8 Weeks to a Better Me: Week 7/Personal Style

Hello there! I'm Elsie From A Beautiful Mess. I'm a lifestyle blogger from Springfield, Missouri. I own Red Velvet, a boutique, and just created my first dress collection this past spring! While designing dresses is my passion in business, collection fun personal pieces is also my most beloved hobby! I started wearing vintage in high school and have never stopped. In more recent years I've also grown fond of collecting pieces that support up-and-coming independent designers, like myself! In short, I love fashion. I'm here today to share with you my top three tips for developing a personal style that you love!

1. Only wear trends you absolutely love!

Trends will always come and go. I am a huge fan of 50s and 60s clothing and this year 70s styles have been incredibly popular! I've enjoyed picking and choosing the aspects of the 70s that I love to wear. It's really important not to pressure yourself to try every single trend. Just choose the trends that make you happy! 

Over time you will develop a style of dressing that you will consider your 'comfort zone'. I have this with 50s dresses, bows and heels and big hair (ultra feminine). Once you have established your basic style, you can incorporate trends and off beat pieces that inspire you on occasion! It's definitely fun to try new things! Just be sure to be true to yourself and your favorite styles at least 75% of the time.

2. Know your body type and choose a fit that flatters! 

Every woman has a unique body and styles that flatter her shape! It's important to know your shape and know what looks good on you (and, of course, what does not). Here are a few easy ways to figure this out.... Find a celebrity, musician or even fashion blogger (anyone who is photographed often) who has a similar body type to yours. Watch what they wear and what looks best! Another easy thing to do is look through your own photos and try to spot the most flattering outfits. Choose new styles that are similar in different colors and patterns. 

It can be discouraging when a major trend rolls around that doesn't work with your body type. A couple years ago flowy tops (similar to maternity tops) were popular and they were really unflattering on me. Over time I've learned a few tricks. I'm short and busty, so I almost always wear a belt or fitted waist. Also, I like to keep my hair color pretty dark, so I feel like color looks good on me. I stay away from all black outfits and I don't usually wear flat shoes in photos. 

What are your best physical features? You should definitely play those up! Choose outfits that show off the things you love about yourself and stay away from styles that cover them up! 

One more tip.... I took a huge step in confidence when I choose to work with my natural body type instead of against it. When I was younger I felt like the problem with finding clothing was me. Learning to dress for my natural body type has been a huge self esteem builder for me!

 

3. Save lots and splurge a little! 

I love thrifting, but I also love picking dresses off the "not sale" rack at Anthropologie. My best tip is to save a lot and splurge a little. It's fun to buy new clothes every season. I also love the challenge of being thrifty. I like to buy most of my pieces for reasonable (and sometimes low) prices. Great example of this are vintage shops, Etsy, mall stores and even thrifting. That said, it's also good to buy special pieces that you can wear for more than one season. My grandmother was great at this and in the last few years she's given me some amazing bags and swimsuits from the 1960s. She still remembers the exact price she paid for them, because they were a splurge. Splurge pieces should be items you will want to keep forever. I have a few really nice dresses that I know I'll keep for life. I think that it's a great combination for guilt free wardrobe building to save your pennies on trendy and daily wear pieces and invest in more special pieces like dresses, outerwear, bags and shoes. 

I hope this little feature has inspired you to work on building your personal style. Styling is a great hobby for any age. It's a confidence builder and a lot of fun! Don't be afraid to start simple and build your dream wardrobe as you go! There's no reason why you shouldn't dress the way you really want to dress!

Have fun! Elsie

This week's post has me really thinking, because recently I've been super into purging my closet to make room for items that really speak to me and make me happy. In the past I've shopped too much, and bought things without really thinking about them. Sure, a blouse may be cute, but now I try and ask myself if I really see myself wearing this season after season rather than impulse buying too many items. So, here are my goals for this week!  We only have ONE more week left, and I'm excited to make a goals run down post to conclude this project as well.


1. Do another Shop My Closet. I did one two weeks ago and it was so successful- I made tons of room for new items, and go to reevaluate what I need and what I don't.  This next round will be even better, because it's all the items I really wanted to keep, but the more I think about them, the more I just want to simplify my wardrobe. This week I'd also like to go through all of my clothes and take a look at what fits well and what doesn't.  I feel best when I wear flattering clothing, so why not have an entire closet filled with flattering items?

