Categories – Page 9 – A Chance of Charm

Graphic Tee & Skirt Style

June 2, 2018 No Comments

June kind of sprang up on me. She came out of no where, but let me explain.

You see, I had the entire month of May off from school. I wish I could tell you that I went on vacation and enjoyed a margarita by the pool with my girlfriends, but the month of May was quite the opposite. I’ll let you in on a BIG secret that only close family and friends know… I started my final graduate school research paper 2.5 months late, leaving me with 6 weeks to write the most important paper of my life. So, the first part of May was spent writing and researching (cochlear implants if you’re interested in knowing what my paper was about). Finally, after much back and forth, my research advisor was happy with my work and I made my final submission. What a relief! Of course, I celebrated with a “clean slate” facial at Hiatus spa which was aaaamazing. Then, back to reality.

The last part of May has been equally stressful. If you keep up with my instastories on Instagram, you have seen me working in my apartment lounge, and as of late, a lot more at the UT Dallas library. Why? I’m taking the PRAXIS exam (Speech-Language Pathology certification test) soon and there’s so much to review. So much that I decided to push my test date back from my original June 4th date to a later date. Though hard to admit to myself, and even harder to tell you all, I feel defeated. I realize it’s only temporary and I’m just 2 months away from graduating. I could hold it together for 2 more months, right? 🙂

Does my skirt look familiar to you? I styled it in this blog post back in December! The skirt is an old one from here, but I’ve linked some similar ones below!

XO, Vivian

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Blog, Lifestyle

Journaling with Transcending Waves

May 9, 2018 No Comments

Every night without fail, an alarm goes off at 12am with the label “planner writing.” And every night (or morning?) I snooze the alarm for an hour and come back to it later. No matter how late it gets or how sleepy I am, I pull my planner out and write something, anything, about the day I had.

Throughout my teenage years and young adult life I have had periods of journaling that ended abruptly because I had too much to write and I didn’t want to “catch up.” It sounds so silly right?! Now that I’m no longer obsessed with writing every detail of my life, it has made writing on a daily basis so much easier! Back in the day I had entire notebooks and their only purpose was to journal. Life in my mid-twenties is much busier and I don’t have the space or time to keep track of a journal and a planner. So, I found something that has BOTH!

Transcending Waves reached out to work with me and I couldn’t say no after looking at their planners! Yes, it is beautiful, but the coolest part is that their planners extend beyond a monthly and weekly view. It features a weekly reflection and a daily layout divided between a morning plan and nightly review. My two planner favorites are the monthly view and daily layout. If I’ve learned one thing about bloggers and blogging, it’s that they LOVE to plan way ahead of time. Things can get crowded when jotting dates down for meet-ups, photos, and workouts, but working with a monthly view is so easy to see which dates I’m still available! No matter how busy my schedule, journaling remains a priority. The daily layout split between a morning plan and nightly review lets me write down things I look forward to in a day and reflect on what actually ended up happening. It’s so cool to see!

I’ve enjoyed using my Transcending Waves planner over the past few weeks and slowly seeing its pages fill with writing. If you’re looking to get organized, accomplish goals, and develop positive habits, I know you’ll love this planner as much as I do! Use my code ACHANCEOF10 at checkout for a 10% discount on your next purchase. Happy journaling!

XO, Vivian

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Grad School Stress + Denim Romper

April 27, 2018 No Comments

I have just finished up the most stressful week I have had since last summer (p.s. last summer was insanely stressful!).

Like most people, I enjoy getting my 7 hours of sleep, but this week I pulled an all nighter for the first time in years. Between finishing things up at my speech internship site, and working on research paper drafts that have left my advisors unimpressed, I’ve had no “me” time. I’m all out of energy and no motivation to keep pushing forward. It’s hard to believe that in three months’ time I’ll be in a cap and gown. I know, I didn’t realize it was coming up so fast either! No matter how hard I try, I literally cannot imagine myself in a cap and gown right now. I’m looking in the tunnel and basically at the end, but there’s no light! Light, where are you???

Whether or not I find the “light” (gee, I’m really sticking with this light thing aren’t I), I know things will get better. Next week is Cinco de Mayo and I’m so ready for it! I’ll be celebrating with a margarita in hand and some Hispanic friends, preferably holding a taco in my other hand. My Mexican ancestors would be proud! The excitement is real, so I’ve checked the weather to plan my outfit. As of now, it’ll be a little cold and rainy. Definitely not cute romper weather, but if the weather is better where you are, I’ve linked some super sweet options for you.

