I was listening to one of Gary Vee’s podcasts on caring what other people think, and what he said really struck me.

“So many people make big life decisions based on other people’s opinions. You care so much about what your mom, dad, brother, or friends think that you’re allowing them to dictate your actions in life.

At the core of it, the barriers so many people have aren’t really about “money” or “time.” They’re about opinions. 

It’s the biggest reason so many people are unhappy right now. Because they value someone else’s opinion more than their own. 

Once you get past that, life can get real good.”

Can you relate?

I can too. I am totally a people pleaser. I never want people to think ill of me, and if I am ever in an awkward situation, I have thought about it for days on end, replaying it in my mind. Before, I also didn’t always wear what I thought I ‘shouldn’t’ be wearing out of fear of being judged. Side note: I still struggle with this!

But let me tell you, it’s a huge WASTE OF TIME.

I have built my confidence over lots and lots of time, and I am always a work in progress, however over the last several months in particular, I have been working on giving no fucks.

Most people are really not paying attention to your every move, those awkward things you might have said or done etc. Most people are actually worried about how they are coming across, they don’t care what you’re wearing, what color your hair is, or something you said that you felt was weird or awkward.

This brings me to the fact that IF people do judge you, it is about their own perception.

Back to Gary See, because he just hits the nail on the head with this.

“So they tell Ricky to go to Princeton because they want to brag about it — not because it’s the best move for their kid. 

And it goes broader than just parents.

The truth is, no one has 100% context on your life outside of you. The reason I don’t value my wife’s or my mom’s opinion more than my own is because they don’t know 100% of everything.”

So, go out and be bold. Own your unique self, make decisions for YOU. Maybe you have been wanting to color your hair pink – do it. Maybe you want to wear a fun fringe mini skirt to that party you have coming up – do it. Maybe you want a new career, but everyone is nay-saying it. Do it!

I have asked a few older people about their life, my Grandma in particular, and she has a regret: she wanted to go to medical school, but that wasn’t a career for women at the time, so she did not go. It’s a regret. And a lot of older people will tell you that they have regrets.

Don’t let your life be dictated by others’ opinions.

See what happens when you live your life the way that you want to and give no fucks. Maybe people will respond to your choices, but those responses should not have any power over you.

So go out and give no fucks, and see your world open up!

xo, Lynn

Oils, oils, oils. Anyone else obsessed with oils? I have talked about coconut oil, oils for your diffuser, and oils for your face here on the blog. Now let’s talk about oil fragrance. I purchased a couple of oil fragrances online a few months ago, and I am IN LOVE. The fragrance lasts so much longer than a regular spray perfume, and the smell is so much more rich. Plus, it’s so much better for your skin than alcohol based fragrance. Don’t believe me? Check this out via Ambre Blends:

Now let’s get to my ALL TIME favorite oil fragrance in the world. Yep, it’s that good. Egyptian Musk by Kuumba Made. I buy it at Whole Foods for $10.99, and it is just a bottle of pure magic. The scent is like no other. As a pre-teen and young teenager, I was obsessed with White Musk. Does anyone remember that fragrance? I LOVED it. Well, Egyptian Musk smells pretty similar and it’s much better for you than White Musk a la the above information.

I love the smell because it’s not overly perfume-y, you know, like a guy who has spritzed himself to oblivion in cologne because he thinks it’s sexy, or like someone who has just tried all of the perfumes at the duty-free shop at the airport. And yeah, that HAS been me before.

The musk blends in with your skin to give you a kind of custom smell. Ok, now this is starting to sound a bit creepy. But stay with me. It just smells sexy and clean, at least to me. I find myself smelling my wrists several times a day because it’s just so amazing. It’s elegant and chic because it is in no way overpowering.

Tip: apply the oil right after you get out of the shower, and it’ll stick even better. I like to do this with my facial oils as well.

So, if you are someone who wants to smell chic and elegant, you will love this fragrance.

xo, Lynn

I love beautiful things. Fun fact: this blog was named Beautiful Things Diary (insert crying laughing emoji here) back when I launched it in 2008. Whether it’s a beautiful vase, a vintage piece of jewelry, or a pretty coffee mug, I am here for those little luxuries. Pretty things just make your environment so much better. I love how the simplest, most inexpensive items can help your space feel more like you do on the inside. For me personally, I like my space to be clean and glam.

You do not need to invest a bunch of money into curating your environment. Here are 6 ways to raise the glam vibes:

They are:

1. Curate a beautiful coffee mug collection. Ok, this might sound so small and silly…but it is so nice to wake up and enjoy a cup of coffee (or tea, if that’s your thing) in a beautiful mug. My favorites are a simple white mug and clear mugs from Crate and Barrel. These are both so elegant in my opinion, and they remind me of drinking coffee in a luxurious hotel room.
2. Use uniform hangers in your closet. I love my black felt hangers! Not only are they sleek, but they are also space saving because of their shape and thin-ness. Your clothes will stay on the hangers much easier, and won’t have those stretched out shoulders like you experience sometimes with wire hangers. Plus, you’ll feel like you’re shopping at a fancy boutique right inside your own closet.
3. Invest in comfy and pretty pajamas. Do you immediately take your bra off when you get home? ME TOO. The second I get home for the day, I put on comfy clothes. I am one who will wear anything at home, as long as it’s comfortable, including worn out sweats. BUT I have learned that I just feel so much better if I am wearing pajamas that are pretty AND comfortable. They just up the vibe, you know? I love these ones from Nordstrom.
4. Add fresh flowers to your home. Fresh flowers are so inexpensive and they make such a huge difference in your home. It also feels really good to buy yourself a bouquet. 😉 My favorite place to purchase fresh flowers is Trader Joes – specifically their roses for $6.99. I buy a couple of bouquets each week, and create two or three arrangements to place around my space.
5. Play relaxing vibe-y music. There is nothing I love more than a GOOD playlist. At home, I am always listening to jazz. Specifically, elegant and upbeat jazz. I recently combined the best of a couple playlists I found on Spotify – Bossa Nova and Elegant Affair into Vibes. Here it is! Play it while you’re working, cooking, cleaning, anything really…you’ll love it.

I showed the CBD Oil from NuLeaf on my Instagram stories about awhile back, and I know it’s taken me forever to write a post about it, but I really wanted to see what it was all about first.

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