Parent Gift Guide

Happy Friday!! 

Back along when I asked who you were struggling to shop for, parents and in-laws was one of the most popular answers. I agree- this is always a challenge for me too! However, I have done a few gifts over the years that have been a huge hit so I will pass them along to you now!

Small Business Gift Guide

 Happy Black Friday! 

I know today is the day of gift buying and shopping until you drop... though this year it may be happening online more than in store. I love shopping on Black Friday and scoring big deals but I love supporting small businesses more! I have complied a list of small businesses that provide great gifts this holiday season. Please join me in supporting these makers and artisans this holiday. 

For the Ladies

Personalized Dreams & Co.

This business is owned by a friend from college and she makes the CUTEST tumblers, necklaces, keychains and more. These would make perfect gift for the ladies in your life who can always use a new, stylish tumbler or a fun floral necklace. 

She has graciously provided a coupon code just for my followers. Use code THELEGALDUCHESS at checkout for a discount. 

For the Pet Lovers

Gemini Studio

This adorable shop has so many custom items for any pet lover! It is a local shop for me (Northwest Ohio) and they just make the cutest items. I personally love the dog breed mugs and dog breed canvas prints. 

For the Equestrians

Brown Acre Designs

Not sure how many equestrian followers I have but I have to plug my own small business. I offer many custom items for horse lovers and a few dog/cat items as well. Ornaments, stall signs and water bottles make great gifts for any horse lover!

For the Kids

Custom Name Puzzle

Such a cute gift for the kids in your life! Not only is it adorable, it also makes for an enriching toy for a child. 

For the Movie Buff

Window Shop Gal

These TV and movie inspired prints are SO CUTE. The Office, Gilmore Girls, The Notebook... so many options! Perfect for a college apartment or family movie room. Fit into a cost effective poster frame and you have the cutest gift!

Happy Shopping!

Husband/Father/Brother Gift Guide

Christmas is COMING! 2020 is weird but it's also flying by and it's time to start the Christmas shopping. I know this year has been hard for many people. If you are not shopping this year, I respect that and I respect the need to make hard decisions based on your circumstances. Gifts or no gifts, there are so many ways to make the holidays special. For those who are shopping, I was mindful in curating this list in include small businesses as well as large and a variety of price points. 

This gift guide is for the men in your life. I am not sure why, but I always have the hardest time shopping for the men in my life... husband, father, brother, etc. Based on the responses I got when I asked one instastories, this is a common struggle to find the perfect gift for the men in your life! I pulled together a selection of gifts I have gifted to the men in my life in the past with positive reactions from the recipients. I hope you find this helpful and it saves you a little stress this holiday season. Happy Shopping!

Some of these links are affiliate links and by shopping through them, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This little bit of income helps me to continue producing content for you and I am so appreciative of those who shop my links!

Life After Law School

I am now well into my post-law school life and I have been reflecting on the difference in my life after law school. I have been blessed with a pretty good road after my graduation from law school. Despite a little hiccup with my first bar exam and needing to retake the exam in February 2020 (I passed!), my life has been really great. I secured a wonderful job with my law school, my husband and I bought our dream farm, I have time for hobbies and creativity again and my stress level is significantly lower. I want to go through all the emotions and thoughts I have gone through after law school. While I am very happy now, the road after law school has not been perfectly smooth and based on conversations with fellow law grad's, I think that is pretty normal. 

How I went from Failing the Bar Exam to Passing in the 90th Percentile

These are words I have dreamed of typing- I am officially a Lawyer. I passed the February 2020 Ohio Bar Exam. I will be sworn in to the Ohio Bar in just 4 short days.

If you have followed me for a while, you will know that I failed the July 2019 Ohio Bar Exam by just a few points. More on that in this blog post. I decided to go after the February 2020 bar exam without mercy. I wanted to pass and I wanted to pass with a healthy cushion. I refused to fail by just a few points again. Thankfully, my tireless efforts were successful. Not only did I pass, but I passed in the 90th percentile. That means my score was in the top 10% of February 2020 exam takers. I had a perfect score on two of my essays and one of my MPT's. This was a HUGE increase from where my previous bar exam score was.