2. Lately I feel like I've been stuck in such a style rut. I've been wearing the same outfits, feeling totally uninspired. Looking at Elsie's pretty photos has me feeling super motivated to change it up a bit, and work some new fun twists into my daily outfits- maybe a cute pair of heels or a fun hairstyle.

3. And on the same note, try out new outfits all week. This week I'm looking forward to mixing matching some of the clothes I already have to create outfits that look and feel great.  Elsie inspires me to step out of the box a little- I think it would be great for me to stay true to my personal style but branch out a little more. For instance, I love the look of her layered blouse and dress above- I have a lot of fun separates that would look great paired in a new way.

So that's Week 7!  Thanks again Elsie for being a part of Sometimes Sweet today. How about you? What are you three goals for the week?

8 Weeks to a Better Me: Week 6/Home Sweet Home

Welcome to week number six!  This week's wonderful guest poster is the gorgeous and talented Mandi.  Mandi is one of those girls that could have written on any one of these topics, but lately I've really been admiring both her lovely home and her design aesthetic, so what better person to talk about making your environment a great place to be?  Mandi inspires me on a daily basis and I always find myself eagerly clicking on whatever she posts- I know that when I leave her blog I will always be filled with a sense of happiness, and of course, inspiration!  If you don't already read "Here's Looking at Me, Kid," then I suggest you hightail it over there...after reading her awesome contribution though- I know you'll love it!  Thanks again, Mandi.

Hello friends! I'm Mandi, from Here's Looking at Me, Kid, and I'm so honored to be a part of Danielle's 8 Weeks to a Better Me series. Making home a wonderful place to live is a great passion of mine, and sort of a necessity that goes along with living in Northeast Ohio. (Spending 6 months of the year inside can be a bit rough if you don't like your home). Danielle asked me to share some ideas for beautifying your living space, so I've put together three great tips on ways you can make your home a better place to live.

1. Don't buy or keep anything you don't love.

This one can be a tricky rule, when you factor in gifts from well-meaning family members, personal indecisiveness, and the original cost of said item. I adhere pretty strictly to this rule, but I do leave things in my home that are of absolute functional necessity. These things are called "place holders." You might not like it, and you're looking for something better to replace it, but in the meantime you just gotta have something to serve the function.

That being said, keep things personal. I like to have family heirlooms, things made by my family, and things of sentimental value out for display. I might not have selected it for my home had it not been made by someone I love, but I like it, and more importantly, someone I really love made it. So it's more likely to make the cut.

2. Start small.

Choose one room and tackle it! Transforming your space into your dream home really doesn't take a lot of money (take it from my personal penny budget), but it does take a lot of motivation and attention to detail. It can be really overwhelming to look at your home, not really like it, but also not know where to begin. My best advice is to start with one room, or even a corner of a big room, and start thinking about how you envision it to look. Browse home tours on blogs like Design Sponge and Apartment Therapy for inspiration, if you're lacking any, and then start getting rid of things you don't like or need (excluding placeholders, as mentioned above). Start a pinterest or, if you use Google Reader, star some favorite home decor images so that you can hone in on design elements that you really and truly love.

Sometimes paint can make a great difference. I personally love the fresh feel of white space, and while my apartment walls are off-white, I really wish I could paint them all a bright snowy white. My landlord did consent, however to my painting our kitchen cabinets white. The room didn't need much more than that, just a few cute thrifted accessories to make it feel happy and pretty.

3. Don't neglect function.

It's pretty easy to get wrapped up in prettifying your home, that you might overlook organization and function. For instance, if you have a lot of makeup, perfume bottles, hair brushes, and other things that take part in your morning routine, it's easier to keep them out on your dresser. But it's even easier for them to get out of control. I don't like to keep these things in drawers (out of sight, out of mind), because the drawers just get unmanageable and things wind up getting lost or forgotten. So I like to find little trays at the thrift store to corral everything together. They might all still be out in the open, but grouping them together looks a lot neater.

