needed to start eating as healthy as I have in the past. This fact combined with one of my sorority sisters who follows me on Instagram (shoutout to Vanessa!) asking me to blog about my favorite healthy snacks led to me writing this post.

Anyone who knows anything about health & fitness and losing weight will tell you that nutrition is the most important factors in making sure you lose weight. To quote my newest trainer (@makingmila on Instagram) you can’t out work a bad diet. At the same time, there is something about overly healthy foods that I have to train my taste buds to get used to again every time I fall off the health wagon. However, these foods have always been some of my favorites and have the perfect combination of healthy-ish* and tasty. Full Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist/dietitian/anything of the sort. I’m just a fat girl tryna get fit that loves to snack. Okay, keep reading for the list!

Protein Shakes

Gone are the days when protein shakes tastes like chalk. Nowadays it is pretty easy to find a yummy protein shakes or put one together yourself. My personal favorites are Premier Protein Shakes. They are great for when I’m on the go. My favorite one is the caramel flavored one. Getting enough protein is an important part of staying full and not snacking too much. I also like making my own and customizing them.

Rice Cake, Almond Butter, & Honey

This is one of my favorite snacks ever. It usually is especially helpful when I’m hungry before a workout and need a quick bite but don’t want to get too full so that I have to wait a super long time to workout. This also goes really well with coffee, which I sometimes drink a little of if I’m not in the mood for a pre-workout drink but need a tiny pick me up.

Non-fat Greek Yogurt with Granola & Seeds

Whenever I crave something crunchy this is my go-to snack. Make sure you read the labels on both your granola and seeds so that you follow the proper portion sizes and don’t overdo it. Granola can often be a sugar bomb so try to stick to the ones that don’t have too many grams of sugar or at least have natural sugars. If you want some sweetness, add some honey!

Peppers & Hummus

This was my go-to snack in undergrad when I was doing 21 Day Fix. I used to eat them almost every day and never got sick of them. There are so many different flavors of hummus at many grocery stores now so you can switch it up if you get bored of it. I remember when I first started my health and fitness journey I even followed a hummus meme page! That’s how much I loved the stuff!

Instead of trying to give myself a super strict and limiting rule like “no snacking”, I switch out my junk food snacks with healthier snacks that sometimes satisfy the same craving. This helps me rework snacking into a way that fits in with my health & fitness journey that is sustainable.

Leave a comment with your favorite healthy or healthy-ish snack(s)? I can always use more recommendations.

5 Free Ways To Practice Self-Care & Cope w/ Covid-19

July 8, 2020July 8, 20201 Comment

The last few months have been some of the most stressful months in my entire life. I wouldn’t wish being in law school during a pandemic on my worst enemy. Once the semester ended things became a little less stressful but the stress was still there. I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling this way. All of my friends in different industries and grad-programs are equally as stressed as I am or more depending on their circumstances. We are all truly trying our best to survive and hold onto our sense of well-being.

When the stay-at-home-orders first started, one of the ways I coped with it was by engaging in retail therapy. I bought myself a ring-light (don’t regret it) and many other things to keep myself pre-occupied when I didn’t have other responsibilities. Many other things I used to do for self-care like strolling aimlessly in Trader Joe’s or going to the sauna at my local gym were no longer options. Going to the grocery store became this super intense experience and the gyms rightfully shut down and even though they are open now I’m still not comfortable to go back to them. This led to my mental health suffering and began a horrible cycle of me neglecting myself and feeling sad and then neglecting myself and you get it.

Self-care has become a way of life in recent years and could even be considered to be trendy. However, when people think of self-care they often think of getting a mani-pedi or a massage or whatever other parts of our beauty regimen we can think of that make us feel good. Unless you are super talented, those things can have quite a price tag and although some salons are opening back up, I don’t want to risk it. Aside from that, self-care does not have to be related to beauty. Self-care doesn’t even have to cost money. Some of the best things I can do to take care of myself (mindbodyspirit) are completely FREE! Well, some of them require you to pay your phone bill or have someone paying your phone bill but I assume that you were already going to do that. I was asked to share some ways to cope with covid and I’ve shared these tips before at some point but I feel they are especially timely now.