I do NOT post this to brag or boast in any way. I am posting all of this with the hopes that it can encourage others who have to retake the bar exam. I want people to understand just how high you can rise after a setback. I don't want people to feel like they can't success on this exam just because of one bad attempt. I want those who are preparing for this exam to understand that failing once isn't the end of the world.

So what made the vast difference in my scores? I cannot say with 100% certainty but I have some good ideas based on the changes I made as I prepared for my second attempt. I am going to share it with the hopes that it helps someone else conquer this monster of an exam.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a bar prep expert. I am NOT a professor or a bar examiner. I am just someone who has done this process twice, once unsuccessfully and once successfully, and I am sharing what I learned from that in the hopes that something here can help someone else. I am sure some of this advice will seem redundant or silly to some people and to others it will be enlightening. What worked for me might not work for you. Take everything with a grain of salt and at the end of the day, you have to do what works best for you. 

Tips for Remote Law School

I know this is a crazy and scary time for law students. 3L's are dealing with the lack of graduation and uncertainty around the bar exam and my heart just goes out to all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone and my hope is that this pandemic will pass and everyone will have access to all normal opportunities.

What I want to discuss today is the change to remote law school. I know it has been a hard adjustment for everyone. As I am now working for my law school, I have remained pretty informed on the transition to online law school and the struggles students are facing. While I never completed law school online, I did study for two bar exams online from home and through a lot of trial and error, I figured out a few tricks to handle full time study online from home. I want to share these tips in the hopes that they might provide a little assistance to all the law students out there figuring out online law school.

1. Set a Routine 
It literally doesn't matter what your routine is, but find something that works for you. Personally, I would do work in 3 hour increments throughout the day. It was unusual but it worked for me. Having a routine gives you a reason to get up and get to work in the morning. Having a routine also makes it easier to ensure that you are getting enough work done. It is sometimes hard to keep up when you don't have the usual parameters. Having a daily routine keeps you in the rhythm of getting your work done and will help you to stay on top of the work load.

A routine also helps you make time for relaxation. You need to take breaks and rest your brain. Work hard and then enjoy your leisure time.

2. Make a Study Space
I think it is super important to have a defined area in your home for studying. Just like when you get home from class, you can relax and step away from school work, if you define a place in your home purely for studying, you can step away from that area when you need to relax. Further, when you get into your study space, it helps to motivate work just like arriving to class motivates you to be prepared and do your best.

3. Ask for Help
If you are struggling, absolutely reach out for help. There is no award for going it alone. These are hard times- these are unprecedented times. Everyone is figuring it out as they go. I urge you to seek out help if you feel like you are starting to struggle. Talk to professors, faculty, mentors.... anyone you trust to advise you and assist you. If you feel mental health issues beginning, seek out help. There are many free and online counseling options available. Please please please ask for help if you are struggling. I know personally I always hate admitting I need help but when I seek it out, I always feel better on the other side.

4. Have Grace with Yourself
Life has changed drastically- it's okay if your motivation and productivity changes too. Have some grace with yourself as you adjust to this new reality. It will get easier, it will get better and eventually, this pandemic will come to an end.

5. Helpful Products 
I put together an Amazon list of items I think are gamechangers for studying from home.

•  Laptop stand to get your laptop up to a better position to improve your posture and alleviate neck strain
•  Wireless mouse
•  Wireless keyboard- it makes it easier to type while your computer is raised
•  Ring light- clip this over your laptop camera and look like a rockstar on Zoom or Facetime
•  Blue light blocking glasses help to alleviate the strain of computer screens on your eyes and help with headaches
•  Seat cushion to help with posture
•  Water bottle- I like to have water next to me at all times while studying at home 
•  Coffee mug with lid- don't let your coffee spill on your computer!

Shop all these products here!

I hope this is helpful! Best of luck everyone!

Fitness at Home

I have always been a homebody so quarantine has not been a huge adjustment for me (thankfully). I know a lot of people are struggling with the new normal and I am doing my best to share relevant information.

Today I am talking about keeping fit at home. Many people practice fitness in gyms, yoga studios, pure barre studios, Orange theory... you get the idea. Unfortunately all of those places are currently closed. That doesn't mean you can't keep up your fitness routine at home though. I have never been a gym member or workout class attendee so I am pretty well versed in this. I am sharing all of my go to ideas and tips for working out at home.

