March 2023 Month in Review

Holy cow, the month is almost halfway over already and I’m only just now posting my March recap! I’ve been feeling so behind lately, especially after my vacation, so my goal for April is to finally catch up and slow down a bit (we’ll see if I’m actually able to accomplish that). I’ve been collaborating with more brands than ever before, which I’m beyond excited about, but I would be lying if I said it hasn’t been a little stressful meeting the deadlines. While I’ve always treated my blog as a side job, at the end of the day, I know that expectations and deliverables are set by me—it’s not a big deal if I post something late. But now? My blog requires so much more responsibility! It’s an exciting change but also one that I’ve found a little difficult.

What’s New?

• As I’m sure you know already, I took my first adult vacation to Puerto Rico in early March! Annnd that’s where today’s photos were taken (on the east side of the island, in Humacao). My grandpa is Puerto Rican, and I still have one aunt who lives on the island. While the vacation was originally my idea, it spiraled into the most fun family reunion, with two of my aunts, my grandpa, my uncle, and my dad along for the ride. The trip was so relaxing, and it was really special to learn more about my heritage and my grandpa’s upbringing on the island. I’m still behind on sharing my PR content, though!
• I’ve been trying to break the habit of going on my phone first thing in the morning, so I’ve been telling myself I can’t turn my phone on/open it for at least 30 minutes after I wake up… I admittedly don’t stick to it every day, but I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my attention span on the days I do! I don’t constantly check my notifications or mindlessly scroll nearly as much.
• I’ve mentioned this a few times on the blog before, but I started intermittent fasting last summer—meaning I don’t eat anything until around noon each day and I try not to eat more food after dinner (I’m not very good at that part—I love dessert!). I know we all grew up learning that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I’m telling you… I’ve noticed a significant improvement in how I feel since I stopped eating breakfast. I used to be “hungry” pretty much all the time, even after eating a big meal, which was incredibly annoying. Now I only feel hungry at appropriate lunch and dinner times, and my appetite has shrunk (a very good thing—I still had the appetite of a high school cross country, even though I haven’t exercised that hard and that consistently in years). Now, my consumption and exercise levels are aligned so I can maintain a healthy weight. If you’re interested in intermittent fasting, you can read about the science of it and why it works here.

Today’s Outfit

Today’s outfit may be my favorite from my time in Puerto Rico. My friend brought me back these navy embroidered palazzo pants from her trip to India in January, and I have been dying to wear them ever since! I knew I had to pack them for my tropical getaway, and they paired perfectly with this white crop top from American Eagle and orange accessories for a little complementary color action. I wore this look out to dinner one evening, but it’s so comfy and cool that it would be perfect for any hot summer day. (This is the sticky bra I swear by!)

Top Performing March Blog Posts

• February 2023 Month in Review
• Weekly Recap #9, 2023
• Review of Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort

Favorite Outfits from March

It was difficult to narrow down my favorite outfits from the month, especially considering I got to wear lots of fun and tropical pieces in Puerto Rico. But these are the three looks I landed on! The striped cowl blouse, purple plants, and blazer was a new combination for me, but now it’s one of my favorite workwear outfits. And I’m absolutely obsessed with the cobalt blue denim romper! I can’t wait for the temps to warm up in Denver so I can wear it more often. Finally, the preppy layered dress look is something I’ve been envisioning for months but never actually tried on. I love how the outfit came to life!

What I Read

• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens—I waited since July for this book to become available at the public library, and I have to say I was a little disappointed with it. The novel had so much hype that I expected it to be excellent! Instead, the story fell a little flat for me—it’s not quite convincing enough as a love story or as a murder mystery, and I found the ending to be a little anticlimactic. I love how quick of a read it is, though (I finished it in two days), and Owens’ imagery of the marsh is fantastic.
• The Truth About Style by Stacy London—My mom got me this fashion book by the “What Not to Wear” host for Christmas, and I finally decided to pick it up off my nightstand. It’s such a fun read! It’s not exactly London’s autobiography, like I was expecting, but instead she gives makeovers to several women and intermingles stories from her own life. Stacy London is such an inspiration to me, and I loved learning more about her—and seeing her transform people’s lives through style! Some of the self-help, corny aspects weren’t my favorite, but overall I thought this was an easy and inspiring read.