Go Outside and Ground Yourself

So the art of grounding yourself can be defined differently by everyone but for the sake of this blog I’m talking about grounding myself with the earth. The most effective way to do this for me is by standing barefoot in sand (or grass now that I don’t live in San Diego and close to the beach) and doing breathing exercises. It’s kind of like meditating while you are standing up. I love to ground myself because it reminds me that I’m part of something much bigger than myself and shifts my perspective on everything, even my problems.

Turn Off Your Phone For A Day (or a few hours)

As a blogger and a millennial I will say that one stereotype that I often fall into is that I’m always on my phone. As a matter of fact, I’m usually on my phone majority of the time I’m awake unless I’m at work. Lately I’ve been practicing leaving my phone in another room and just being content with sitting and doing nothing or reading a book in silence. Taking a break from technology is a good way to take care of ourselves.

Clean and Declutter Your Space(s)

Okay so I don’t know about you all but as I’ve grown over the years I realize that if my space is a mess, it’s usually a reflection of my life at the time. Whether it’s my room, desk at work, kitchen, or whatever else if there is mess and clutter there simply cleaning it up can be a great morale booster and one of the best-practices of self-care (if you’re not the type to get stressed out by cleaning).

Listen To Nature Sounds

Ever since I was a baby the sound of water has always made me feel at peace. My mom used to have to run the tub or faucet just to get me to fall asleep. As a former San Diego resident one of my favorite things to do used to be just going out to the beach and night and listening to the ocean waves. If you can do this in person it is awesome but there are also videos on YouTube that have these sounds as well. My personal favorite thing is this app I downloaded called Tide. It has recordings of different sounds of nature from forests to my personal favorite, rain, and other things in between. When I listen to these I almost instantly feel better and more at peace and relaxed.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep (and make it a habit)

Honestly, this is something I struggle with. I should always be doing this but life sometimes gets hectic and nights with only 4 or 5 hours of sleep happen. If this is the life that you also live, find a way to get a few nights of good rest. There are few things better than waking up from an ample amount of sleep. Making sure you are well rested is one of the best ways to take care of yourself, your body, and your mind. If this is not possible I also encourage naps. In college even a 15 minute power nap had a drastic effect on my day.

While charcoal masks, online shopping, and eating at your favorite restaurant can be good ways to practice self-care, they aren’t always free and/or feasible, especially during these times. All of these tips can be utilized at any point during your day. I hope that you are able to practice these free self-care tips and they transform your physical and mental well-being and make dealing with Covid-19 a little bit easier.

What do you do when you need to practice self-care but you have to spend your money elsewhere? How are you coping with Covid-19? Let me know in the comments!

Unconventional Tips for the LSAT (and Affirmations)

July 7, 2020July 10, 20207 Comments

Ah, the LSAT. Every aspiring law student’s worst nightmare. Well, at least it was my worst nightmare at the time. I can remember studying for the LSAT like it was yesterday. I was super stressed out and kept scoring a lower score than I wanted to when I took practice tests. I also wasn’t scoring what I needed to get into the school I wanted to go to. My undergrad GPA was decent but definitely not one of the GPAs that make the LSAT less of a big deal. I had spent over $1,000 on my LSAT prep course (I needed a course because I was not self-disciplined enough to study on my own free-will as a recovering busybody who studied when I had time to…not because I chose to). The LSAT I had decided to take was the last possibly one I could take before deadlines for admission materials were due so it was either do well on this one or put off law school for another year (which in retrospect wouldn’t have been sooo horrible but at the time it sounded like the end of the world since I had already taken 2 years off after undergrad).