Tips for Working Out at Home

1. Designate a Space (if you can)
If you have a spare room or basement, it can be helpful to designate the space to working out. It makes it more similar to a gym or studio. My husband has an area in our basement all organized for his workouts. Personally, I am pretty content to do Yoga in my living room or pedal my exercise bike in front of the TV. I do have a treadmill in the basement so I try to use that a few times a week as well.

2. No Need for Fancy Equipment
Even if you don't have fancy equipment, you can get in good workouts. No weights? Try cans of soup or books. No Yoga mat? Carpet works just fine for most moves. Get creative and make the best of your space and the things around you. There are also tons of ideas for equipment free workouts.

3. Pick a Time 
I find it helpful to set a time for my workouts so that it gets to be a part of my routine. Personally, I like to workout at night. So I make a deal with myself that I can't go to bed until I have done a workout of some kind. Sometimes its 30 minutes on the bike, sometimes its Yoga and sometimes I even run on the treadmill if I am feeling motivated. Whatever time of your day feels good, make that your workout time and stick to it.

4. Stop Making Excuses 
It is SO easy to make excuses to not work out. The gym is closed, you don't have room, you have no equipment..... STOP. Every excuse has a flipside which makes it possible. Where there is a will, there is a way. Stop making excuses and start figuring out solutions.

5. 21 Days
It takes about 21 days to make a routine that will stick. We are likely quarantined for at least 21 days if not longer. What a perfect time to make home workouts a part of your routine!

Ways to Workout at Home

1. Youtube
There are SO many amazing workout's on youtube. Search for whatever you want to do and you will be amazed at what is available... the options are nearly endless. I personally love the Yoga with Adriene series and it is completely free on youtube.

2. BBG
I did BBG all last summer and WOW did it work. It is super hard but very effective. It is within an app called SWEAT ($19.99 per month) and the workouts are about 28 minutes and require zero to very minimal equipment to complete. It is a great way to really tone your body!

3. Treadmill 
I bought a used treadmill 3 years ago and it has been great. My husband and I both use it regularly. I love being able to run and burn off energy right in my own basement. Search through Facebook marketplace and you would be amazed by how many great deals there are on exercise equipment. Off course, sanitize well after you pick it up if you choose to go this route.

4. Exercise Bike 
This folding exercise bike is perfect for tight spaces. It folds up small to be out of the way and works great when you need to get a workout in. Mine was under $100 and works really well. It lives in the corner of our living room and my husband and I both use it several times a week.

Happy exercising!

My Favorite TV Shows

Thanks to COVID-19, most of us are stuck in our houses and watching lots of TV. I have had this post in my drafts for a long time but now I had a push to finish it.

I am a TV lover. I sometimes wish I didn't enjoy it so much so I wouldn't spend so much time sitting in front of the TV but the fact remains that it is something I really enjoy. I am pretty wide open in my TV interests- I watch a little bit of everything.

I have broken this list up by genre and listed my favorites under each.

Comedy

1. The Office (Netflix)

2. How I Met Your Mother (Netflix)

3. Friends (catch reruns on TV)

4. Gilmore Girls (Netflix)

5. New Girl (Netflix)

Crime

1. The Following (Netflix)

2. Criminal Minds (Netflix)

3. CSI: NY (not sure where you can see it)

4. Mindhunter (Netflix)

History

1. Into the West (buy it on Amazon)

2. Call the Midwife (Netflix)

3. Band of Brothers (Amazon Prime)

Drama

1. Outlander (Starz)

2. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)

3. Jack Ryan (Amazon Prime)

4. The Resident (NBC currently)


Documentaries 
1. Mysteries at the Museum (Travel Channel)

2. WW2 in HD (Netflix)

3. The Keepers (Netflix)

4. Five Came Back (Netflix)

5. Secrets of Great British Castles (Netflix)


Family Favorites
1. Boy Meets World (Disney Plus)

2. Full House and Fuller House (reruns and Netflix)

3. The Middle (reruns)

Other
1. The Hot Zone (NatGeo)

2. Trisha's Southern Kitchen (Food Network)

3. Home Town (HGTV)

4. Great British Baking Show (Netflix)

5. Walking Through History (Amazon Prime)

5 Hobbies You Can Do In Your Home

Hello friends!