Also, if you are a crafter, an artist, or have children, please don't live in years of denial, like I did. I used to think that I could stow everything away in a closet, but that just resulted in either me not crafting, or crafting and being too overwhelmed by the mess to clean it up in a timely manner. Now, I have turned a corner of my living room into a crafting area. I hung up a pegboard wall so I can easily get things out and put them away. The desk I found for the space has plenty of drawers to keep the not-so-pretty items. I am not a girl who can't function (in a tidy fashion) using a desk without drawers, so I would never buy one or fool myself into thinking it will work. (Sometimes really pretty desks will try to deceive you into thinking this is not so! Trust me.) If you're going to be engaging in specific activities (especially the cluttered kind), make sure there is a place to do so. It will not only save your own sanity, but your family's too!

If you're craving more tips and inspiration, you can check out the "home" category on my blog where I share how my personal space has transformed through the years, as well as where I share some links to articles I wrote for Apartment Therapy.

1. Our dining room has been on my mind for weeks and week. There are a few small projects that I need to finish in there, but I keep getting overwhelmed when I think about all of the other things I need to do too. So, I'm going to take Mandi's advice and start small. I'm going to just focus on one room at a time, and this week it's the dining room!

2. I love what Mandi said about not keeping anything you don't love. I've already half-tackled that with my closet, but there are still some other areas of our home I could edit a bit. So, this week will "purge anything I don't love" week. Ahem, junk drawer!

3. And finally, I'm going to focus on getting up our family photo wall in the hallway. We had it up before but it could have looked better, so I took it down to redesign it. It's been months now and it's time for me to get on the ball. That hallway made me so happy when we had photos up, and I'm looking forward to getting it right this time!

How about you? What are you going to do to make your living space even more wonderful this week?

8 weeks to a better me: Week 5/Loving Life & Having Fun!

This week I am so excited to have one of my favorite blogging friends here on Sometimes Sweet, Lauren of Busy Bee! I recently and very briefly met her at the AZ Blogger Meetup, but since then I've gotten to know her better through her blog, twitter and Facebook. And let me tell you, I adore this girl!  She's truly a burst of sunshine, and Busy Bee is just such a witty, fun and beautiful addition to my daily "must-read." When I thought about this topic she's someone who immediately came to mind- Lauren is a girl who lives a deliberate life.  And by that I mean she chooses to fill her life with good energy, chooses to be positive, and in turn inspires so many other people to live authentic, positive lives as well.  It's a great thing, and I'm so happy to have Lauren here to share her love for life with everyone. 

A special thank you to all of you who have been participating in 8 weeks. Your goals are all so inspiring and it's neat to see how everyone looks at the topic a little differently. You all motivate me so much and I really appreciate each of your comments, messages, and linked posts. I've had so much fun reading through them! And now without further ado, here's week five with Ms. Lauren!

-----

hi, everyone!

my name is lauren, and i blog over at busy bee lauren!

i am so honored that danielle asked me to guest post on loving life and having fun!

this topic has such a special place in my heart...

i am girl in her early twenties who married her high school sweetheart, and has a pretty dang blessed life. but, i have battled serious depression and anxiety most of my life, so it can be a challenge to be happy a lot of the time. i am constantly looking for the beautiful and wonderful things in life that make getting up each day worth it.

the following things have helped me love my life:

[1] look for beauty in everything & document it!

i always carry my camera with me, just in case i see something that inspires me at that particular moment. i look back on my photos, and it brings back memories of how i felt when i took the photo. and 9 times out of 10, it's a feel of gratitude of knowing we are so blessed to experience such beauty in our lives!

[2] dress for yourself, and do it each day!

develop your own style that makes you happy! i have found that when i look my best, i feel my best. i have made it a habit to always get dressed in a cute outfit, even if it is just to go mail a letter at the post office, or to pick up some groceries. don't dress for others...dress to make you happy :) and beyond that, dress in a way that expresses who you are.

[3] never speak negatively about your significant other...

my husband makes me happier than anyone on this entire earth. and our love for each other is a great source of happiness. i have made a commitment to never speak negatively about him, even if he sometimes drives me bonkers. they key to happiness is to love. and love is something you have to work at. but it's the most rewarding thing you could ever have!

thank you, danielle for letting me share with all of you my ways to have a happy and awesome life!