Thank you for being so patient with my slow drip of content lately. Things will get better after I’ve submitted this final paper. I promise!

XO, Vivian

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Blog, Style

A Single Shade of Grey

April 18, 2018 No Comments

It drives me crazy when I’m dressed and already out the door before I realize that my blacks don’t match. HOW? How can one top be so much darker than a pair of pants of the same color?! It’ll remain a mystery to me.

With the exception of the color black, I usually don’t care too much if the color of my accessories are an exact match to each other (though it would be nice if they did). In my real everyday life, I don’t have time to think about the little things. But just this once, I went out of my way to make it happen.

If I’m on a hunt for a pair of shoes I usually try this place first. They have everything all the time and I always find what I’m looking for. As it turns out, I also find a lot of shoes that I’m not looking for, but I take home anyway. It creates this big problem where I buy more shoes than fit in my closet (oops!). These grey block heel sandals caught my eye the other day and I knew they’d be going home with me. The block heel makes the sandal so easy to walk in and the light shade of grey is a perfect neutral for the spring. I felt so lucky walking away with a comfy and cute heel, but it totally made my day to walk by this bag with its sweet chevron pattern. And guess what… They were the exact same color!!! It was the most successful trip I’d had in a bit and I’m clearly still happy about that day.

I want to hear from you! Do you make it a point to match accessories? Shop my sandals and bag below if you’re loving this single shade of grey!

XO, Vivian

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Blog, Fitness

How I Train for a Half Marathon

April 11, 2018 No Comments

I am beyond happy to be writing this post! Writing about training has been on my mind for so long and the only reason I didn’t write on the topic sooner was because I have so much to say. Before you continue reading, I’d like to add that I’m only a runner and not a running coach.

Did you know? The first half marathon I ever ran was not even my idea!!! I’ll make the story short. I was at a Christmas party being friendly and charming when I met a girl. We got along so well! After a few sips of champagne she convinced me to run a half marathon with her. And now (though we don’t speak often), my life is forever changed.

The story is relevant because I had no clue (negative clues if possible) what I was doing. The race became a little too real and I realized I’d be running a half marathon within a couple of months. Yes, it was something I had always wanted to do, but how? Google came to my rescue. I spent hours reading about running and looking up half marathon training plans. Most training plans I found had something wrong with them. Usually too much milage or too much time commitment. I use the words “too much” because I was (am) a graduate student and I had no time to waste, as there was always an assignment to complete or an exam to study for.

Then, the best thing happened – I found a training plan I liked! I wish I would have saved it or taken a screen shot, but I didn’t (sorry, ya’ll). The plan aimed to train people who didn’t have much time by having short runs daily, one long run mid-week, and one longer run on the weekend. Well, at least that’s how I remember it and that’s what it has evolved to be for me.

The exact training plan I follow is in the table below. It is only 10 weeks long and is best for someone who can run at least 3 miles on any day. I love this training plan because it only takes up 30 minutes of my day, so there’s never an excuse for me not to show up. I know half an hour it isn’t much time when trying to build speed, so I don’t plan easy runs. This just means that my 30 minute runs are fairly fast (3.50 miles – 3.60 miles/30 min.) and I’m quite tired when it’s over.

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	30 min.	30 min.	4 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	5 mi.	rest
2	30 min.	30 min.	5 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	6 mi.	rest
3	30 min.	30 min.	6 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	7 mi.	rest
4	30 min.	30 min.	6.5 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	8 mi.	rest
5	30 min.	30 min.	7 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	8.5 mi.	rest
6	30 min.	30 min.	7.5 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	10 mi.	rest
7	30 min.	30 min.	9 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	11.5 mi.	rest
8	30 min.	30 min.	10 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	13 mi.	rest
9	30 min.	30 min.	7 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	9 mi.	rest
10	30 min.	30 min.	5 mi.	30 min.	30 min.	3 mi.	Race Day!

I hope you’re inspired to train for your own half marathon! A saying exists along the lines of, “if you can run three miles, you can run 13.1” If you aren’t at three miles yet, you can always work up to it! As always, anything is possible when you believe in yourself and I believe in YOU too!

Today was a long one, thank you so much for reading! More on previous race days here and here.

