Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Her

The season of love is upon us ladies and gentleman, and whether you're celebrating the day with your galentines or with your significant other, I wanted to create a one stop shop for that special person in your life to find the perfect gift!

I have curated this list of items from things that I either personally have and love, or things that I would love to receive on February 14th! I do have some mixed feeling about Valentine's Day, and I'm sure you do as well. I feel like you either love or hate the holiday, but oddly enough that's not quite how I feel about it either...

As someone that has been in a relationship for what feels like forever, one from age 14-18, and then one that started promptly after I escaped from that first one, that includes the guy that will one day be my husband, I've never "hated" Valentine's Day the way that single people do. Rather I feel that it's kind of a useless holiday... For those of us that are in a relationship, we celebrate big milestones every year, like anniversaries. Whether it's the day we started dating, or eventually our marriage anniversary, there is one special day every year where we treat ourselves to delicious (and more expensive than usual) dinner, wine, flowers that end up dying and sprinkling leaves all over my kitchen table, stuff like that. 

So on top of celebrating that day, we are also expected to celebrate on February 14th, the day of love. While I do love the pink and red, and the XOXO home decor, I just can't help but feel bad for the people that are alone and have to endure Valentine's Day. It just seems like another day to remind yourself that you're either so lonely, or another day to have to spend $100 on a nice bottle of wine with your spouse. You pick. I guess I feel like the holiday is super unnecessary, but so is #NationalGrilledCheeseDay if you want my honest opinion about it. By the way, Happy #NATIONALCROISSANTDAY... See what I mean? LOL

Okay now you all know my thoughts on the holiday, and of course I do still love to buy friends and family sweet gifts for any occasion, which is why I put together this list of great buys! Some are super cheap and easy, thoughtful gifts, and some are on the higher end for those very special people in your life. The perfume I added is one that I use EVERY day, and swear by. And the slippers and sneakers are must have shoes in your closet, that anyone will love.

Now that you've heard my thoughts on it, I want to hear yours! Tell me how you feel about Valentine's Day in the comments below, and be sure to subscribe to my blog with your email in my sidebar so you can see when my new blog posts go live, I've got some awesome stuff coming up and even a giveaway that you won't want to miss ;)

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January Instagram Roundup

Can you believe it's already the end of January? I always feel like once Christmas is over we are in a high speed chase to make it to summer. No one else might not agree with me on that one, but living at the beach summer is the highlight of every year. Warm sunny days spent out on the boat with the family, nothing beats it! But as we are at the end of January I like to take a look back at the month on Instagram!

It's that time of the month again! No, not THAT time of the month.. The magical one time of the month, every month (from here on out), that I will be doing a great Instagram round up and linking to items that I have not linked yet! Hopefully I can cover it all, but of course if there's something I missed that you're dying to know where I got it, like home decor, etc. Just shoot me a message and I will do my best to find it!

This week has been PAINFULLY cold in North Carolina!! Just making it to the gym I feel like I have to wear my parka, so naturally I had to share these earmuffs with you guys. Also I have about 4 colors of this top, and 3 or 4 colors of these leggings so I highly recommend them. Feel free to ask me about sizing, I'm wearing a size 6 in both top and bottom here but could definitely do a size 4.

Unfortunately the color of my rain coat is sold out, but I linked the exact style and they have some awesome color combos right now. I'm loving the camo!!! Perfect for a rainy day that is cold or warm because it's a great wind breaker, but it's not too heavy.

You might have seen this look on the youtube this past week! I filmed an awesome video for you guys talking about how to get into real estate... You definitely should check it out if you haven't!

This top and leggings combo again.. I'm telling you it's ALL I wear if I'm not in regular work clothes haha!

Okay this was a super fun outfit I wore out to date night on Friday night. I have not worn a crop top since I was 13 or 14 years old, so clearly my fitness routine is working wonders for me! I have a few fitness blog posts coming up but if there's anything specific you are wanting to know about how I'm shedding the pounds, let me know.

Another fun new gym look right here for you to enjoy... and wonder if I actually own regular clothes! Contrary to popular belief, I do go to work most days, but I much prefer my time in the gym in these super comfy leggings!!