1. I also really love documenting my life, and it makes me so happy to be able to look back when I'm sad and relive happy times. It always makes me smile. And to go off of what Lauren wrote for number one, I think it's so important to see the beauty in the little things. This week I am going to take my camera with me wherever I go and capture the beauty (big and small) in our days.

2. Goal number two is to simply dress for me everyday. Wear a pretty sun dress, a cute blouse, things that make me feel great and happy. This week will be a no yoga pants and tank zone!

3. My third goal is not to say one negative about anyone for this entire week. I really liked what Lauren said about not saying anything negative about your partner, and I never ever say anything negative about Hank, but sometimes  I do find myself saying random things while out and about. Like, "um why is she wearing that?!" That's just mean and there's no need for it. So, this week that's my goal.  No judging. I think it will really add to the positive energy in my life to kind of zap out that little bit of negativity I let float around from time to time.

How about you? What are you going to do this week to add to the quality of your life, to have a bit more fun and enjoy the beauty in our everyday? I can't wait to read what you share!

8 weeks to a better me: Week 4/Loving Yourself

 

Welcome to week four of this fun little project, and the halfway point!  This marks the fourth week of setting small goals and hopefully achieving them!  This next Saturday I'll be posting a mid-point checkup to go over my successes (and non-successes), and talk a bit about how I've done with my goals, which is pretty great so far!  And this week I am BEYOND excited to have a sweet friend of mine posting here. When I thought about this topic, Kaelah is the first person who popped into my head. I adore this woman with a fierceness, and I absolutely love her zest for life. To me, she epitomizes self-confidence and I really enjoy how she encourages others to find that same confidence. I knew she'd be perfect for this week, and I was overjoyed when she agreed. If you don't already read Kaelah's blog, be sure to head over her way- she's a daily read of mine and one of my favorite people in this whole, wide blogging world. Thank you again, Kaelah! So much love.

Hey y'all! I'm Kaelah Bee and I write a little life + style blog called Little Chief Honeybee where I feature daily outfits, adventures, and a life practiced with positivity with my two sweet bulldogs and fiance, Mike! 

When Danielle contacted me about writing this guest post I was overjoyed and very very flattered. She expressed an interest in having me write about the topic of "loving yourself" and I knew it was a match made in heaven! I think we all struggle with appreciating ourselves for who we are. Whether we feel too big, too small, too pale or any other combination of "less than desirable" traits, we're being blind to our true potential. I've struggled with this myself for a long time. Being a tomboy turned girly girl, 14 years of softball doesn't normally bode well in a dainty dress. I've got calf muscles that would rival those of a professional rugby player! But then I realized that it's all about perspective! While I may have giant calves and a hard time finding fabulous boots come Autumn, I also have some insanely strong legs! They help me run fast, jump high, and lift things that a 5'2" gal wouldn't be expected to lift. They may be masculine, but they're mine! 

Sure, my hips are.. well… big, but I got them honestly! My mom is a tiny woman but boy she's got some hips! She's always told me those are "childbearing hips" and I should be proud to have them! It may have taken me 20-something years, but I finally am proud. They make me feel womanly and I know they'll be put to good use come time for my own little honeybees! 

Blogging has really opened my eyes to all the different sizes and shapes of people. There are so many life + style bloggers out there who share their outfits and inspire me on the daily. But every single body type is different. It's so refreshing! I don't feel like I have to be a stick-thin model type to share my outfits online. I'm greeted with some of the most uplifting comments ever! Women who wish to have my curves or confidence, etc. It's a true testament to everything we think merely being perspective. I may see those curves as sometimes overpowering or a downright curse, but there's a woman out there with a totally different body type who wishes she had them. Instead of constantly looking at others and being envious of what they have, we need to be proud of what we have ourselves!  When you're brave enough to be proud of who you are and what you look like, you immediately give someone else the courage to do the same. It's a snowball effect. We need to take back the reigns on body image. The media only has a negative effect on our psyche because we allow it to. We allow fashion magazines to make us feel inferior. Instead, let's stand up and say "NO! Not today! Today I'm going to love those hips, curves, jiggly bits and I might even remain indifferent about my cellulite!" 

