In My Stylish Yet Affordable Boots

WIWW: 23 May 2012

It's before Memorial Day and I don't care. I'm wearing white. A lot of it, in fact:

Blouse & Jeans: OldNavy.com
Belt: Fashion Bug
Necklace: Jessica Simpson, via Ideeli.com (but you can find it elsewhere, including here.)
Earrings: Lia Sophia
Bangle set: Forever21
Shoes: Sam & Libby, via 6PM.com
On my toes: Chanel Vendetta, which is such a fabulous, deep purple.

Why This Works: White is such a great color for this time of year, as I've blogged before - it feels fresh and bright and cool as the weather heats up. The brights of the bangles and necklace are on-trend and fun pops against the white palette.

WIWW: 18 April 2012

With today's outfit, I'm celebrating a milestone for myself. Since the start of 2012, I've lost 20 pounds, which has allowed me to fit back into this dress (which I love) that I have been unable to wear. To say I'm excited about that would be an understatement!

Dress: Lane Bryant (the belt I'm wearing came with the dress, though it's not shown in the product photo)
Cardigan: OldNavy.com
Shoes: Target
Watch: L.A.M.B.
Earrings: Gifted
Necklace: Vintage, via The Husband's grandmother

So, back to those 20 pounds. I talk a lot about body acceptance and loving oneself on this blog, and I want to be clear that my efforts to be a healthier me aren't in conflict with that message. I'm making these efforts not because I don't like the number on the scale or on the tag in my jeans, but because I didn't like my fitness level or health as I was. I am not dieting - I shared a brownie sundae with The Husband while we were out for dinner last night! I have increased my physical activity, and I've made changes in portion sizes and the mix of foods I'm eating - more fruits and vegetables, less meat and grains. I find that I feel better and more energetic this way, less sluggish and run down, and I hope very much to continue to increase my fitness and stamina and health. And that's it. While the program I'm using does calculate a target weight, that's not really my goal right now. My goal is to have my body function the way I want it to. The numbers will work themselves out.

WIWW: 14 March 2012 (Happy Pi Day!)

It's Spring! It's Spring! For today, at least. It's supposed to hit about 75F today, and I couldn't be more excited to break out some sandals and a bright, cheery dress. The color of this dress is supposedly "rouge red", but it's really more of a very flattering coral. I love it. It's definitely one of my new favorite pieces.

Dress: Lane Bryant
Tank: Coldwater Creek
Shoes: Target
Necklace: Etsy
Earrings: Lia Sophia

WIWW: 25 January 2012

Happy New Year! With one thing and another this morning, I didn't have an opportunity to actually photograph myself in this outfit, but I felt like sharing it anyway.

Cardigan: OldNavy.com
Dress: Kohl's Apt. 9, kohls.com
Tights: Fashion Bug
Boots: Madden Girl, via DSW.com
Watch: L.A.M.B.
Bracelet: Fossil, gift from The Husband
Earrings & pendant: gifted

Why This Works: Normally, I like a lot of color in my wardrobe. If I'm not wearing colorful layers, I'm wearing a pop of color in an accessory. But sometimes, monochromatic neutrals can offer a different, more subtle look. While the crystal pendant and earrings do offer a slight touch of color, they aren't distracting or overwhelming. Also, with regard to the pieces themselves, this is some of the simplest, easiest dressing around: 3 total pieces (dress, tights, cardigan), which are no less comfortable than jeans, a tee, and a sweater. A few accessories to dress it up for work, and I'm good to go.

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Today also happens to be the second anniversary of my mom's passing. It's hard to believe it's been that long already. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her, but I'm lucky enough to have so many good memories that the happy ones easily crowd out the sad ones these days. That said, I wish I'd learned her secret to chicken soup - I still can't get it right! Treasure your loved ones and learn all you can from them; you never know when your opportunity will be gone.

Love Your Body

When I learned that today had been declared "Love Your Body Day", I knew I wanted to write something about it, but I was kind of stumped. I've talked a bit about size acceptance, and more recently, about being awesome. What else could I possibly have to say on this topic? Let's see...