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HOW TO: Get into Real Estate!

After an overwhelming response to an instagram question that I asked on my stories asking you guys what you wanted to see from me on my blog, it was clear that a lot of people were interested in the process of getting into real estate!

This was interesting to me, because I thought it was pretty straight forward and clear how someone would go about obtaining their real estate license, but it turns out that more people were just like me when starting the process...pretty clueless, haha. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up for that first real estate class last March, and I will be honest with you, I learn something new about real estate every single day. The truth is, you never stop learning in this career, it's constantly changing with the times, the market is constantly changing, and the laws are constantly changing. 

The first key step to getting your license is finding the right real estate school for you. Choosing one that is associated with a local real estate company also makes a huge difference, but when those companies do their hiring, they're going to pick straight from the current class. 

Once you pass the class test and are getting ready to take the state and national portion, that is the key time to interview with different companies. Wilmington is FILLED with real estate companies, so there's a lot of brokerages to choose from, your town might only have one or two though which makes the choice easier. Choose your company based on the amount of training they have for new agents. I cannot stress this enough. Real estate school does not teach you how to be a realtor, it teaches you how to stay out of real estate jail. You get thrown into your first transaction and without good training you will be clueless. What is an exclusive buyers agency agreement? Who holds the earnest money? What is commingling? All of these things you must be well trained on before helping your first client.

I will preface this all by saying that the real estate process varies by state, so this is truly North Carolina specific, but it should all be generally the same. Refer to your states National Association of Realtors for specifics!!



Hopefully I hit all of the good stuff, but of course if you have more specific questions or want advice from me- please do not hesitate to reach out! And as always, if you're thinking about buying real estate in Wilmington, NC and it's surrounding beaches... Give me a call! 910-803-3013

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How to fit a workout into your daily routine

Ever feel like there's not enough hours in the day to make it to the gym? Are you lacking motivation to make it there? Do you want to have a healthier lifestyle but do not know where to begin?

If you answered YES to any of those questions above then guess what... You and I are more similar than you might have thought. From a young age until 21 years old I never broke 120 pounds. I ate two packs of poptarts for breakfast, snacked all day, never missed dessert, and NEVER gained a pound. Once I turned 21 and had the freedom to drink alcohol with any meal, and drinking became more of a social outing, I found that it was in fact possible for my body to gain weight. Now I don't say any of this to brag about what I bangin' body I grew up with, I say it to prove to you that everyone has a downfall. Alcohol just happened to be mine.

During year 22 and 23 I got my first taste of being miserable in my full time job. When you and one of your good friends (who you work with at the time) takes your lunch break together to go get drunk just to deal with your job, it's time for the reality check that the career might not be right for you. When you get home from your job and continue drinking, not a beer or two, but an entire bottle of wine just to handle the stress and drown out the misery of your corporate run job, it might not be the career for you. And when you find yourself on one of your days off, starting to drink mimosas at 10am to forget that you have to be back in that terrible place the next day... Well, you get the picture.

Again, I don't say all of this for a pity party, and I'm also not saying I didn't have so much fun during this time in my life, I'm just saying that none of this was healthy for me and my body. I gained close to 40 pounds, hated the way I looked, my intimate life with my boyfriend suffered because I didn't even like to see myself naked, so how could he?

Fast forward to May 2018, my last day at my full time job: I had just gotten my real estate license, and you wouldn't believe the sigh of relief that came out of me. Since then, it has been an uphill climb back to my weight at 21 years old. I get a lot of messages asking me how I do it, how do I make it to the gym every single day? How do I continue to find the motivation to go, even when I'm sore and tired?

There's no secret sauce that I can mail you that will give you motivation to go every single day, and I'll be honest with you, I have days that I don't want to be there either... But when you start to see progress in your body and you see your clothes start to fit looser, you can't help but to keep going.

Carol's tips to make it to the gym:

1. Go as soon as you wake up in the morning. 

It's a proven fact that you are fresher in the morning, so when your feet hit the floor, throw on some workout clothes and head out the door. That way you have the rest of your day to do as you please. Fasted cardio is also incredible for a weight loss journey, but more on that in a future post.