What I Watched

• “Outer Banks” Season 3—You can tell I was busy in March just by the lack of TV shows and movies I watched. I finally got around to viewing season 3 of “Outer Banks”, and it was as unrealistic as ever. Even though the show isn’t good by critic standards, I can’t deny that I find the treasure hunting aspects entertaining. I really hope that was the last season, though, because they keep getting worse!
• Where the Crawdads Sing—Of course, after finally getting my hands on the book, I also had to watch the movie. It was SO lame! I expected the scenery to be gorgeous given all the imagery in the book, but a lot of it was pretty cheesy and fake-looking. Also, while the script followed the dialogue in the book almost exactly, it felt forced—like the actors were just reading the lines instead of acting them. Movie adaptations of books almost always feel like “fake” movies to me, for lack of a better description. Anyway, I wouldn’t recommend it. By far the best part of the film was Taylor Swift’s song “Carolina”.

March Spotify Playlist

This month’s playlist consists mostly of songs I heard on the radio driving to work (yes, I still listen to the radio—my boyfriend gives me no end of grief about it), but there are also a handful of songs that I heard while on my trip to Puerto Rico. I especially love “Calma” by Puerto Rican artist Pedro Capó. You can listen to my full March Spotify playlist here.

What I’ve Been Loving Lately

• My new JulieMay undergarments. The fair trade UK brand reached out to me recently to review one of their lingerie sets, and I decided on this pretty pink lace combo. It’s so feminine and sexy! JulieMay is known for their breathable, lightweight, and hypoallergenic fabric to ensure maximum comfort. Their pieces are made of organic pima cotton with a silk lining and are also eczema friendly.  I love the fit of the balconette bra, and the fabric on both pieces is so soft and cool to the touch. The only thing I would change is the panties—I wish they were a slimmer cut and not so full coverage. You definitely can’t wear them with tight pants as the lines will show through. Overall though, I’m really impressed with the quality and style of these pieces—there’s nothing like a good bra to make you feel confident and sexy. Be sure to use code JULIEMAY for 10% off if you decide to check them out.
• Starburst jellybeans. I’m not a huge jellybean fan or even a big candy person, but boy are the Starburst jellybeans damn good. The flavors are so fruity and not medicinal at all. I can’t stop raving about how yummy they are!

What I’m Looking Forward to in April

• Well, if I had written this post when I was supposed to, I would have said I’m looking forward to my trip to Las Vegas to spend Easter with my family—but that’s already come and gone! It was a great weekend trip but too short, as always.
• Otherwise, my aunt and I are going to a haunted cocktail experience later this week that I’m looking forward to. I have no idea what to expect, but it takes place in a supposedly haunted building in downtown Denver, and we’ll get four handcrafted cocktails as part of the experience. I’m sure you’ll hear more about it in my upcoming weekly recap!
• I’m also excited to go to a bridal show with two of my friends (one of whom got engaged on New Year’s Day!) later in the month. I’ve never been to a bridal show before, so I’m not sure if it will be as fun for people not getting married. But I thought it would be special to take my friend to kickstart her wedding planning!

This Month on Graceful Rags

• Review of Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort
• February 2023 Month in Review
• Weekly Recap #9, 2023
• Weekly Recap #10, 2023
• Weekly Recap #11, 2023
• It’s Raining Cats and Dogs
• A Little Prep in My Step
• Weekly Recap #12, 2023
• Casual Mondays
• Exploring Old San Juan

 
How was your March? Did you go anywhere exciting or is there anything you’re especially proud of? Drop me a comment below! As always, thanks for stopping by the blog today.

 

Miles of smiles,

Grace

 

White Crop Top: American Eagle, $8 ($1.33 per wear), last worn here | Navy Pants: Handmade in India, gift | Orange Wedges: Thrifted, $13 ($6.50 per wear), last worn here | Orange Beaded Purse: Airport boutique, gift, last worn here