Earlier this year, I had a health scare. Ultimately, it turned out to be not serious, but I did have to make some changes to medication I was taking. Those changes resulted in me gaining 20 pounds in four months. I was...not pleased to realize that. It was discouraging. I felt defeated, as if all of my efforts in healthy eating and exercise were for nothing. I'm no slave to the scale, but seeing those numbers creep up, instead of remaining steady, started to make me feel bad about myself.

But then I recognized the trap I was falling into. I was allowing the negative to invade my thoughts, allowing the anti-awesome to win. So my body has changed again...now what? Instead of dwelling on the downsides, I needed to figure out how it operates now, and go forward. It's a process, but I'm working it. I've lost 5 pounds since I started to figure it out, which is nice. But far more importantly, I feel better and more comfortable about this new version of me - regardless of whether those 20 pounds go away or not.

And really, that's the key to loving your body and loving yourself, I think. You need to accept the way your body looks and functions as just another part of life, frustating as it may sometimes be, and figure out the ways to work with it that best give you the fullest life you can possibly have! Diet, activity level, self-care - all of these things are very individualized, and I can't give you the right answer for you. But I urge you to find out, and learn to love your body. No one can see the number on the scale or the tag inside your jeans. Why let that rule how you feel? The smile on your face, meeting other people's eyes, letting them know you're comfortable in your own skin - those things are worth much more in the world than any random numbers.

Be confident, be happy, be loving, and above all, be AWESOME.

WIWW: 12 October 2011

The weather's been a bit all over the place here in SE WI for the last week. We've had the windows in the house wide open, as temps have been in the 70s. Yet it's October! I should be wearing fall clothes, not summer clothes! To that end, I put together an outfit today that keeps the fall aesthetic, but doesn't weigh me down in corduroy and wool that I don't need to wear for warmth right now.

Dress & cardigan: OldNavy.com
Earrings: Kohls.com
Ring: Amrita Singh, via HauteLook.com
Locket: Purchased from Cadeaux de Madeleine's booth at Milwaukee's Bastille Days
Shoes: Neosens, purchased at Shoo

 

WIWW: 28th September 2011. Birthday Edition!

So, here I am, celebrating (I use that word loosely) the tenth anniversary of my 29th birthday, on a Wednesday. I don't have a lot to say about this outfit, just that I wanted to pick out something that seemed a bit festive and more dressed up than the leggings I probably otherwise would've worn today.

 

Sweater dress: OldNavy.com
Corduroy blazer: Fashion Bug
Tights (black, footless): Avenue.com
Tank (also black, to fill in the neckline of the dress): Mossimo, via Target
Boots: LaneBryant.com
Scarf: Ann Taylor Loft
Watch: L.A.M.B.
Earrings: Kohls.com
Bracelet: Jennifer Lopez Collection, via Kohls.com

The thing that's really brightening my office, though, is this:
 
Birthday flowers from The Husband. They arrived yesterday, and overnight, they all opened up into this glorious bouquet. Just the pick-me-up I need, on a day where I didn't get my coffee!

WIW Thursday: 15th September 2011

(just for jaycee, because she asked ;-) )

In a shockingly abrupt end to summer, I woke up this morning to find it was 43F outside! It's about that time, to break out sweaters and boots and my favorites of fall - wool, tweed, corduroy. But since this is still transition time, I haven't gone all the way over to fall clothes:

Sweater, tank, jeans: OldNavy.com
Shoes: Bella Vita
Bracelets: Amrita Singh
Earrings: Catherines
Watch: L.A.M.B.
Scarf: I have no idea; I don't remember where or when this came from. I have a vast collection of scarves, some of which date back to the late '80s and high school.

Why This Works: The dark wash jeans and dark purple tank, combined with the neutral booties, are all a nod to fall, while the bright scarf and light neutral cocoon cardi don't tip this over into the heavier feel of late fall and winter clothes. A fine-gauge sweater is a great transition piece, as it provides more coverage and warmth as the days cool, but doesn't add bulk.

