Cheers to the Best Year!

1. Stop overthinking the little things. I constantly think about things after they're over and done with. I always think about what people will think about me. I overthink my outfit choices, how my hair looks, etc. I need to stop caring what people think and be more comfortable being myself.

2. Work on growing my blog into something that I can truly be proud of. I want to be able to empower other people to actually do that thing that they've been wanting to do for a while, but keep pushing to the back of their mind. Keeping a blog is going to take time out of my already busy schedule (18 hour semester and 2 jobs), but I'm going to keep at it and publish posts that are worth reading.

3. Eat healthier & try meal planning. Having a busy schedule has interfered with the way that I've eaten in the past. When I was in a hurry, I would just grab something from the nearest fast food restaurant and call it a day. Actually planning out a weeks worth of meals will not only help me eat healthier, it will save me a lot of money in the long run.

4. Make my last semester of college the best semester. Every semester I say I'm going to make straight A's, then halfway through the semester I say I'm just going to try to make Deans List (all A's and B's), and by the time finals roll around, I'm telling myself that I need to just make a passing grade. This semester is my last semester in college and although I did well last semester, I missed Deans List because of a B-. SERIOUSLY?! So this semester, I want to make all A's and I'm going to work my butt off to do it.

5. Make time to work out 4-5 times per week. I used to run all the time. Seriously... all the time. Last semester I stopped going to the gym as much because I "didn't have time." No more excuses. I want to be healthy and fit, so I will make time to be healthy and fit.

6. Get more organized. If you know me at all, you know that my Lilly Pulitzer large agenda is with me 24/7. That agenda is just about the only bit of organization I have in my life lately. (Sidenote: although I LOVE Lilly, I just purchased a Kate Spade 2015 planner and I'm OBSESSED). I want to get more of my life organized. I want to organize my closet and room (and actually keep it clean). 

7. Stop relying on my phone 24/7. My phone is ALWAYS in my hand. I rely on it to answer all of life's questions that I have. I lose sleep because I'll be watching vines until 2AM most nights. I love that my phone is a quick way of communicating with others, but it's become too much of a distraction in my life lately and it has taken me away from making memories that I can look back on and smile about. 

8. Get outside and travel more. About a month ago I decided that I really want to hike the Appalachian Trail. Of the few people that I have told, most of them have laughed in my face or made some remark along the lines of "you'll probably last a day or two." I want to prove these people wrong. This year, I'm going to get outside more and do a few practice hikes to help train myself for the AT. I also want to go to one place I've never been each month.

9. Step outside my comfort zone at least once a week. When I'm uncomfortable, I usually grab my phone and try to drown out the awkwardness. I want to try to engage in more conversations and be more aware of my surroundings.

10. Keep an open mind and try new things. I've tried to do more of this as 2014 has come to an end. I am a very stubborn person and if I think I won't like something, I'll steer clear of it. I want to do things that I would normally turn away from. Who knows, maybe I'll have more fun?

What are some of y'alls New Years Resolutions? Let me know in the comments below! I hope you all have a wonderful time ringing in the New Year! Pop some bubbly, kiss a cute boy, and have some fun!

Sweater Weather

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! It's a dreary, rainy day in North Carolina. On days like these, I like to wrap up in a sweater and call it a day. Today, I decided to style my new Sanctuary sweater with a pair of skinnies and my favorite booties. I absolutely LOVE this sweater. The deep-V makes it a bit more breathable, in my opinion. I also did simple makeup with a red lip - no outfit is complete without lip color! I grabbed my (last season) Michael Kors crossbody to pull the outfit together.

Shirt (out of stock in burgundy) | Jeans | Shoes | Earrings | Necklace | Bag (last season)

Oh, Fudge!

Merry (almost) Christmas, friends! Today I made the most delicious fudge and thought I'd share it all with you as my very first post on my new and improved blog! Now if you know me personally, you know that I try to bake, and I always THINK it's going to turn out better than it really does. Like the one time I tried making pumpkin spice cookies and I literally had to just add water to the mixture and pop it in the oven and I somehow still messed it up... my boyfriend told me they were still good (although he kind of has to say that). Anyways, this fudge was super easy to make and it was "Morgan proof," so it should be no problem for all of your super-star bakers out there!

Okay, so the ingredients are as follows:

Andes Chocolate Mint Fudge

• 1 bag of Andes Peppermint Chunks
• 16 oz of dark chocolate chips
• 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (or imitation vanilla)
• 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Directions:

• Grease an 8x8 baking dish with butter (so that you can pull the fudge out after it hardens).
• Cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of the Andes mint chunks
• Fill a medium sized pot with a few inches of water and place a glass bowl on top of the pot (make sure that the water does not touch the bowl - the steam will warm up the bowl)
• Pour the condensed milk and butter in the bowl - stir until butter is melted
• Add the chocolate chips and salt into the bowl and stir until it is all melted 
• Add the vanilla and mint extracts and stir until mixed then immediately pour into the baking dish
• Spread the mixture evenly and sprinkle the remaining Andes mint chunks
• Refrigerate the fudge for about 3 hours and then cut into 1 inch squares

Ta-Da! I told you it was simple (: Enjoy your holidays and look for more posts soon to come!

Welcome!

Welcome one, welcome all to my blog! My name is Morgan King and I am a college girl who is about to graduate and enter the big and scary "real world." I've wanted to create this blog for a long time. I have tried my hand at blogging before, but I wanted a fresh start and a brand new feel. I created this blog as an outlet for everything that I love to do. I am a HUGE pinterester. I pinterest just about every day. I also love fashion and indulging in new styles. If I had to label my go-to style, it would be preppy... but I live at the beach so the style here is super laid-back. Anything goes, really. I also love food. I watch the food channel religiously (and my boyfriend hates me for it). I want this blog to express who I am as a person and what I love to do. "Why Grace & Twine?" you may ask. Well, I wanted a blog with an elegant but rustic feel. I felt that this name was a great representation of both! Feel free to ask me any questions and check out my 'About' page to learn a bit more about me!