2. Take workout clothes to work

If I don't go first thing in the morning, I always take workout clothes in my bag to the office with me. Once I finish everything I need to accomplish at work, I will change into my gym clothes here, and head to the gym. I pass my gym on the way home from work, so there's no excuse for me not to go if I'm literally going to pass it and I'm already dressed and ready to go. 

3. Invite a buddy

An accountability partner is key to getting you in your workout routine. If your gym is unfamiliar, or you're wanting to take a new workout class, having a friend there for the first time always makes the experience less nerve wracking. The first time I went to my new gym here in Wilmington, I brought my mom, so no shame in who you choose as your accountability partner.

4. Start small mentally

Going to the gym with the mindset that it's only going to be a quick and easy 20 minute workout is the best way to get yourself there. 20 minutes is simple, it's in and out. Once you have gotten yourself there, it's so easy to turn that quick 20 minute workout in a 90 minute work out (trust me).

5. Find yourself a program that works

I have tried them all, Pop Pilates, BBG, at home workouts, and finally the one that has ACTUALLY worked for me: Fit with ASD. I hear a ton of people rave about BBG but let me tell you some good un-sponsored truth about that program; it is NOT for beginners. From day one you are thrown into the misery that is this "quick 20 minute workout" by day 3 you are so sore that not only can't get off the couch, but you definitely don't want to keep using this program. Fit with ASD has been such a god send, and if you have seen Grace's bod, you know it works. The best part of her program is that she gives you her exact workout that she does every single day, and based on your level in the gym you can modify it with less weight or less reps. In my particular case, I'm trying to lose weight, so I double the amount of cardio that she does in a day, but everything else I keep the same. If you are like me and haven't found a program that works for you- I highly recommend this one! 

I hope this gives a little insight into my gym mentality, and if you want to see more on my fitness lifestyle- shoot me a DM on Instagram and let me know what you want to see!

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Nordstrom Rack Steals

These leggings are such good quality and under $20!!! This is one of my go to brands on the site, because they resemble the quality of Lululemon. 

Sneaks that will carry you from spring to summer are a must, size down a half size in these bad boys...they are SO comfy!

One of my fave mini skirts is on sale for under $30 now... it was originally $70 so this is a DEAL especially with summer coming up. I already have it in blue, but this white is tempting.

This is favorite of mine, it's the palette that I swear by and have used since college (I've bought new ones, no one panic) but snag it now because its over 50% off.

How cute is this laptop case?! At only $11, it deserves a chance to protect your computer!!

If you're new around here, I am here to let you know you'll be seeing a lot of this brand around here! I am a Free People fanatic, but don't always love the price tag. My best kept secret is that two or three months after pieces are on the rack in Belk and Nordstrom, they appear on Nordstrom Rack for 70% off. I buy pieces the same season, at over half the price, you're welcome :)

Piggy backing off of this, this pair of denim with the blown out knees is a must for the spring!

These bags just don't ever seem to go out of style, and now you can add one to your closet at 50% off...yep you heard me right, crazy!!

And last but not least, I bet you had no idea that Nordstrom Rack carried home furnishings and decor. Check out these super popular tumblers, except on Rack they are 40% off!! Great time to stock up for gifts for birthdays throughout the year, you can go wrong gifting these for someone else, or yourself!

Instagram fam, don't you guys worry, just because I'm not using liketkit doesn't mean I'll leave you hanging on my outfit details. I linked everything below!

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Products I'm loving in 2019

From Amazon to Nordstrom Rack, I spend a LOT of time perusing the internet for the next best thing. Since I am in my mid-twenties, and still ballin' on a budget (you're going to hear me say that a LOT), most things end up sitting in my cart and never being purchased... who's with me? So the lucky few items that actually make it to my front door are ones that I have to have and ones that I LOVE. Since 2019 has begun and I'm in the middle of an awesome work out routine, I have decided to share some things that I truly cannot live without.