I truly think everything in our lives stems from our attitude. When you make the conscious effort to change how you look at things and how you react, everything else changes, too. I won't lie and say that changing all of this can happen overnight. It's a matter of willpower and perseverance. Even years after my initial "Ah-Hah!" moment, I still have to work at it. I made the decision to stop hating my body… it's been hard, but it's been the best decision I've ever made!

Phew! Okay! Well how about some ~tricks and tips for banishing that bad attitude toward yourself?

1. Find something that makes you feel good! Use it as your guide when you're feeling down in the dumps or in need of a little pick me up! I found my inspiration in a less-than-likely place… a poem called Desiderata (link: http://www.fleurdelis.com/desiderata.htm) by Max Erhman. Something about this poem makes me feel alive. No matter if I'm feeling blue about my future, blogging, my relationships, or my body, it picks me up. It reminds me about what's important, and what's not. The line that is especially significant is "If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for there will aways be greater and lesser persons than yourself." Rather than being envious or jealous of others, we should focus on what's great within ourselves. Someone out there wishes to have what you do, you just may not know it! If you're moved by quotes or lyrics, print them out and hang them around your house! Hang them in places that you'll see every single day! Make positive affirmations your morning routine (and share them! You'll be amazed at how good it makes you feel to share the optimism!).

2. For every negative thought you think about yourself, think a positive one! Look in the mirror and find yourself frustrated with the way your hair kinks or that little bit of extra "love" in your love handles? Instead of cursing it, think about the person out there who wishes they had hair. Or think about how great it feels to run your fingers through it when it's freshly conditioned (that's my favorite! And practically the only time I can run my fingers through my mop!). And those love handles? To your special someone, that might be their most favorite part of your body. Someone loves it… even if you don't!

3. Dress up just because! There's no denying that getting dolled up makes us feel good. Even if we have no plans to leave the house. I find myself to be the most productive when I get up, get dressed, and face the day with a fresh outfit. Yeah, I work from home. So what! Even when the only sunlight I see is when walking to the mailbox, if I'm dressed my best then I feel like a million bucks. Instead of waiting for a reason to get dressed up, just do it! Put on your favorite dress or your favorite blouse and take note on how it makes you feel! You don't need an occasion… You are the occasion! 

4. Take inventory of your closet! Try everything on… if it doesn't fit, throw it out. Better yet -- if it doesn't make you feel like a superstar, get rid of it! We have all of the signs and people who spend billions of dollars every year to make us feel insignificant and "in need" of something to make us whole. Don't let that get to you! Don't subject yourself to the torture of trying on a piece of clothing that makes you feel like crap. Just toss it all together! Instead, curate a closet full of items that make you feel like you're a movie star. Remember that you are worthy of all this! You are worthy of feeling good! 

I feel like I've written a novel, I apologize! I'm just so passionate about taking back the confidence that is rightfully ours! When in doubt, just remember what Eleanor Roosevelt always said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Guess what? That means yourself, too!

 

1. Silence that negative inner voice in my mind. I've been a little hard on myself lately, and I've noticed I've been trying to live up to some unrealistic expectation I've set in my mind of how I should look. I plan on taking Kaelah's advice and replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

2. Get my "Shop my Closet" pop up blog up and running. Out with the old, in with the new...and "new" meaning things that fit my new, post-baby bod well and make me feel confident.

3. Wear a tank top to the gym. Now, I know this sounds like a super weird goal, but I have been unusually feeling really annoyed with the stares about my tattoos while there. I workout best when my arms are free and I'm SO annoyed with myself that I've allowed these one or two rude people to make me feel unsure of myself in such a way. It's almost embarrassing! So, I'm just going to ignore the snooty women who like to whisper within earshot and point (yes that happened the other day) and just get on with my life and love me for me...like I usually do! :)

How about you? I'm trying out inlinkz for the first time, and hopefully this will be an easier and more visible way to share our goals!

8 weeks to a better me: Week 3/Healthy Eating

This week I am so happy to have my VERY favorite food blogger here...I feel honored to have Tracy posting on Sometimes Sweet today, and I am beyond excited about what she's sharing.  When I thought about who I wanted to talk about healthy food, Tracy was the first person that came to mind- and with good reason. Shutterbean is chock full of amazing, healthy ideas, and whenever I leave Tracy's site I am inspired to expand our menu with new, delicious meals and desserts. I also love that she isn't afraid to indulge, and she shares a lot of treats and sweets, but made with yummy whole food ingredients. Definitely stop by Shutterbean and say hello! I guarantee you will love it as much as I do- it's truly an AMAZING blog and resource, chock full of beautiful photos and recipes. Thank you again Tracy for being a part of this feature.