I'm actually still deciding whether I think the cocoon cardi, specifically, works for me. While I like the concept, I'm concerned that this may be adding more width to me than I'd like. What do you think?

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In news unrelated to clothing, tonight I'll be walking in our local Light the Night walk, for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I've been raising money for the past several weeks, and can't tell you how much I appreciate all of my donors. This is such an important cause, as there are approximately 137,000 people diagnosed with blood cancers (which include leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma) each year, which accounts for approximately 9% of the new cancer diagnoses in a year. Approximately 54,000 people die of one of these blood cancers each year, which also accounts for around 9.5% of all cancer deaths. As my regular readers know, one of those deaths in 2010 was my mom. Supporting this cause is deeply personal.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society provides funding for research, patient access to clinical trials, and patient education and advocacy services. Please consider supporting LLS via a donation, volunteer work, or participating in one of their fundraising programs. Or, if none of those float your boat, you can shop a small variety of Lands End products and 20% of your purchase will go to support LLS (and, this month only, you can use code LLS for free shipping!).

More musings on style, size, and self-esteem (now with Awesome!)

More than two years ago now, I posted my thoughts on looking good as a plus-sized woman. A couple of social media-related happenings, combined with a conversation with a friend about body image, are now prompting more musings on this topic.

This past week, I received Lane Bryant's latest catalog, with a cover image of five topless models in their new T3 jeans. Other than these models being somewhat curvier than straight-size models, it didn't look much different to me than a lot of other advertising or magazine layouts. However, I've noticed a lot of criticism on LB's Twitter feed and Facebook page. From the laughable comment that the image is "pornographic", to statements that "my husband doesn't need to see that" and "it's too titillating", the ones that really struck me were women who began to lament that they don't see women who look like that shopping or working at LB, and that they wish they themselves looked like the models.

I understand the urge to be discouraged when you don't look like the ads or the magazines. I can tell you every single one of my physical flaws - too busty, wide shoulders, short-waisted, too much belly, flatter-than-flat rear end, pointy elbows, big feet, heavy thighs, round face, huge pores, too many freckles...and on and on and on. But I don't use those as a means to beat myself up. Instead, that list is a catalogue of the things I have to work WITH when I dress myself or choose hair or makeup styles. It's who I am, as much as the stuff I can tell you are physical assets - long legs, graceful hands, clear brown eyes, nicely-shaped toes, well-shaped brows that require only minimal grooming, a genuine smile. I don't expect to look like the women in ads or magazines, because I'M NOT THEM. I'M ME. There's no use comparing my bigger waistline or their curvier rears - there is no way for me to ever be them. But there's an easy way to be me. A very long time ago, I made a choice. I choose to be confident in who I am and what I look like, because, well, plastic surgery is expensive and painful, and at the end, I'd still have a list of flaws anyway. Right at the top would be "insecure", which is a vastly less attractive quality than a flabby belly, no?

Which brings me to the second item making the rounds of social media: Waking Up Full of Awesome. I love this post. It puts into words that conscious choice I made - I choose to be happy, and to like myself, and to do things that make my mind and body both stronger and healthier.

I have my moments of self-doubt, of self-pity, of negative self-talk; I'm not even remotely perfect. But I don't let those moments rule me. I've made my choice. I'm awesome.

What I'm Wearing Wednesday: 13th July 2011

Haven't been here in awhile, but I swear to you, I do still wear clothes when I'm not posting about them! ;-)

 

Jacket & capris: Fashion Bug
Tank: OldNavy.com
Shoes: Lifestride
Earrings: Kenneth Cole, via ideeli.com
Necklace: Janna Conner, via HauteLook.com
Bangles: Amrita Singh, via HauteLook.com 

Why This Works: White is such a great spring & summer color, and I love the bright white and yellow together. The great thing about separates, like this jacket and capris, is that while I may not be wearing the capris in the Wisconsin spring, the jacket can be put to great use over three seasons. With its lightweight cotton construction and three-quarter-length sleeves, it's a nice transistion piece from spring to summer, and summer to fall.