I have not blogged in so long. My life has been pretty hectic between the end of bar prep, the bar exam, traveling to Switzerland, arriving home and starting my new job and then the craziness of COVID-19 putting my state into quarantine.

Speaking of COVID-19, I decided to tailor my post to fit the current time. I am not stressing too much over being stuck at home. I am an introvert and a homebody so this isn't overly strange for me to be at home a lot and I am very content this way. I think that having several good hobbies that I do at home contributes to my comfort.

In this time of social distancing, you may be looking for ways to fill your additional time at home. I have outlined some of my hobbies that are easy to do from home and provide an excellent form of entertainment in this time of crisis.

1. Reading 
A tale as old as time... I truly believe there is no better way to enjoy time at home than to read. Books will transport you out of your home into other worlds, historical times, possible futures.... the possibilities are truly endless. There is almost nothing I love more than getting lost in a book.

If you are not a reader, now might be the time to explore it. Maybe you will gain more enjoyment from it now that your are out of school or maybe you just need to search in a different genre to find something you enjoy. There are some amazing resources out there that will bring books right into your home without every leaving it. Here are some of my favorites:

• Libby app: this app allows you to download e-books and audiobooks for free with a library card. 
• Kindle app: there are tons of free books and cheap books accessible in the app plus any other book you could want!
• Scribd: this is another reading app that is offering a free month of unlimited access to their library which includes e-books, audiobooks and magazines. 

2. Blogging 
I started my blog in the lull between graduating college and starting law school. It was a great way to fill my time and flex my writing skills. It has remained one of my favorite hobbies throughout law school and beyond. A blog is a great thing to start up when you have some free time. You can have a blog on almost any topic and it can even become a side-hustle where you can make some spending cash. There are tons of people who have considered it and just not followed through. With some extra time at home, why not now?

I host my blog for free on the google Blogger platform. It is easy to figure out and navigate.


3. Knitting 
Knitting has been a pastime for hundreds of years. I started teaching myself to knit on breaks from law school. I found it to be very soothing and cathartic after the craziness of law school. Soothing is what we all need right now in this time of crisis and uncertainty. There are a million youtube videos that can teach you how and knitting needles and yarn are cheap and easy to find at your local supermarket (just please don't buy ALL the toilet paper while you are there) or on amazon.

I love that knitting gives you a tangible result. There is an element of instant gratification. It is also something you can do while watching TV or listening to music. If you are a busy body like me, it is a great way to keep your hands busy so you don't get antsy.


4. Yoga
I have practiced yoga on and off for almost 6 years now. Yoga is great because in my opinion, it doubles as a hobby and a workout good for the mind and the body. I love how I feel when I regularly practice yoga. It makes my body and mind feel better whenever I do it- it eases my tension and stress.

Right now is the perfect time to begin a yoga practice in your home. All you need is a yoga mat (Amazon sells them for $12). I practice yoga in my living room from free videos on youtube from Yoga with Adrienne.

5. Cooking or Baking 
If you are a person who generally eats out, this is a rough time. Many areas are shutting down restaurants to combat COVID-19. What better time to improve your cooking skills? This is a great time to add some quick, easy recipes to your recipe box. I personally enjoy cooking most of the time. I turn on a Netflix show on my ipad or listen to a podcast and get to it. It is a low stress moment in my day and that is something I appreciate. If you start cooking more, you might even find that you enjoy the challenge of cooking and can find some enjoyment out of something generally considered a chore.

Have you always wanted to learn to bake? Now is the time! Baking is one of my favorite ways to relieve stress. It is calming and you get something yummy at the end. Grab a bag of flour and sugar at the store and start mixing up something yummy at home. Dance around your kitchen with a bowl of brownie batter and make sure to lick the bowl- I promise you won't be able to keep the smile of your face.

For both cooking and baking, pinterest is my go to resource closely followed by the Pioneer Woman.

Stay safe and stay healthy! 

5 Things That Would have Changed my 1L Grades

Hello friends!

I know I have not posted much law school content lately. It is harder now that I am out of school. Because I am not confronted with the problems of law school daily, I find myself rarely thinking about it and even more rarely blogging about it. I promise to still do some law school content and my previously written law school content will never go away. But, as my life changes and evolves, I want this blog to do so with me. Law school is a temporary endeavor so I want my followers to be able to follow along in post-grad, work life, and everything that happens after law school so I can continue to be a resource.