Hi I'm Tracy!!  My blog, Shutterbean is where I share my love for food, photography & prettie things. I'm a working mom who absolutely LOVES to cook & bake. I make sure to fit time in my schedule to do so because it feeds me keeps me sane & feeds me creatively!

Before I begin, I want to thank Danielle for having me! Thanks Danielle!  I'm really excited to talk to you about Healthy Eating habits and give you a few tips on making good healthy food choices. A few months ago I was looking at my posts and realized that I totally have formula on my blog. Bake something totally naughty THEN post a few healthier cooking recipes afterward!  Honestly, this is how I live my life and this is how I am able to keep my weight in check. You too can have baked goods and yummy treats if you respect MODERATION! It's all about balancing it out!

So here are three ESSENTIAL tips I have for you:

1. Drink WATER!!

Getting sick of this mantra? Don't!! I read once that our brains easily confuse the feeling of thirst with hunger. So before you dive for a handful of chips, drink some water!  You could be consuming unnecessary calories for no reason! A good tip for drinking water is to fill up a pretty pitcher of water in the morning and make a goal to have it finished by a certain time of day. I can hear you saying, "But water is sooooo boring!" It doesn't have to be! I like to add a few slices of cucumbers, oranges & lemons to perk up my water. You could also make some iced tea and dilute it throughout the day. These little things makes a difference!

 

2. Keep healthy snacks with you for on the go!

Every couple of weeks I take stock of what's in my pantry. I pour the leftover dried fruits & nuts into a bowl and make my own trail-mix. I put the trail-mix in baggies and keep a few of them in my purse at ALL TIMES. When I'm driving home from work, I reach into my bag and eat some. The best part is that it helps prevent me from bingeing on something not so healthy for me when I get home and it ties me over til dinner time! Save your baggies & recycle them for your next batch! 

I also make my own Fully Loaded Granola bars too!  They are especially tasty & totally kid friendly!

And my last trick.....

3. Eat at least ONE salad EVERY DAY.

This just makes sense! I like to have a large salad at dinner because I wake up the next morning feeling light and fresh! If I have a salad at lunch, it's usually because I know I'm going to be having something goooooood for dinner!  And when I say goooooood, I really mean something naughty!

Here's a bonus tip: Remember! YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!!!

Wouldn't you rather be a nice handful of healthy, vibrant tomatoes than a preservative laden bag of nutritionally void potato chips??

Think about it....

 

Oh oh!! Wait I have one more thing to add!

Make sure you eat the rainbow! Vary your diet with different colors. Not only is it healthy, it helps keep things interesting!

So that's it! I hope this leaves you feeling somewhat inspired. Eating healthy is EASY! You just have to make time to do it.

If you want to add a few really great/healthy cookbooks to your library, these are a few of my favorites:

Appetite for Reduction (everything is vegan AND low cal/low fat & SUPER tasty)

Everyday Food Magazine (I could go on forever about why I love this. Get an issue and it will change your life!)

Power Foods, from the Editors of Whole Living (A very comprehensive look at Super Foods with great/healthy recipes!)

Super Natural Every Day Cookbook (Lovely, inspiring, beautiful food that makes you feel good!)

Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys (This is not JUST for feeding men & boys! It's all about homemade, comfort food & feeding your children!)

And be sure to stop by my website!  You'll find at least two new recipes every week!

 

 1) Try out two new kinds of vegetables. I typically get pretty stuck in a veggie rut, and Hank and I often eat the same types- broccoli, bell peppers, onions and tons of garlic. Recently we branched out a bit and integrated kale into our weekly menu and loved it. I'm going food shopping tomorrow and my goal is to pick up two new to us veggies and work them into our meals this week.

2) To go off #3, eat a salad everyday!

3) Drink 3 Camelbak bottles full of a water a day.

So, those are my 3 goals for the week, what are yours? Be sure to link in the comments! I can't wait to check yours out, too!