Hems for Her Trendy Plus Size Fashion for Women

In a Cinch: What to Wear to a Graduation

2013-05-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have blogged about Kiyonna's Ciara Cinch dress recently and loved it, so when I saw that Gwynnie Bee had it in a beautiful teal color, I knew exactly what I was going to wear to Sean's Pre-K Graduation Friday night. The dress looked great as I crawled around on my knees looking for the best place to catch a glimpse of my proud graduate (of course, the total opposite side from where I was originally sitting!) and it was perfectly fresh and unwrinkled for family photos after the ceremony.

Ciara Cinch Dress- Kiyonna c/o Gwynnie Bee

I promised I wouldn't cry, that I would remain stoic, but as "Pomp and Circumstance" started up and the kids made their way out, smiling widely in their crisp white robes, searching and waving at family, I felt a little weepy. Then they showed a 7-minute collection of photos from the past year set to sad country songs and I couldn't help but cry!

Sean was very concerned that we wouldn't be able to identify him in the crowd of white robes, so during the day he concocted a plan. He told my mother to tell the entire family that we would be able to find him because he would hold up the letter "L" in sign language, a.k.a. the "Loser" sign to anyone who lived through the nineties. My mom tried to dissuade him, but he was adamant- "You will know it's me because I will be doing this", proudly thrusting the universal sign for loser proudly above his head. So it was on.

The kids lined up and as we searched the crowd for Sean, he found us, and "losered" us and the rest of the audience for a solid 3 minutes. We, appropriately so, held up our own loser Ls for him, as the crowd tittered. My sister-in-law leaned over and whispered, "I feel like we are tributes in the Hunger Games!" That automatically made it way cooler!

The weekend ended with Sean losing his very first tooth, as if I needed more evidence that he is growing up way too fast! He spent the night Saturday with his grandmother and when we picked him up Sunday, we didn't even get to the front door before he rushed out to show us. Of course, I had no fancy tooth fairy magic a la Pinterest, but since he swallowed the tooth during breakfast, I don't think he will mind if he just gets cold hard cash without a lot of glittery fairy dust ;)

Today is a Milestone

2013-05-17T06:42:00.001-05:00

Just like I can't emotionally steel myself to watch the last Harry Potter movie (hey, Brynn!), I also couldn't bring myself to write about Sean's graduation from preschool tonight. He woke up an hour earlier than usual and keeps walking around saying he can't believe it's finally his graduation.

I am bittersweet- I am excited to see him grow and learn. Every day he becomes more of a person with attitudes and beliefs and likes and dislikes. I cannot wait to see him flourish in a classroom. But at the same time, I want to freeze this moment... or at least play the rest of my life in slow-motion.

Curtis (the real writer in the family) shared a post this morning that expresses the way I feel better than I could. I hope you will hop over and read Baby Steps and share some love with the best dad and husband in the world!

Sean and I both started school in August of 2008.
This is the picture we took for our first day of school.
I've never taken another first day of school picture.
I need to.

Love Your Hair? Now You Will!

2013-05-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Event
I've been on a real hair kick lately, so when ULTA Beauty and BlogHer asked me to participate in the "Love Your Hair" campaign, I couldn't resist! Having a good hair day, as shallow as it seems, can make a woman feel beautiful and confident, yet so many of us hate our hair. We resort to wearing it the same way every day or hiding it in a messy ponytail. From May 12 until June 1, ULTA Beauty store locations and online are celebrating hair for 21 days. Each day they will feature one or more Beauty Steals™ - three WEEKS of amazing hair products and styling tools. I had the opportunity to review these products early and today I am going to share my favorites with you!

The Products
I am always looking for new products for styling my sassy pixie cut. With gravity-defying swoops and faux-hawks, I need something with strong hold. Add to that the heat of living in the South, I also need products that will resist humidity! I started by washing my hair with Sebastian Drench Shampoo and Conditioner (just a tiny dab!). Because my hair is so short, shampoo and conditioner is really a non-issue; However, I still like to make sure I am keeping my scalp and roots healthy. Drench is intensely moisturizing, and I could tell that my hair felt smoother after using it. It's specifically formulated to rehydrate coarse and color-treated hair, and since my hair fits the bill in both instances, I knew it would be a good choice.