Now back to the post for today: I have never made a secret of the fact that I had a hard first semester of law school. My grades were not what I wanted and I even failed one of my classes and had to retake it. The more I look back on my law school experience, the more obvious it has become to me what went wrong that first semester. Some people are naturally good at law school- I was not one of them. Multiple choice and bar style essays did not come naturally nor easily to me. I worked as hard as I could but the work I was doing was less effective than it could have been. I tried my best but my grades suffered.

Moving into my second semester and beyond, I took a good, hard look at what worked for me and what didn't and adjusted accordingly. My second semester saw a dramatic jump in my GPA and my grades were significantly improved. Throughout law school, my GPA rose steadily and I did very well. Law school was a major learning curve for me and it took a rough semester to figure a lot of the tricks out.

I know many of you are coming off of first semester disappointed in your grades as I was despite the hard work you put in. I am sharing some of the things I wish I had the first semester of my 1L year that in hindsight likely would have made for better grades. Further, use these tips to move forward stronger and have a killer second semester. It is completely possible!

A Solo Day in Disney's Animal Kingdom: Tips, the Best Photo Spots and a Place to Charge Your Phone

On our recent quick trip to Disney World, I spend a mostly solo day in Animal Kingdom. My husband had to work most of the day so he met me in the park around 4pm. I had the whole day to explore and I found some fun photo spots and was able to get great pictures even though I was on my own.

I wanted to share this post with anyone doing a solo trip and looking for some great photos in Disney's most beautiful park (in my opinion)!

Best Photo Spots

This photo was taken while walking between Africa and Asia

1. Tree of Life
I have a few spots for amazing pictures of the Tree of Life. This stunning centerpiece of the park makes for amazing photos but if you try to take them right in front when you enter the park, there will likely be a ton of other people in your photo memories because everyone is trying for the same photo. I found a few hidden gems where you can get the perfect shot and will probably be by yourself.

• The first photo spot is a walkway into the rocks that surround the Tree of Life on the left side (Africa side). Head left around the tree, just past the Otter Grotto and walk into the rock pathway. There will be some animal habitats and then you will come up to a gorgeous photo spot with the Tree. The best part about this spot is that it is quite hidden and most don't head in here so you can get amazing photos. Also, when I did it, there was a Disney castmember there to talk about the animals and she kindly took photos for me since I was alone. Here is my photo from this spot: 
  

• The next photo spot for the Tree of Life is the Discovery Trail. This is a walkway along the river just before the bridge to Africa. It is out of the way and generally pretty quiet which makes for great photos of the Tree and of the river vista. 
  
• My final photo spot for Tree of Life photos is to stop along the walkway along the river while walking from Africa to Asia.
  
  There are lots of great views of the tree along that path. There are also a few spots where you can walk down to docks/seating areas right on the water and those make the perfect spots for photos. Offer to take a photo for someone else and it is a high probability they will take one for you in return. 
•  

For both of these photos, we were down on a dock along the water with a perfect view of the tree and had the place to ourselves for perfect photos!

2. Everest

I think the best spot for photos with Everest is on the green metal bridge between Asia and the other side of the river where you find the Nemo show and Dinoland USA. The bridge is a pretty background itself and has a perfect view of the towering mountain behind it.



3. Pandora

Honestly, everywhere is Pandora is beautiful for photos. It was so busy the day I was there that we didn't get any great ones. I suggest going up in front of the floating mountains to the right of the drums for a great photo though!


4. Other

• The bridge from Discovery Island to Pandora
• The back path from Pandora to Africa
  
• The Maharajah Jungle Trek
• This is a somewhat hidden gem. Because it is in the back of Asia, a lot of people don't know it's there and it is often quiet. There are amazing animal viewing spots as well as some really pretty areas for photos that mimic Asia. 
  
• Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail 
• Oasis
• Murals 
• They aren't always easy to find but they make great backdrops for photos!

