After being one year post-grad I learned a few things along the way that I think will help others on their post-grad journey! I talked about my post-grad journey previously here!

Tips:

• Take time off if you need it! Don’t feel obligated to immediately start your job search, grad school, or whatever else after graduation. It’s okay to take a break! — I took a year off after graduation and it was the best decision ever!
• It’s okay to not have everything figured out! If you’ve changed your mind about what you want to do that’s completely fine. There is nothing wrong with that! Give yourself some grace.
• We’ve all been blessed with a gift or talent! Nurture your gifts. Practice with them daily. — Read books, attend workshops, and many more things to cultivate and enhance your gift. More importantly, work on being the best at them. Never stop learning and being a student!
• Don’t listen to everyone’s unsolicited advice. After you graduate people will feel the need to give you advice based upon their experiences or try to shove their opinions on you. They’ll also have an opinion about your goals and what you’re planning to do. That is NOT okay. Don’t feel obligated to take their advice. Basically, tell people to mind their business if it’s necessary. They might not like it, but who cares! — Personally, my first couple of months post-grad I was very sensitive when it came to advice. I was constantly bombarded with people telling me what I should do and I got sick of it!
• It’s a good idea to get a mentor or seek help from someone in your field! — I formed three relationships with women in my field while I was in college from internships and a shadowing experience. They have impacted my life in so many ways by giving me honest advice and being a phone call away whenever I need them.
• Attend events that are catered to your field! They are a great way to network! — Always get an email address if possible to follow up with someone! I know we live in a world where sliding in DMs is an easy way to communicate, but it’s not professional in some cases.
• Take risks! Don’t be afraid! Try it out! Whatever happens, happens. Even if things don’t work out at least you can say that you got the experience.
• Lastly, do whatever makes YOU happy! Your happiness should always come first. Everyone will not understand your journey and that is okay, because everything you do is not for everyone.

Photography by: Crystal Williams

I graduated from college a year ago and my post-grad journey was completely different that I thought it was going to be. Honestly, my last semester was extremely overwhelming because my mom was battling a major health issue and it had a major effect on me. She’s doing amazing now and I’m extremely grateful for that! However, after graduation I decided to take a year off. It was the best decision ever!

The first couple of months were great because I was enjoying the luxury of having so much free time. I continued working at my part-time job that I had during college and doing whatever else that I wanted with my time. I traveled a lot and took it easy. Basically, I was reclaiming my time!

However, half way through the year I began to have anxiety because I didn’t know what was next for me. I had started applying for jobs in my field, but nothing was happening. My days consisted of applying for job after job. After while I felt like I would never work in my field. One day I simply asked God to lead me in the direction that He wanted me to go. I began to seek Him for my purpose and how to work with my gifts. It was impossible to start a new chapter without figuring myself out and what I wanted out of life. I stopped obsessing over finding a job and focused on working on myself first. From then on, that is when I accepted not knowing what was next for me, while being proactive and using my time wisely to prepare myself for my new chapter.

I definitely experienced frustration and had some rough days. I almost let fear persuade me into settling a couple of times. Those were the moments when God checked me, because that is not how He works. He constantly reminded me that He is faithful to ALL of His promises.

The main lesson that I learned from my post-grad journey was patience.  — In the words of Joel Osteen, “Just because you don’t have the details it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t. He wouldn’t be leading you there if He didn’t have a purpose.”

My post-grad journey consisted of a lot of praying and seeking God for clarity on my purpose. Getting aligned with Him was very necessary, before I could get aligned with my purpose. My first year post-grad stretched and challenged me in ways that I didn’t think were possible. There were many times when I questioned why things weren’t happening the way I had planned. God consistently reminded me that I was exactly where He wanted me to be. The process wasn’t easy, but everything that I experienced was so worth it!

Taking a year off to get myself together was the best decision that I’ve ever made. It prepared me for my next journey in life!

When I took a break from blogging I didn’t tell anyone. I just stopped. I wasn’t passionate about it as I was when I first started. Creating content felt like a chore instead something that I loved doing. Months went by and I still didn’t miss blogging. Initially, I thought my hiatus from blogging would last a couple of months, but it turned into two years.

After I graduated from college I started struggling with whether or not I wanted to start blogging again. Often times I would browse back through my site and I knew that couldn’t just stop blogging all together. However, I was dealing with a lot personally, so I knew that I need to give those things my undivided attention. I decided that it was best to put relaunching my blog on the back-burner. Basically, I felt that the timing wasn’t right.

A few months later I was talking to my cousins in our group chat one day and I mentioned that I was going to relaunch my blog. After that conversation one cousin in particular began to help me with the process of relaunching. More so as an accountability partner. She checked on me asking things such as when was the relaunch date, how was creating content coming along, and things of that nature.

“You just have to step out and be okay with not being perfect…” — Those were the exact words that she told me. We had SEVERAL conversations last year about me relaunching my blog. I was still focused on why the timing wasn’t right. I was scared because I wanted everything to be perfect when I started blogging again. I was standing in my own way and allowing fear to hold me back. I got to work on relaunching my blog, once I kicked fear to the curb and the idea of the timing not being perfect.

I’m so grateful for my cousin, because she constantly STAYED on my behind during the entire process! More importantly, she held me accountable for not letting fear hinder me from conquering my goals.

Side note: If your circle isn’t making you level up, calling you out when you’re slacking, or encouraging you during your journey, then you need to let them go! You need people around that are going to expect nothing but excellence from you! That doesn’t mean that they will expect you to be perfect, but to consistently go after your goals and dreams!

Sometimes life has a way of directing you back to your purpose! I knew that I couldn’t quit blogging, but I was allowing fear to hold me back. Don’t let fear keep you from conquering your goals! It’s okay to take a step back and refocus, but don’t quit. The process of accomplishing goals is never going to be easy nor perfect, but it will always be worth it. The timing might not ever be perfect, but all you have to do is start. Don’t let being perfect prevent you from releasing your gifts to the world. You have to be willing and brave enough to start. Take things one day at a time and everything will come together. Step out and be okay with not being perfect.

Photography by: Crystal Williams

Hi, there! I’m MaRae!

Welcome to The Always Fabulous! Not only is today the official relaunching of my blog, but it is also my birthday! I chose to reveal my blog today, because it represents a new chapter beginning in my life! 24 is off to such an amazing start!

I’m so happy to be blogging again! I’ve been working so hard preparing for this moment! It’s FINALLY here! I’m so excited to share everything that I’ve been working on!

Some of you may remember when I first started blogging! If you’re curious you can check out my old site here! However, I took a break from blogging for a little while, but life has a way of redirecting you to your purpose! The journey of relaunching wasn’t easy, but overall I’m grateful for everything that I endured to get to this moment! I’ll be sharing about the process of relaunching my blog tomorrow, so stay tuned for that post.

The Always Fabulous is a glimpse into my imperfect, yet FABULOUS lifestyle. I always wanted to start a blog and after being hounded by my friends I created The Always Fabulous in November 2013. I took a short break to focus on graduating and getting a job, typical twenty something “fun,” but I’m back with even more to say! Here I’ll share my passion for style (I have a knack for finding ridiculous deals) and beauty. I’ll also sneak in some of my other loves, like travel, food, and reading. I hope you will join me for the adventure!

Again, welcome to The Always Fabulous!

Photography by: Crystal Williams