Today, I found out that I passed the bar. I should feel more excited about that, maybe I’m just in shock.
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1) One behavior separates success from mediocrity. (Thrive)
2) Nordstrom’s Clear the Rack sale is on. Deals on top of deals, esp. on shoes.
3) Sheryl Sandberg talks about loss, grief, and moving forward when you’re hurting. (Time)
4) This Tahari dress with a chic, blue print is all of my casual date night dreams.
5) Is self-hypnosis the way to beat stress? (Well + Good)
6) 40-percent-off everything at LOFT. I need these sandals and this fun top.
7) A paper referred to Aaron Rodgers as Olivia Munn’s ‘boyfriend’ and men went nuts. (Mic)
8) Serious question: Can I wear this gorgeous blush Calvin Klein dress to work?
9) Everything you need to know about protecting your privacy online. (Recode)
10) Humidity is coming. Freeze your makeup in place with this CoverFX setting spray.
11) H&M’s best kept shopping secrets, by a former employee. (Pop Sugar)
***
What I’m Baking. I love the Trader Joe’s almond horn cookies, but the chocolate they use is so bitter. So I’m glad Smitten Kitchen posted her recipe so I can make my own.
What I’m Listening To. The 9 Podcast Episodes Worth Discussing.
What I’m Buying. This Waste-Not-Nut dispenser to make sure I get the last drop of my pricey conditioner.
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Congratulations!!! I’m so happy for you! I hope once it hits you, you’ll have a glass of champagne or rose, a lot of cake.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Yay! Awesome job, Belle. Congrats.
So happy for you! Congratulations!
Mazel tov!
Wahoo! That’s a big deal! Don’t fret about your response – it’s probably just shock, or your overactive psyche not quite sure what to do now that your self-defined role as student is over. Keep talking about it – other people’s excitement should help you muster up some of your own.
Congrats!! Great news!
congrats on the bar! huge!
Congratulations on passing the bar! That’s wonderful news!!!
BELLE!! YAY!!! That’s awesome, congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!
A JOB WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT’S ALL WORTH THE PAIN!!!!!!!
SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!
YOU GO GO GO MONTANA GIRL!!!!!!!!!!
That’s a huge accomplishment, congrats!!!
Congratulations on passing the bar! Thank you for sharing the highs, lows and reality of law school. Cheers!!
Congratulations, Belle! Loved watching you on this journey.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations on your well-earned success!!! Bubbles for everyone!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS! I felt no joy at passing the bar, just relief that I had not failed.
Congratulations Belle! Thank you for sharing honestly the emotional roller coaster that is law school (particularly as a non-traditional student). Don’t feel like you need to be excited – just enjoy the RELIEF! Your readership is so proud of you!
Congrats!!! Amazing news!!
Congratulations! What a great accomplishment. Greatly, enjoy reading your blog, it is very empowering and inspiring.
Congratulations, Belle!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!! Let it sink in and then celebrate! Such a wonderful accomplishment!
congratulations!!!
Congratulations! I knew you did.
great work! For me it was a huge sense of relief since I would have lost my job if I hadn’t passed (fall 2009). Enjoy and let it soak in. 
Congratulations!
Congratulations, that is so great!! Celebrate!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! So happy to hear this news. Enjoy your vacation!!
YAY!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!
OH MY – CONGRATULATIONS!!!! So happy for you.
Re #8- yes, you absolutely can wear that dress to work. Especially since the hem hits slightly above the knee on a 5’10 model. Anyone shorter shouldn’t have an issue with length.
More importantly, CONGRATS on being a newly minted lawyer! Hope you’re celebrating!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
Way to go!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!
Congrats!!!!!
Congrats!! I also remember feeling not very happy. Most of my friends felt that way too. Just very…relieved, which was pretty powerful actually. There’s just a huge whiff of…”oh you did what you’re expected to do about it,” despite all the stress and worry and preparation. It’s so hard to explain. I still vividly remember all that pain and it was ten year ago. But most importantly, CONGRATS! (and…your feelings are totally normal).
Congratulations, Belle!! I was sure you would. You are a champion! So glad to “know” you and wish you all the best!