During my 2-year gap between undergrad and law school, one thing I had really gotten into was the Law of Attraction and all of its subparts like visualization, positive thinking, and affirmations (which I have written about before). I knew that I truly could manifest anything that I wanted if I really believed it, released it, and did the work to make it happen without worrying about. It was the final week before the LSAT and I realized I hadn’t written any affirmations for the test. I had written affirmations for every other life event that I had going on prior to this so it didn’t make sense that I hadn’t made any for the LSAT. They really helped me and have helped other people that I’ve shared them with. I decided to write this blog post with the LSAT affirmations I created for those taking the upcoming July LSAT this Saturday. Read them below!

I enjoy the subjects I am studying

I easily understand and retain what I study

I study hard and regularly

I am always relaxed during exams.

During the exams, I recall information quickly and easily.
My memory is sharp.

I pass exams easily.

Reading Comprehension comes naturally to me.

Logic Games are fun and I enjoy the challenge.

I always know the correct answers for Logical Reasoning questions.

I am prepared for the LSAT.

I will conquer the LSAT.

I will get into Law School.

I will be an attorney.

Hopefully these affirmations give you some last-minute confidence for the LSAT. I have two other tips that helped me get the score I wanted. Of course, I didn’t take my LSAT during a global pandemic so my experience was completely different, but these aren’t reliant on us not experiencing a pandemic so it doesn’t hurt to give them a try.

The first tip is to chant the score you want out loud after you finish practicing for the day (I know it sounds crazy but hear me out). My entire time studying for the LSAT the highest score I got was a 155, which isn’t horrible…but I wanted a 160 to ensure I would get into the school I wanted to (a 160 was higher than their average). I chanted it after every practice tests and practice section I would do. Even though I never scored a 160 on any of my practice tests, I knew I was destined to get a 160. I would chant it and visualize it and guess what? I scored a 160 and in the 80^th percentile for that testing period.

The next tip is to make a LSAT day playlist to pump you up on test day! Make sure it’s super uplifting and matches the vibe you want to go into test day with. On my LSAT playlist I had different songs like Bodak Yellow – Cardi B, FORMATION – Beyoncé, CRZY – Kehlani, Blessings – Big Sean ft. Drake, DNA. – Kendrick Lamar, and Know Yourself – Drake. Formation and Bodak Yellow definitely had me feeling like a bad b*tch walking into the testing center, even if I was nervous. Put whatever songs make you feel like you can handle anything thrown your way.

The LSAT is just one of many tests you will take in your upcoming legal career. It seems scary now but you will look back at it once you’re in law school and not feel the sense of terror that you may be feeling now. Keep studying, say your affirmations, and remember YOU GOT THIS!

Share this post with any other aspiring law students you know who are taking the LSAT this year.

Why I’m Doing The #ConsistencyChallenge

July 6, 20202 Comments

Hello readers! I know what you’re thinking, “Isn’t it Monday? Do my eyes deceive me? Why is Mara posting a new blog post?” Yes, it is Monday! HAPPY MONDAY. No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you, this post is real. I’m posting on a Monday (straying from my typical Thursday posts) because THIS month I am taking part in Mattie James’ #ConsistencyChallenge. This last part may have added more confusion so let me tell you what I’m talking about.

Back in May, Mattie James, one of the first influencer/bloggers I ever followed, hosted a #ConsistencyChallenge on Instagram. For that challenge we had to post on our Instagram feeds every day for the entirety of the month of May. We didn’t just do this to improve our analytics (which did happen) but we also had the chance of winning $1,000 prize. That was exciting but I was more interested in proving to myself that I could do it. When it comes to my various projects (Instagram, podcast, etc), I always struggled back and forth with consistency. Now I’ve learned how to plan out my feed and stay consistent on the gram.

Okay so you’re probably wondering “what does that have to do with you posting on your blog on a Monday?” Well, this month’s Mattie challenged us to post a new blog posts, EVERY DAY, Monday-Friday. I’m not even going to lie to y’all, I almost backed out. I’m still wondering how I’m going to create a new blog post for every weekday. However, similarly to the Instagram feed challenge, I need to prove to myself that I’m capable of doing this because I AM. It will also help me get better at blogging, something I’m always striving to do.

