How I am Using Poshmark to Build my Legal Wardrobe

Welcome to the legal profession ladies... you have signed your life away to days in patent leather heels and pencil skirts. Personally, I love getting dressed up. I grew up on a farm so there a part of me that still gets downright giddy to get dressed up in something other than jeans. Now I get dressed up every day... I am interning in the courthouse for the summer so it's blazers and heels for me day in day out. Fun right? Yes. Expensive? Also yes.

I have been stocking up on "lawyer" clothes for a long time. I worked at TJ Maxx all through college and I shopped the sale racks like it was my job for dressy pieces to put into my lawyer wardrobe. The last two Christmases I have asked for shopping trips with my momma for legal clothes. Yet, I still was running out of clothing options by week two of my internship. I am working unpaid this summer and getting class credit. My husband and I are saving up for a vacation and have plenty of bills to pay. There was no spare money for me to go drop a few hundred dollars on fancy dress clothes... it was time to get creative. I have always been a resourceful shopper- I have no qualms about thrifting for quality pieces or picking up a cute shirt at Walmart. I wear what I like and I find cute no matter the brand. Now I am a typical girl and I like to wear good brands but I have never had the budget to buy everything brand new and the top brand. I will never forget desperately wanting a Vera Bradley purse for my freshman year of high school... my mom said it wasn't in the budget to buy the one I wanted brand new since they were putting my older sister through college that year. She gave me a $20 budget for a new purse. I was determined to get a Vera so I got resourceful- I found the purse I wanted in the pattern I wanted on Ebay for $15 with a matching wallet and with shipping in came in right about $20. I got to waltz into my first day of school with my precious Vera and I learned a valuable lesson about budgeting and making the most of a little bit of money and still having quality. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box!

That's a lesson I have never forgotten and something I do to this day. Whenever people compliment my clothes, I love to surprise them by saying this was $5 at Walmart or I found in at Goodwill for $3. Sometimes I buy items with small rips or missing a button- I know how to sew and can fix those things easily and quickly with a needle and thread. I once got a $600 Juicy Couture Dress for $20 because it was missing a button... $0.99 button from Hobby Lobby and 5 minutes of sewing left me with the most gorgeous dress at a steal of a price. That is not to say I never splurge- I adore my Michael Kors purse that I bought with my first paycheck from TJ Maxx. I have a weakness for J. Crew and Vineyard Vines and I will always pay the prices just for the name.

A few months ago someone had mentioned Poshmark to me as a way to sell off an old pair of Jack Rogers sandals that no longer fit. I had downloaded the app and sold my sandals but I never thought anything more about it until I was struggling to find clothes to wear for this summer in the courthouse.

I decided to open the app back up and take a look at some of the dress clothes. I know my sizes pretty well in a variety of brands so I figured why not. GAME CHANGER!

I started searching on Poshmark and I found so many GREAT items.

Here is my $10 Banana Republic Suit in lovely condition.

Here is a Maggie London Sheath Dress I picked up for $18.

Issa? As in the brand Kate Middleton wore for her engagement? In my favorite color green? $23.

Kasper Blazer for $5? Yes please. Pair it with a $10 Banana Repulic Skirt? Gorgeous!

Navy Banana Republic Blazer and Harve Benard Skirt for $16?

Two simple cardigans for the chilly office? $12? Did I mention the brands were Banana Republic and Ann Taylor Loft? No complaints here!

Not for work but for a wedding- Lilly Pulitzer Dress for $50

Can you believe those deals??? And everything has been excellent quality! I feel like I have spent so little money for the quality and quantity of items I am finding! Buying is so easy. Link a paypal account and when you find something you want, you can buy outright or offer a lower price and negotiate back and forth with the seller. You do have to pay for shipping but it is not expensive and sometimes there are even shipping deals. Also, if you find a seller that had a lot of items you like, you can bundle them all together and most sellers offer a discount % on bundles as well as you only pay one shipping fee. It's fantastic!

Additionally, I am selling some of my older clothes I don't wear anymore here to offset the cost. Selling on Poshmark is so simple- take pictures, list it and once it is purchased, they send you a prepaid shipping label to tape onto a box and drop at the post office. Just that simple! Also, if anything you buy doesn't fit or isn't what you want, just resell it right back on poshmark!