XO, Vivian

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Blog, Style

20 Ruffled Swimsuits

April 6, 2018 2 Comments

Happy Friday, friends! I’ve been on cruise control with school and internship for quite some time now. My semester ends in 4 weeks and I’m just now realizing I have so much left to do. Do you ever just look at your calendar and think, “where did all these deadlines come from?!”

It’s spring time and there are so many events that I’d like to attend, but I’m in the middle of writing my final research paper and it’s kind of putting a damper on things. The good news? I submitted a draft yesterday so I’ll be able to enjoy my weekend without the stress of writing or researching. If the sun comes out, maybe even hit the pool!

Blog, Fitness

Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon: Sub 1:45

March 25, 2018 No Comments

Yep, I lost my running mojo.

As you may already know, I hurt my right ankle while I was in Nassau. At just 2 weeks out from Rock ‘N’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon, I was limping for 3 days and didn’t run for 5. When I did get back on the treadmill, I took it easy (by easy I mean over 10 minute mile pace) and it still didn’t feel right, so I decided to take the last 5 days off before race day. I’m glad I did, but that means I only ran 3 days in the 14 days before the race. I’ve been running for so long and had never been injured like this before, I didn’t realize how it would impact me. Let’s just say the struggle started when the race started.

I’ll take it back to Saturday’s race expo day. The Dallas Running Club (DRC) had a booth set up at the expo. The DRC is a group of runners who run and workout together, but on race day, they help people meet their goals. My goal was to run 13.1 miles in 1:40 (1 hour 40 minutes). At the rate of my training before the injury, it was totally doable! After my ankle injury? A little aggressive, but still possible. The DRC informed me there would be someone holding a “1:40” sign the entire race and that if I followed them, I’d reach my goal. Easy, right?!

My race day alarm was set for 6:00 am and I slept until 6:40. I did my best not to panic, but I panicked! No matter what sport or hobby you do, you probably have some sort of ritual you follow to ensure a good performance. I had NO time for rituals. Everything before the race felt so rushed, but I made it to my corral on time and that’s all that mattered.

I found the 1:40 sign and I followed closely. The pace was much faster than I’m used to and I could never catch my breath or inhale deeply. I was very uncomfortable, but I managed to stay right by the sign for the first 6 miles. At mile 6 there was one of those loopy highway ramps that was extremely steep and I allowed there to be some distance from the 1:40 sign. The hard part was over and I tried to catch up, but shortly after the ramp there was another brutal hill. The 1:40 sign was even further away at this point and I knew there was no catching up. I was literally watching my dream run away from me and disappear into the distance. It was so hard to watch! Alas, after feeling sorry for myself throughout miles 6 through 9, I picked up my pace a little and did my very best for the last part of the run.

Even though I did this exact race one year ago (my very first half marathon ever), the course felt unfamiliar to me and I was just frustrated. My music was wasn’t loud enough. My Spotify playlist that I love wasn’t cutting it. The humidity was annoying. It’s exhausting being a negative Nancy, ya’ll. No wonder I’m so positive all the time!

Finally, I crossed the finish line and completed the distance in 1:43:40!!! It wasn’t the 1:40 I wanted, but I did beat my personal record and I guess that’s all I could’ve asked for. I didn’t have anyone waiting at the finish line this time around, so I took some time to collect myself. The weather was a beautiful 65 degrees and perfect for reflecting on the chaotic morning I’d just had. I regret being so frustrated and hard on myself throughout the race. Even with all the unexpected days off I had, I am SO proud of myself for just crossing the finish line! There are much bigger problems in the world and more pressing issues in my life, that my time on a race shouldn’t have bothered me so much and it’s something I’ll keep in mind the next time I start feeling down.

Though it was a rough start to my first half marathon of the year, I’m happy to have ended on a positive note. One half marathon down this year, two to go. As always, I’m looking forward to my next race day! Thanks for reading! 🙂

XO, Vivian

Blog, Style

Paperbag Waist Picks

March 23, 2018 No Comments

Happy Friday, ya’ll! What do you have planned this weekend? Sunday is race day for me! I’ll be running the Rock ‘N’ Roll Dallas half marathon again this year. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to for a few months now, but I’m still not fully recovered from my ankle injury two weeks ago and I have NO clue how I’ll feel on race day. Ya’ll know I can talk about running forever, so I’ll have an update after the race. If you’d like to read more about running, you check out this and this in my fitness tab.