Getting Photos when Traveling Alone

I was on my own for most of my day in Animal Kingdom and I was still able to get lots of great photos. I have two tips for this:

1. Offer to take a photo for a couple, family or another solo traveler
If I saw a group or couple trying to take a selfie, I would offer to take one for them. 99% of the time, they would offer to take one for me in return. I do this tactic when I want pictures of my husband and I together when we are traveling as well and it works like a charm. Also, it always feels good to help someone else and spread a little kindness so this tactic is a win-win.

2. Find a lonely photopass photographer
During less busy parts of the day, I would often find a Disney photopass photographer without a line of people. I would strike up a conversation, let them take the Disney photo and then ask very nicely if they would take a photo on my phone as well. Every time I asked, they did it and I got great photos because they know what they are doing. The one told me she appreciated me asking nicely and when she didn't have a line and gave me a pin for being so nice! Disney is known for it's hospitality and the kindness of the castmembers so take advantage of that- just make sure you don't get in the way of their actual job (taking paid for photos) and you are not rude about it.

A Spot to Charge your Phone in Disney's Animal Kingdom

So I went a little crazy on my phone during my morning in Animal Kingdom and by 2pm my phone was dying. I had planned ahead for this and packed portable chargers but somehow, they were miraculously dead also. I had to have my phone charged to be able to get in touch with my husband (he was meeting me at the park in the evening) so I went on an adventure to find a spot to charge within the park. I ended up finding a single outlet on the front of a building in the Africa area- right across from Harambe Port Authority. It was next to a window so I perched myself in the sill and hung out for 20 minutes. While I was sitting there, an African acrobatic show happened right in front of me so it was awesome. Disney is hard on phone batteries so it is always good to have spots to go for a quick charge!

Perfect phone charging spot right in the middle of Africa!

Do you see the purple?? That's the charging spot!

Tips for Doing Disney Solo

1. Slow down
Animal Kingdom is so visually appealing and rich with details. I loved slowing down and just looking at all there was to see. I did both self-guided animal viewing trails, I walked through Harambe market super slow and took in all the detail and just enjoyed the amazing park. When I got with family or friends, it is always such a rush to do all the things. When I was there alone, I felt no guilt in taking as many photos as I wanted to, going as slowly as I needed and just taking it all in.

2. Don't be embarrassed
There is literally nothing embarrassing about going to Disney alone. It the happiest place on earth so GO and be HAPPY. Honestly, people are so caught up in their own day at Disney, they likely will not be paying attention to you anyway.

3. Strike up a conversation 
I stopped at Starbucks for a mid-afternoon coffee and sat at a table outside to enjoy it. I ended up striking up a conversation with an older man at the table beside me. He had been in Orlando on business and decided to add an afternoon in Disney before headed home so he was there solo as well. We chatted about the new rides and the upcoming holiday and sipped our iced coffees. Later in the day, I chatted with one of the castmembers who was feeding Lemur's outside the Tree of Life and she gave me an insider tip about how to get the best view of the night show without a fastpass. Never be afraid to strike up a conversation and be kind to another person- you never know what it will lead to!

4. Splurge on food
When you are on your own, you can get the food you want without worrying about sharing. Also, because you are only buying for one, you can splurge a little on fun snacks and not destroy your budget. I loved the Simba shaped hot pretzel, the chicken fried rice from Yak & Yeti and a chocolate Danish from Kusafiri Bakery.

 

Friday Five 1/3/20

First Friday post of 2020!

This week kicked off the new year and so far so good.

I did not do anything exciting this week- I put away Christmas decor, cleaned my house, organized and studied. It was not a stimulating week but it was satisfying!

Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020 - 10 Resolutions for a New Decade

Happy New Year!

Yesterday I did my year in review so now I am starting 2020 with resolutions for a new year. Every year, I like to set some resolutions, intentions and goals for the year. It is a simple act but it can be powerful if you stick to them. I doubt I will achieve all of this... I rarely do. But the beauty of life is you can always keep trying.

This new year is more than just another year. It is the start of a new decade... it is a time to reset and move forward with intention into the 2020's.

Without further ado, here are my resolutions for 2020.

1. Exercise More
I think this is on my list every year but it remains true every year. I am always striving to be more active. I go through spurts of regularly exercise and then something always makes me fall of the wagon. I am setting a goal to run 2-3 times a week and do yoga 2-3 times a week with BBG workouts in between. I am also shooting for a 5K and to compete in a marathon relay.