If you follow me on Instagram, you will see me wear these sunglasses all day everyday. I bought them in December and they are my current favorites! Under $70 and big enough to hide my face if I'm not feeling wearing makeup!

For Christmas this year I bought Klein these headphones, and it turns out that I've worn them more than he has. They're awesome in the gym because they don't have a strap that touches your neck while you sweat, and they can go a lot farther out of range from your phone and still play music!

In the last six months I've ditched all of my Nike and traded it for something a little nicer! I've loved this transition, because my new favorite brand is higher quality and extremely slimming. You'll hear more about my fitness journey in a later post, it's been a long time coming trying to get back to my pre-21 year old weight. So naturally another staple that I've accumulated in many different colors are these leggings! Take the plunge and splurge on them, you will not regret it.

Won't go off on a tangent on this one, but this blender has been my go to with all of my yummy smoothies and drinks I make after my work outs! I've had this thing for years and it still works like a charm.

And you are all welcome because I had an overwhelming amount of messages on the white booties that I posted on my insta-stories yesterday, so here they are!! They are on SALE right now too, so you have to snag them. I plan to wear them now in the cold and wayyy into the spring and summer. Thanks to Klein's mom for the amazing Christmas present!

Last but not least, the jacket that I've had on repeat, another staple that you MUST have in your closet!! Super slimming, and perfect to work out in or just every day wear.


I'm rocking a few of my staples below, and the rest of this outfit is linked below!

Tank (similar) | Jeans (similar) | Jacket (sold out, similar) | Shoes | Sunglasses | Earrings

By the way, I had a lot of DM's on Instagram asking for details on this photo that I posted on Friday and as promised, I've linked everything below!

Sweater | Leggings | Shoes | Earrings (in rose gold)

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2019 Goals & Resolutions

Happy New Year guys!! Okay so it's January 3rd and you might notice it's been a month (or three) since I got my blog back up and running, but honestly in that amount of time I've been thinking long and hard about what I truly wanted to do with it.

As some of you may or may not know, and you can read more here if you don't know, but when I had my fashion blog back in college it was just that...fashion. And that's it. I was in the middle of my ten years of working retail, so my life literally revolved around fashion 24/7. Fast forward to my mid-twenties and I have found there is just SO much more to life. I got out of the retail industry, and have felt myself blossom as a person, as a girlfriend, a mom to my doggies, and so much more. So to tell you that this blog will be all about fashion would be a lie, it's going to be so much more than that.

I am no stranger to the blogging world, when I was Rainboots & Retail from 2012-2016 I had hundreds of posts, worked with some amazing brands, and made some lifelong blogging friends. We did not have insta-stories back then, so I do have a LOT to learn in 2019 about the current blogging trends.

When the clock struck midnight on January 1st, 2019 I thought long and hard about my goals- this blog getting started back up is definitely a big goal from me! My schedule as a real estate agent is extremely flexible, so I am excited to be committed to bringing something weekly for my readers!

As for some other 2019 goals...
-Spend more time outside. This one is funny for me because if you follow me on instagram you will notice how much time my family and I spend out on the water. In case you didn't realize, I live at the beach, so spending time outside is inevitable, especially in the summer months. It's the not-so-summery months that keep me a little cooped up, and those are the days that this goal is directed at.

-Keep up with the laundry. WHY is this so simple when you write it out but gets so lost in the weekly shuffle??? I will seriously leave clean laundry in the dryer for two weeks until Klein and I are both out of underwear...I gotta keep it together this year.

-Continue with my current work out routine. Some other things you may know- I started FitwithASD which is a work out program created by one of my favorite bloggers (who I started following way back when in college, probably 2013ish) and you can ask anyone...I've never made it to the gym every single day for three weeks straight. This program has done it for me, is different every day so I never get bored, and in case you haven't heard: 2019 is the year of the tight ass!!!

Those are the big three, although I have plenty in mind that are more personal. Oh and in case Klein stumbles upon this... 2019 is the year of the engagement ring, I'm just saying.

Tell me all about your goals for 2019, I'd love some other inspiration! And let me know, either in the comments here, or on Instagram what you are hoping to see from this blog- anything goes!

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