CONGRATS, we all knew you could do it!
Congrats!!!!! Whoo Hoo!!!! You did it!!!! (and all while blogging!)
Congrats on passing the bar!!
Congratulations, Abra! I’ve been following the blog since before you began law school, and I’ve been working at an IP firm for eleven years and have watched a number of attorneys experience the shock of passing the bar. You’re not alone in feeling… weird. For something that’s “expected” after the grind of finishing law school, it’s still a huge accomplishment. Well done.
Wonderful news! We’ve been holding our collective breaths along with you. Exhale and then inhale some champagne! Thanks for the excellent daily email – your posts are my #1 favorite.
So happy for you – congratulations!
congratulations! and no, that pink thing with the floppy sleeves does not belong in a law office.
Girl great job!! You passed the bar- own that! It’s not just luck! Congratulations!
Congratulations! We knew you could do it.
Congrats!!! It’s not a surprise, you worked hard for this. Enjoy the relief – so glad you didn’t postpone taking it til fall. You are awesome! All that effort proved fruitful. Treat yourself.
Congrats!
Congratulations! Enjoy every moment!
Congratulations!!!!! Hard work pays off!!! We are very very proud of you Abra! I hope you seriously treat yourself for this :).
Congratulations!!
Congratulations! Welcome to the bar!
I haven’t read any of the links yet – saw the first bit of text and had to leave you a congratulatory message. Do we call you, “Belle, Esq.,” now?
Well of COURSE you did. We all believed in you from the beginning…
Congratulations, madame.
congratulations!! i remember you being super stressed about that a couple of months ago. now you just need to move back to dc.
haha!!
Congratulations!!! Now you can leave the bar behind and start looking ahead.
Aww, Belle, SO happy for you, and impressed with you, as always!! You earned it all, now I hope you can savor it.
And while I’m at it–I’ve been a daily reader for years, but rarely comment–thank you for all you have given to all of us, it has been a delight to follow your journey from DC through law school, inspiring and so real.
Time to celebrate, kiddo!!
Congratulations Abra! I am so happy to hear that. My cousin just passed on his second attempt as well! Can’t wait to hear what kind of legal work you would like to do when you are hired by a lucky employer!
Congrats!!!!!
Congrats!!
Enhorabuena Belle! All your hard work paid off! Whatever may be next, many blessings to you.
So exciting! Congratulations on your hard work and this accomplishment (one of many!!). Bravo!
Congratulations on passing the bar!!!
Congratulations! What wonderful news!
Congratulations on passing the bar!
Yes!!!! Congrats!
CONGRATULATIONS! Well done!
Congratulations! Rock on!
Congratulations! What wonderful news!
Congratulations!!
CONGRATS on passing the bar!! I still remember the relief when I found out I had passed mine (and the anxiety proceeding it!) So happy for you!
Congratulations!
(And apparently you have several followers named Mary :))
Congratulations Belle!
Adding to the long line — Congratulations! Very happy for you.
Congratulations! You must be soooo relieved!!
What a relief! SO many congrats!
SO EXCITED FOR YOU
Congrats on passing the bar, and thank you for sharing your experiences with your readers. So often we see just the polished, public face of bloggers, and no indication that their lives include emotions and struggle like the rest of us. Your candidness is inspiring!
Congratulations. It’s wonderful you achieved this goal!
Just now seeing this – HUGE CONGRATS! My husband took the July ’16 bar and totally had the same shocked reaction. It was more relief than anything – a catharsis of anxiety haha. To this day he will still look at me and go “I’m a lawyer. I passed the bar.” as if he still can’t believe it.
Longtime reader/lurker sending a big congratulations!!!!
YES! YAY! YAY! I hope you celebrated all weekend!
I have no idea who Aaron Rodgers is. Also, CONGRATULATIONS, BELLE!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations!! That’s great news!
Been reading (and loving) for years–I rarely comment but had to come out of the woodwork to say Congratulations!!!
Your candor has been so refreshing! I love following along your journey and know you will kick ass in this next part of your story!
That’s great, congrats!!!
That’s a HUGE deal! Congrats!!!