Here are the rules for the challenge, so you can all know what to expect from me.

During the challenge you must:

Blog once a day – Monday through Friday only
Monday, July 6 thru Friday, July 31 (20 days total!)
Posts should be at least 150 words long and include at least one photo/visual
Submit your favorite blog post you wrote of the week in the Facebook group every Friday am (there will be a dedicated thread for post submissions)

(Read Mattie’s entire blog post about the challenge here)

That’s what I’ve got going on this month. I’m super nervous but also excited to see what I accomplish. Wish me luck!

Leave a comment with a blog post you’d like to see from me this month. If it’s selected I’ll shout you out on the post.

An Easy Guide For Your Mid-Year Check-In & Goal Setting Session

July 2, 2020July 2, 20202 Comments

As of yesterday we are officially HALF-WAY through 2020. I’m sure we can all agree the past 6 months has been f*cking WILD. I’m not going to get into it because quite frankly I’m tired of it and don’t feel like discussing it but y’all know what I’m talking about. I feel like 2020 has lasted a lifetime and still passed in a blink of an eye at the same time. Okay so I lied, I’m going to talk about it. Covid-19 has shifted stuff significantly. Speaking for myself, I have not accomplished as much as I wanted by now in certain areas of my life, but I have accomplished many things in other areas of my life. It’s important to look at both our wins and where we may have fallen short so far (although, extend yourself grace…we are literally in a global pandemic).

The best way to do this? A Mid-Year Goal Check-In! I know, it might sound daunting but honestly, I did it a few days ago and it made me feel really proud of all I’ve been able to do and hopeful for other things I want to do before the year is over. In this post I will be sharing the essential steps to complete your mid-year check in and important questions you need to ask yourself.

Look at the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year

The first step is the most necessary. You can’t see how much progress you’ve made on achieving your goals if you don’t see what you set out to do. Be very mindful to not judge yourself during this step. It’s okay if you didn’t achieve all of your goals, that’s why we’re doing this check-in! Some of this stuff may not even resonate with you anymore (which is also okay). The point is, you have to look at them.

Track your wins from your list of goals

Did you accomplish some thing(s) on the list? Wooohoo! Write them down and cross them off (or put a check next to them, depending on your style) and sit with those wins for a minute or so. Clap for yourself because you did that and you should be proud at your ability to keep promises to yourself.

Track other wins that maybe you didn’t set out to do, but did anyways

I had many wins this year that I necessarily didn’t some in to the year thinking about doing or plan for but I’m still happy about them nonetheless. You need to recognize these as well because more than likely you worked towards them (even if they weren’t on your list) and it’s important to recognize all of your wins. Maybe between the last step and this step you realize you never celebrated any of your wins and kept quiet about them. Change that! Celebrating and expressing gratitude for your wins puts you in the mindset of achieving more wins.

Take inventory of what’s left

What is no longer realistic to accomplish in a 6-month timeframe? Change your deadlines on those. Make them smaller tasks so that you can at least work towards the overall goal this year. I’m not encouraging a limiting beliefs but some things just aren’t realistic. For example, if one of your goals was to lose 80lbs you could probably do it but not in a safe way. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and compromise your wellbeing for a deadline.

Re-do your list

What is realistic to accomplish? What steps can you take to make sure you meet this goal by the end of the year? These two questions are important to put the rest of the year into perspective and still accomplish some of your goals or new goals that may be important to you now that we are halfway through the year. Make your list super cute and put it somewhere you can see it every day to motivate you.

*Bonus: Make a “before the year ends” Vision Board

This one is completely optional but I love a good vision board. Sometimes I like making new vision boards in the middle of the year if I’ve accomplished most of the other one OR I just have different things I want to visualize before the year the ends. It’s also completely okay to have more than one vision board. Vision Boards are just fun and I’m probably going to make a new one at some point in July.