2. Be More Gracious
I think this is a resolution anyone can set at any time. You can always be a more gracious person to yourself, your friends, your family, your peers and anyone you encounter. The definition of gracious is to be "courteous, kind and pleasant". I know I can strive to be more of than in the new year and new decade and it will make me a better wife, friend, sister, daughter and overall person.

3. Go to Church
For most of my life, I was a regular attendee of church. Through college and law school and moving to a new city, it is just something that was easy to skip in the hustle of life. I want to find a church in our city and begin attending regularly. Not only do I want to get back to the Lord and growing in my faith, I miss the companionship and community a church can bring.

4. Watch Less TV
I love TV... don't get me wrong. However, I feel that it is so easy to fall into a pattern where that's all you do every night. I am going to try to limit my TV watching a bit in 2020 and find other new hobbies to fill some of that time.


5. Discover New Hobbies
While I have a lot of hobbies already, I am a busy body and I can never sit still. I am hoping to acquire a few more small hobbies to do instead of watching endless hours of TV. My husband and I are going to try a few together to try to find new ways to spend and enjoy time together. If you have any ideas for us, please drop them in the comments below!


6. Explore My City
I think this will be a resolution every year but I truly do want to keep exploring my city and finding all the hidden gems. It is easy to love where you live when you find all the places and things that make it special.


7. Become a Professional
After 20 years of school, 2 bar exam attempts and living in a weird limbo of being an educated, trained professional but not really being in the professional world, I am ready to settle into a job in 2020. I want to pass the bar and get my career underway. I am not sure what that opportunity will be but I am excited to see where life takes me and where my professional life goes.

8. Get Outside
This is another resolution that will probably be on my list every year. I love to get outside but sometimes I need a push or reminder to make it happen. I hope to get outside and hike, explore, breath fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature.

9. Be More Positive
On social media, I probably come off pretty positive but in real life, I can lean a little negative/pessimistic. I try very hard to stay positive and in 2020, I am redoubling that effort. It costs me nothing to be a positive person and it can enhance the lives of those around me tenfold.

10. Spend Less Money
In our era, it is SO easy to spend spend spend. Amazon Prime makes it too simple. Social media puts everything you want/didn't know you wanted right in front of your face. I am going to try to spend less on random stuff and be more intentional. I would rather save my money for travel and a new home. Goodness knows I have plenty of stuff already!

2019 In Review

Happy New Years Eve!!

I am taking this moment to walk back through the past year and revisit everything that took place. It has been a year of highs and lows... but then again, every year is like that.

In January, I turned 25. I started my final semester of law school. I helped start an online book club. I spent a lot of time with my head buried in casebooks.

In February, it snowed a lot. I studied some more. I launched a small online business.

In March, I traveled to NYC for the first time for a Moot Court competition. I had so much fun exploring the city and competing!

In April, I finished out my final semester of law school. That final grind was rough but so worth it. Oh and I became an Aunt for the second time!

 

In May, I graduated from law school and attained my Juris Doctor degree. It was an amazing feeling to finally accomplish a lifelong dream. Then I began to prep for the bar exam.

All of May, June and July were consumed with bar prep. I can honestly say, those were three of the hardest months of my life. July ended with a horrible 3 day exam but thankfully it came to an end.

August brought me to Hawaii. We explored the Big Island and fell in love with that place. I also started my job as an admissions recruiter with my law school. I also went on a quick trip to Nashville for a bachelorette party.

September found me traveling all over for my recruiting job. It was super fun and also exhausting but overall a great experience.

October brought more travel and also the wedding of one of my best friends. We made some amazing memories! October ended on a sour note when I found out I failed the bar exam but just a few points.

November brought the beginning of bar prep round 2. We also hosted our first Thanksgiving and miraculously did not burn the turkey.

December was full of more studying but we also snuck away to Disney for a quick vacay before enjoying the holidays with family.

Overall, it has been a good year. I made some amazing memories, visited some incredible places, made new friends, lost some friends I can do without, learned some hard lessons, accomplished some great things and most of all, as with any year, I grew as a person.

2020 brings a fresh start, new opportunities, a chance at redemption and 12 months full of endless possibilities.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year!