On to these shorts! Paperbag waist shorts are easily my favorite style of shorts in the history of shorts. One of my first blog posts featured paperbag shorts (see this) and nothing has changed. I’m still just as obsessed today as I was then! They are just SO flattering and can easily be dressed up or down with a cute wedge and bold accessories. I’ve found the prettiest paperbag waist shorts on the internet and made them easy for you to shop. Check out my picks below!

XO, Vivian

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Travel Diary: Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, Bahamas

March 21, 2018 No Comments

It’s Wednesday and we’re halfway through the week! Around this time of week is when I get tired and I think of my happy place… the Bahamas! If you followed along on my Instastories during my stay, you know the Baha Mar resort is picturesque (and yes, perfect for blog photos). No need to be curious, my exact thoughts on the resort below:

Room: My family stayed at the Grand Hyatt where we were split between the East and West towers. The East tower had a modern vibe and the West tower had more traditional beachy decor. The girly girl in me loved the modern vibe, and I’d plan on staying there on my next trip (because I have to go back). The SLS hotel is also part of Baha Mar Resort and though we didn’t stay in one of those rooms, the hotels are connected and they share the same amenities like the casino, spa, pools… all available to guests of either hotel. Both the Grand Hyatt and SLS are the newest properties in Nassau and are worth every penny!

Food: After the family was all checked in, we went to The Swimming Pig restaurant for a quick bite. I had a chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries and a rum and coke. The fries were awesome and although they didn’t have Captain Morgan at this restaurant, the Jerry Sailor did the trick. The service was a bit slow and we had to call the wait staff to order additional items and to request our check. We made it out to dinner a couple nights at Cleo, a mediterranean restaurant, and then again at Filia, an Italian restaurant where they made an incredible salad table side (so cool to watch them make it!). Dinner was great, but I always looked forward to breakfast. Every morning we enjoyed Club Lounge Access, which is an additional fee of $150 per day for up to 4 people per room. It’s definitely worth it when you consider the variety of foods available for breakfast which includes pastries (the yummiest chocolate croissants!), eggs, bacon, sausage, bagels, cereal, meats and cheeses.. the list goes on. In the evening, they serve meats and cheeses as well as cocktails, wines and even a hot meal option.

Pools: The pools… I could go on and on about these! My favorite was the Bungalow as seen in this blog post, but I’m pretty sure we spent at least some time at four of the seven pools. When the kids were around, we went to Dean’s Blue Hole which we called “the cave pool” for the duration of our stay. The cave pool had a place to jump off from as well as a neat aquarium to see turtles and fish – a great pool for kids! If you’re in a VIP kind of mood, I highly suggest taking a dip in Privilege pool and renting a pergola cabana. The DJ there was so fun and the wait staff was great!

Activities: Cable Beach was just a short walk away from the pools and the place to be for all water activities you could think of. Baha Mar offers complimentary rentals including: stand up paddle-boards, single and double kayaks, clear bottom kayaks, water hammocks, floating lounges, snorkels, and much more! I wish I could’ve spent more time on Cable Beach, but the water was too cold for me. Instead, I made my way over to the bird sanctuary and I was immediately obsessed! There, I was provided a chart to identify different birds and given a small wooden stick with bird food on it. The birds enjoyed eating off my stick and I enjoyed being so close to them, a total win-win!

Overall, I had an amazing time at a beautiful resort. I would definitely stay here again and I highly recommend Baha Mar for your next vacation! More photos of the resort here and here, with more coming soon.

XO, Vivian

Blog, Style

Frayed Hem Shorts

March 19, 2018 No Comments

You would think the Monday after spring break would be hard, but I’m pretty sure I just had the best Monday I’ve ever had. After having my “last spring break ever,” I came back to school recharged and ready to finish my semester off strong. As much as I loved sleeping in and staying up late over the break, I know I’m at my best when I have a schedule to follow. It makes me feel like I have it all together when I really don’t (anyone else with me on this one?). Maybe it was just the spring air, but the day was so good that my kids felt it too! Everyone worked so hard for me in their speech sessions, which left a little wiggle room to goof off and laugh, it was perfect.

It was definitely shorts weather in Nassau last weekend and I could’ve stayed there forever (or at least until I started missing this guy)! I scored these shorts with a frayed hem (size 00 for reference) for less than $20 and I know I’ll be getting so much use out of them this season. Even with a longer inseam, they are ultra flattering! I’m linking my exact shorts as well as some others that are sure to turn heads.

XO, Vivian

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