It’s okay if you haven’t made as much progress on your goals as you would have liked. You can’t be too hard on yourself, especially this year. We are all trying to get through a global pandemic and keep our sanity (which is enough of a challenge of itself). Extend yourself some grace and do what you need to do. I’m someone who feels better when I have lists and things to work towards so goal-setting helps me keep sane.

Share this article with your favorite go-getter and leave a comment with what steps you are taking to complete your mid-year goal check-in.

My Summer 2020 Workout Playlist (pt. 1)

June 25, 2020June 25, 20202 Comments

I don’t know about y’all but I’m someone that NEEDS a fire playlist before I can even think about working out. The idea of working out without music fills me with sheer terror almost as badly as the terror I feel when I see people workout in jeans (seriously, wtf). I’m also someone who usually has multiple genres of music on a workout playlist unless I’m going with a theme (early 2000s hip-hop was easily my most played playlist in May). Taking all of these things into account, it only made sense that I create a Summer Workout playlist to share with my beloved readers.

I really enjoyed sharing my Valentine’s Day playlist on my blog so I decided to give it another try so I can combine two of my favorite things: working out and MUSIC. Many of these songs came out recently this year and will definitely define Summer 2020 for me. Some of the songs are just my summer favorite in general and find themselves on any Summer playlist I make, workout or not. Some of these I don’t even know when they came out but I heard them somewhere and just have been jamming to them. Either way, this playlist is a reflection of what I’ve been enjoying lately as I continue my home workouts (I still don’t trust the gyms). Hopefully you like it as much as I do and if not, you at least find something new to jam to.

Get Up 10 – Cardi B

This is just a great song to start a workout playlist with. It makes perfectg sense it was the opening song of Cardi’s 2018 Debut album. This song is usually one most of workout playlists because it gets me hype as hell.

Heartless – The Weeknd

Moment of honesty, this song had to grow me on. When I first heard it, it was whatever. Now I’m obsessed. I actually love the whole album but that’s a topic for another day. The energy in this song is just everything.

Ballin’ – Roddy Rich, Mustard

This song is by no means new but I still feel like the first time I heard it every time I hear it. It isn’t as high energy as I would usually have but it’s a vibe nonetheless. I just can’t listen to this song and stay in a bad mood.

Savage (Remix) – Megan Thee Stallion, Beyoncé

Another song I really didn’t love…that was at least until the REMIX came along. Anyone who knows me knows I am the ultimate Beyoncé fan…maybe even stan. I also love Megan Thee Stallion usually but the TikTokers ran the orginal version into the damn ground! Haha, anyways…I really like this song and it totally gives me Summer 2020 feels.

Dura – Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, Becky G, Natti Natasha

This song is a forever fave and reminds me of when I went to the Dominican Republic back in 2018. Similarly to Ballin, I can’t listen to this song and be in a bad mood. It’s the perfect reggaeton track for me to level up on whatever workout I’m doing on.

RITMO – Black Eyed Peas, J Balvin

This song is just so damn catchy. I really can’t even explain but this song just makes me super excited to workout and crush it. Never knew Black Eyed Peas and J Balvin was the collab I needed but here we are.

Rain On Me – Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga’s music literally just makes me so happy…unless it’s one of her more serious ones. The subject matter of this song is pretty sad BUT the upeat tempo just makes me wanna dance and/or workout. Takes me back to 2011 even though it came out this year.

Beautiful (MaRLo Remix) – What So Not, Winona Oak

I discovered this song on one of the soul cycle intstructor’s I follows home workout one day and I literally have listened to it every day since then. As a Vegas girl, EDM has a special place in my heart.

Starry Eyed (Jakwob Remix) – Ellie Goulding

This song reminds me of being in my dorm room while my roommate was having her own mini-party. She played this all the time and I loved it so much. It is such a high energy track that is perfect for a workout.