Seriously- all you legal ladies on a budget, this app is so worth the download and a little bit of search time. Someday we will be rockstar lady lawyers who can walk in any store and buy whatever we want but that day is not today. Today, we need to look like those future lawyers without blowing every cent in our bank accounts. Poshmark is helping me do that!

Want to sign up and receive $5 to spend right away in your posh-wallet? Sign up with my code: UQNBO!

Happy Poshing ladies!

Bingeworthy TV for the Summer Before Law School

Who doesn't love a good TV binge on Netflix? My husband and I seem to always be starting a new binge on Netflix or Amazon Prime... that's what fills our Friday and Saturday nights because we are clearly wild 23-year-olds... not.

Here is a list of a few of my favorites that would be a great way to relax and get in some good TV time before law school and reading cases consumes your life.

Why I Changed to Natural Cleaning Products

Who else actually loves cleaning?? Like I am talking Monica Geller style love of cleaning. Everything thinks I am crazy but nothing is more therapeutic or fulfilling to me than some good ole' fashion scrubbing and a nice clean house. My mom instilled a desire for cleanliness in me from a young age and I have always been a crazy clean freak.

Given that, I am always on the search for new and better cleaning products. Lately, I have been searching to make my cleaning products more natural and less harmful. After trying many products that simply do not work, I stumbled upon the Mrs. Meyers brand cleaning products. Game changer!

Once discovering these products, I began the search for the best deal on them because I am ever the bargain shopper... something else I learned from my momma. Enter the Grove Collaborative. Not only do they offer a huge range of natural products; they offer great prices, tons of deals and even auto shipments so your monthly cleaning supplies show up on your doorstep without even having to think about it!! It is fantastic anyone like me that like to clean often and uses things up quickly.

I am sharing my first shipment with you as well as my thoughts after using the items for a few weeks now.

Cleaning Supplies

Mrs. Meyers Hand Soap (Bluebell scent)
Oh this hand soap... fantastic. Very bubbly, smells fantastic and leaves your hands clean and soft. I am obsessed.

Mrs. Meyers Dish Soap (Lemon Verbena scent)
This is so great. It cleans the dishes SO well, smells great and I know that it is a natural product on the items I eat off. I always hated the idea of any residue that was harmful left on our eating utensils and with this, I do not have to worry.

Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface Cleaner (Basil scent)
The basil scent may be my favorite. I have been using this cleaner all over my kitchen literally every day. Counters, stove top, stainless steel... I use it everywhere for a good, natural clean.

Method Anti-bac Bathroom Cleaner
This is not Mrs. Meyers but I gave it a shot anyway. I am so happy with it in my bathrooms! SO clean! and that spearmint smell is fantastic! Getting bacteria out of a bathroom without harsh chemicals is not easy but this cleaner does it.

Extras

Bubble Up Dish Brush Set
This little thing... omg. You just drop some soap into the bowl, add some warm water, push the brush down inside a few times and scrub-a-dub-dub- clean dishes! This was included in my first order for free so win-win!

Mrs. Meyers Candle (Geranium scent)
This candle smells SO good and is lasting forever! Solid candle purchase for sure.

Bobble water bottle
I absolutely love these!! I can have filtered water anywhere! Also, super eco-friendly. Another win-win.

Glass Spray Bottle 
This was another freebie... so far I have not decided what to use it for but it is always good to have an extra spray bottle laying around.


I am placing another order in a few weeks with a few repeats and a few new things to try. I have been so happy with everything I purchased as well as the fast shipping and excellent service. If you want to place your own order, use this link to get $10 off your first order!!

Happy natural cleaning!

Why the First Semester of Law School Does Not Define You

If you have been reading for a while, you may know that I struggled with my first semester of law school. If you have not been reading for a while, here's the cliff notes version: I entered law school having always been a top student, one of the smartest in my classes, on a full-tuition scholarship and having just graduated Magna Cum Laude with dual Bachelors degrees. I was ready to crush law school just like everything else. Suddenly, everything I thought I knew about school and studying didn't work and I was surrounded by people just as smart and often smarter than me. That was a big adjustment. I questioned myself and my choice to attend law school daily. Eventually, I got into the swing of things and it got easier. Then, I took law school exams... wow. They were unlike any exam I had ever completed and I struggled. A lot. No matter how hard I studied, it didn't seem to be enough and the format of the 4-hour exams was just draining. I squeaked by but my grades were nowhere near where I wanted them to be and I was confused, heartbroken and completely frustrated. I contemplated dropping out. I thought of back up plans if I couldn't finish law school. I cried to my parents and husband.

