Happy hump day! Since I’m heading to Chicago for a long weekend, today is my Thursday and tomorrow is my Friday, so that makes this Wednesday extra exciting for me. I’m going to share a little bit about this Mint Julep Boutique Going Out on the Town Maxi Dress in a little bit, but first, I wanted to chat about something that’s been on my mind a lot recently.

About a month or so ago, one of my favorite Soul Cycle instructors (Kathleen if you’re local!) talked a lot about the energy you get from the people around you. In the context of spin class, the idea was that we should be putting into the room what we want to get out of it—and to remember that there’s probably someone in the room who needs the good energy more than you do.

I don’t consider myself to be that ‘woo woo’ of a person, but I do think there is a lot to be said about how your energy impacts those around you and vice versa. There’s a reason that I have more fun in sold-out spin classes than I do in half-full ones—there’s more positive energy in the room, more excitement, and more good vibes being put out into the universe. And I’ve realized through these experiences at spin class that I’m more impacted by the energy the people around me are giving off than I thought.

Last year when I was in the height of my job search, a dear friend recommended I read The Happiness Advantage. It’s an amazing read about why happiness fuels success, and not the other way around. I’ve found that principle to be true in my own life—the more positive I am, the more productive, creative, engaged, and motivated I am. But when I’m in a negative mindset, things really just come to a screeching halt.

Over the last few weeks, after reading The Happiness Advantage and thinking a lot about the energy of the people around me, I’ve started to realize that negative energy really brings me down. Obviously, everyone has to vent from time to time, and no one loves a good vent session more than me. But I’ve realized that it really impacts my own energy when those around me are constantly negative. (You know the type—they are never satisfied with anything and always find something wrong with whatever situation they’re in.)

So instead of indulging that energy, I’ve been making an effort to move along with my day or switch the conversation to something more positive (or heck, even neutral!)—and it’s done wonders for protecting my own energy. I’ve also been more aware of the energy I’m putting out there and have been trying to project positivity whenever possible. Life is too short to let other people bring you down or bring other people down with you!

If you’ve been reading here for a while, you know one of my favorite online boutiques is The Mint Julep Boutique. It can definitely be intimidating to shop somewhere that requires you to pay for shipping back and only provides a refund in the form of store credit, but I’ve found that when I’m really choosy with my purchases and smart about guessing my size, it can pay off in spades since they have cute clothes at a really affordable price point. I have had to return a few things recently, and they turn returns around really quickly. I usually have my store credit within a week of shipping the item back—which is way faster than any major retailer!

I recently picked up their Going Out on the Town Maxi Dress and it’s the perfect dress for weekend errands, a day at the vineyards, or meeting up with friends for brunch. I’m 5’4″, so some maxi dresses swallow me whole. I’ve found that most of The Mint Julep Boutique’s maxi dresses are perfect for someone around my height or a few inches taller. They also are usually made out of a super stretchy, soft material, and nothing beats comfortable weekend wear. I’m wearing a medium for size reference.

Last summer, I picked up this circular straw bag (similar here) in Charleston, and it was one of the best purchases I’ve made. It’s a cute weekend bag and large enough to fit my phone, keys, and any other various items I want to take out with me. Plus, it’s just super cute!

*** SHOP THE POST ***
Mint Julep Boutique Going Out on the Town Maxi Dress
Steve Madden Slides—old, similar here
Circular Straw Bag—similar here
BP 55mm Mirrored Sunglasses
Baublebar Tassel Earrings—similar here

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Photos by Kimberly Graydon