Party Up (Up In Here) – DMX

This is literally one of my favorite workout songs of ALL time. It fits every season, every mood. Truly a timeless masterpiece that makes me want to lift hella heavy and slap a b*tch.

Cash Shit – Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby

OMG this takes me back to Summer 2019 and now will forever be in my summer rotation. Megan raps “I can’t be fucked with, no…” and that is me at the gym/during my home workout, all day.

ROYL – Chloe x Halle

I talked about how much I loved Chloe x Halle’s NEW album Ungodly Hour in my last post but for some reason I cannot stop playing this song! It was only right I add it to my summer playlist. It’s so damn catchy.

Happier – Marshmello, Bastille

Another sad song with a happy beat that makes me enjoy working out. I don’t think I can ever get tired of this song. You know how I know? I played it on repeat my entire first law school finals season back in December 2018 and NEVER got sick of it.

Save Your Tears – The Weeknd

I just love this song and catch myself singing the chorus over and over to myself more often than I’d like to admit.

Can I – Kehlani, Tory Lanez

A little freaky for my typical workout playlist but it’s still a vibe nonetheless. I really liked the entire album and usually by this point I’m cooling down.

So Bad – Jojo

This song should be muuuuuuch longer than it is but it’s perfect to stretch to after a killer workout. It also makes me wish I was going to pole dancing classes but that’s neither here nor there. Jojo’s album is also REALLY great.

Let me know what you’re jamming out to when you workout this summer! Leave a comment with your favorite workout songs. Click here to view the playlist on Tidal.

Happy (Early) Juneteenth: Highlighting Black Creatives

June 18, 2020June 18, 2020Leave a comment

The last few weeks have been extremely challenging for me as a black woman in America. Between the killings of many Black people that have taken place in the last few weeks to the collective awakening that seems to be taking place amongst non-black people, and everything in between, I have found myself extremely exhausted. One holiday I have been looking forward to is Juneteenth. Juneteenth is a Black holiday that takes place on June 19th but I post on Thursdays which happens to be the 18th this year. For those of you unaware of what Juneteenth is, here is an excerpt from Juneteenth.com.

“Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.”

In celebrating Juneteenth this year, I have decided to dedicate a blog post to highlighting two of my favorite Black creatives, their work, and their missions. Both of these wonderful beings are my friends and stay creating beautiful things that deserve recognition.

Angelica Marie – WeAreKarasi.org

Mission: Creative healing tools. Affirmations and accessible doula care for BIWoC.

Angelica Marie is a Graphic Designer and Doula. She started Karasi to show womxn like me that we all possess the tools to heal and grow. We are all karasi because life and wisdom are already within us. Her goal is to show you creative ways to unlock them. Click here to see her website. You can also follow Karasi on Instagram: @wearekarasi.

Check out Angelica’s website for affirmation cards, doula servies, and more:

https://wearekarasi.org/

Tey Lynn – Author

Vision: A world that is not only safe but enjoyable for ALL Black queer femmes
Mission: To inspire Afrofuturist thought and actions through poetry and prose

Tey Lynn’s work consists of mostly her book Awakening the Dragon, which is an autobiographical exploration of sexuality, queerness, femininity, and Blackness. She has self-authored her presentations on emotional intelligence and self-care. She also has a solo published poem called “Anger” in the Aztec Literary Review. Finally, she has a novel called Luma in the works that contains Afrofuturist themes, and commentary on inclusion and liberation politics.

Follow Tey Lynn’s social media accounts and check out her website:

- IG: @iridescentlytey
- FB: Iridescently Tey
- Pinterest: Iridescently Tey
- Soundcloud: Iridescently Tey
- Website: IridescentlyTey.com

I also featured her on an episode of my podcast, Handle Your Scandal, that you can listen to on apple podcasts, spotify, and soundcloud.