Finally, my wonderful mother got tired of my whining and moping and gave me the kick in the butt I needed- She informed me that it was okay to be upset and disappointed with myself. But she also said I had never not excelled at something I put my mind to in my entire life and it was about darn time I got knocked on my rear. She told me to stop whining and make a decision- I could either buckle down, work harder than ever before and prove to myself and my school that I could excel in law school the second semester. The other choice was dropping out and figuring out something else to do with my life. I took the first option.

I am happy to report that my hard work paid off- I re-engineered my study tactics, worked my butt off and was able to pull my GPA up 2 entire points after the second semester. I got a higher grade in every single class and I even got my first A in law school which led to me dancing down the hallway of my internship. I am eligible for Moot Court and moved up in the ranking. I have a wonderful internship and I am learning something every day. Overall, I am heading into my 2L year much more confident and set in my plan to finish law school and succeed in the legal field.

So why did I tell this story?? Because one semester does not define you. You can fail and fall flat on your back... it's okay. You can cry it out. Just pick yourself up, make some changes, buckle down and choose to improve. Never ever let one bad class or one bad semester break your dreams. I failed. I had the worst GPA of my life. I got my first C's. I took that failure and let it fuel me to never get those grades again and succeed. If I can do that, so can you!

Never give up after one tough break. You are smart enough, you are good enough and they would not have let you into law school if you couldn't do it. Re-engineer, redouble your efforts and attack it with a vengeance-fueled by all your frustrations. Work so hard you will never have grades that low again. Make success the only option. Whining and complaining will not change your grades- only hard work will do that. Do not give up after one bad semester.

The caveat to that is that it is okay to change directions. If after the first year you truly realize that law is not for you, then find something else. That is not giving up- that is making a way for yourself that is right for you. The law may not be for everyone and it is not what it seems from the outside looking in. There is no shame in choosing to go for a different career. You must do what's best for you.

I wish everyone finishing their first year the best of luck as grades come back- I hope the curve falls in your favor. For those gearing up for their first year of law school, prepare for a lot of hard work, exhaustion and the possibility of failure... but remember, you can always improve and that first semester does not define you. As my internship supervisor wisely told me, there are a million great lawyers out there making a difference and some never even got an A in law school. Grades do not define you. Keep your head above water- you can do it!!

Friday Five 5/26/17

Wow I have been slacking on this... life has just been busy. Finishing school, starting my internship, adjusting to working 9-5 every day... But I am ready to make blogging a priority again! Without further adieu, five things I am thinking about this Friday!

1. Poshmark
Why did I just now discover this?!? Designer clothes cheap? Yes please!! I have ordered a variety of items and I have been tickled to death with everything. I also have been doing a bit of closet cleaning and selling on there to get rid of things I just don't wear. It's awesome! Use this code to sign up after downloading the app - UQNBO

2. Harry Styles on the Late Late Show
I may have skipped out on the One Direction craze but I am 110% on board with the Harry Styles craze of late. I am obsessed with his new album, I can't wait to see him in Dunkirk and he is absolutely hilarious with James Corden... they should co-host all the time. I watched all of the segments today and died laughing.

3. V8 Energy Drinks
An attorney in our office got me hooked on these this week. They are a perfect little burst of energy for mid-afternoon. They are little fruit drinks with natural B12 energy. I have to have one in my lunch every day now!

4. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Yay for new episodes! I adore this show- it is so cute and so fun. I got hooked on the first season last summer and I have anxiously been awaiting the next season. If you are looking for a quick, fun binge watch- this is it!

5. Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Supplies
I just got a shipment of these (detailed post coming soon) and I am obsessed. The basil scent especially is amazing. I went on a major house cleaning spree after they arrived and It was so nice to clean without worrying about harsh chemicals yet still getting a good clean.


Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy the long weekend but do not forget the reason. Thank you to all service men and women, currently serving, retired or selflessly lost in service, who make this country safe and free. Memorial Day is a lot more than just a reason to have off work- do not forget that.