Another way I’ve been finding joy lately is. by listening to music. The album I’m currently obsessed with is Ungodly Hour – Chloe x Halle. I saw them at Coachella back in 2018 and the amount of growth that has taken place between their debut album and this album is insane. This album is everythingggg. I literally can’t stop listening to it. My personal faves are Ungodly Hour, Forgive Me, Wonder What Sh—actually you know what I love the entire album. Please go stream it now!

I hope to highlight more Black creatives in the future and may even focus on highlighting them on my Instagram stories in the future. Make sure you don’t miss out and follow me on Instagram: @musingsofmara

(no underscore, the underscore is someone IMPERSONATING me)

Do you have any Black creatives whose work you love? How are you celebrating Juneteenth? Let me know in the comments and let’s chat!

How To Create Your Perfect Affirmations

June 11, 2020June 11, 2020Leave a comment

Saying affirmations out loud every morning literally changed my life…or at least allowed me to shift my life in the direction I wanted. If you’re not familiar with affirmations, you may be wondering “what are affirmations?” In the most basic way I can describe them, affirmations are usually brief statements that assert something as true or a fact. In the law of attraction school of thought, affirmations are positive statements that reflect the reality that we want. They are a way that we can speak what we want into existence. I may or may not have confused you even more with this statement but it’s okay. Once you read this blog post, you will have a better understand of what affirmations are and how to create the perfect affirmations for yourself.

1. Reflect on what truth you want your affirmation(s) to center around

In order to make your perfect affirmations, you must be clear on what it is you want to affirm for yourself. This may change depending on what is going on in your life. One example of this is that once everything started with the pandemic, I became really anxious about my health. Even prior to the pandemic I’ve always had my own undiagnosed health anxiety and my doctor even forbade me from googling symptoms. Whenever I feel myself getting anxious about my health, I work on affirmations to combat that and calm me down. One of my favorite affirmations is actually 3 that I say together: my body is healthy, my mind is brilliant, my soul is tranquil. The “my body is healthy” part is very important to me maintaining peace about my health.

2. Keep your affirmations in the present tense

Writing your affirmations in the present tense is extremely important. The past is done and over with and we can’t predict the future, we can only try to create it and manifest the life we desire. Which one sounds more powerful: I will become a best-selling author or I AM a best-selling author. The “I am” statement is much more powerful. I know what you may be thinking. “Mara, I’m NOT a best-selling author.” I would respond, of course not with that attitude. All jokes aside, right now you may not actually be a best-selling author but you can make it so by believing it and doing the work to make it happen. The point of repeating affirmations is to create your truth and manifest the reality that already exists. When I was waiting to be accepted into law school, I would tell myself “I’m already a law student, that reality already exists.” Not only was I admitted into law school, I also received a full-tuition scholarship to pay for it. Present-tense affirmations are crucial in creating your own reality.

3. Speak in a positive manner

Another key part of creating your perfect affirmations is focusing on what you want to be true, not what you want to avoid. I’m not going to get too deep into the law of attraction but the basics of it is that whatever you focus on is what you will attract. If your affirmations focus on something you don’t want to happen, you can actually attract that thing to you instead of avoiding it. This may trip people up but it’s so important to keep in mind. Instead of saying “I no longer have debt” you can say “I am debt-free.” They are saying the same exact thing but just as the best-selling author example I mentioned earlier, the “I am” affirmation about being debt-free just sounds more powerful and in a positive tone so your desires can’t get lost in translation. Make sure to write your affirmations in the positive to send the correct message of what you want.

Here are 3 of my favorite affirmations to give you more inspiration.

My body is healthy, my mind is brilliant, my soul is tranquil.

Today I eat for my goal weight. Today I exercise for my goal. I am my goal weight.

I recall information quickly and easily during exams.

Saying affirmations every morning can really start your day on the right track. Hopefully this How To Guide allows you to create your perfect affirmations and work towards cultivating the life you desire. Keep these tips and mind and get to manifesting.

Did you find this post as a good starting point for writing affirmations? Leave a comment with a new affirmation and this post with somebody who could use it today!