The next morning I woke up and used the Hot Tools Nano Ceramic flat iron. It has super tiny 1/2" plates, so it was perfect for even my shortest layers. And because my hair is so coarse, I need super high heats to smooth and straighten my hair. This little baby can reach heats up to 450 degrees, which is more than enough :) One of my FAVORITE beauty products for my hair is any kind of volumizing and texturizing dust/powder. If you have thin hair, flat hair, short hair, long hair, straight hair, or curly hair, I'm telling you, this product can be a game changer.

ULTA Beauty provided Osis + Mattifying Powder, and while I wasn't familiar with it, it did work very similarly to other powders I've tried in the past. You simply sprinkle a tiny amount of the powder at your roots, tousle your hair, and voila - perfect hair. I use it right at my crown to give the spiky layers right there extra lift and definition. Usually that's all I use for styling my hair - it is truly that awesome - and Osis + was no exception. It creates very full, texturized hair with a very strong hold.

I hardly ever use hairspray, but since I had so many to choose from and it was super rainy, I decided to use Kenra Volume Spray 25. It can be used two different ways. You can use it to build up volume between your layers, by spraying it in quick bursts. You can also use it as an all-over finishing spray.

Just as a point of reference, my hair photos were taken after working all day and being out in the rain, so I am definitely impressed.

Earrings
Necklace

The Pledge
As a part of ULTA's Love Your Hair campaign, they are encouraging women to pledge to love the hair they have and maybe even win free blowouts for the rest of the year! Now, my hair's too short to bother with blowouts, but joining the movement (and entering to win) is simple. Just tweet your hair pledge with the hashtag #ULTAHairPledge and you're entered to win.

The Prize
Here's the best part. I have a $100 ULTA Beauty gift card to give to one lucky winner! Yes! To enter, simply tell me about your hair pledge. A winner will be announced during the first week in June.

Rules:
No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 5/15/13-6/1/13.
Be sure to visit the the ULTA Beauty page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Sick Day: 6 Weeks Post-Sinus Surgery

2013-05-13T05:30:00.000-05:00

It has happened. Six weeks after having major surgery on all parts of my nose, I am sick with a sinus infection. Exactly what the surgery was supposed to help me with.... To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I know the surgery wasn't a guarantee that I'd never get sick again, but, technically, I'm still in the recovery phase. I would have liked to have stayed well a little longer than six weeks (especially since three of those weeks I was taking antibiotics). Ugh. I'm trying to power through, but right now everything is a struggle! Hope the rest of you are having awesome Mondays!

Dreamsicle-Shades of Summery Orange

2013-05-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

I read another teacher blog yesterday and she made a great point about May and the life of a teacher. She said May is a month of Fridays, and I'm inclined to agree. Summer vacation is right around the corner- you can literally feel the energy in the air. It's this undercurrent and a pulsing of "summer, summer, summer". The students are antsy; they can't believe I'm making them do work for the next few weeks. Really, I'm beginning to agree, but don't tell them!

White Pants (similar, similar)
Top- Coldwater Creek c/o Gwynnie Bee
Wedges (similar, similar)

For me the word summer conjures up images of playing in the pool as a child and eating ice cream from the ice cream truck roaming the neighborhood. This top from Gwynnie Bee initially reminded me of the classic Push-Up frozen treat, but that title didn't sound as pretty as Dreamsicle. I'm super excited that the bright coral and orange shades will still be "in" this spring and summer because I love them and have several pieces from last spring that I can wear again.

I was also really excited that this particular top had the white strips in the pattern because I love pairing a brightly colored sleeveless top with wide-leg white pants. Many plus-size women are insecure about baring their upper arms, so I think the pants really balance out that feeling of showing "too much skin". Plus wide leg pants can really keep you cool in the warmer months because air can circulate throughout (it's about time to be packing up those super constraining skinny jeans!). So what are you looking forward to as summer rapidly approaches?

Yellow Pants: Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

2013-05-06T06:55:00.000-05:00

I know no one cares about the weather really, but I celebrated Cinco de Mayo in pants and a long-sleeved chambray top... this is nearly unheard of in the deep South. The entire weekend was a gross, rainy mess- perfect for napping and lazing around. Our town doesn't serve alcohol on Sundays, so there were no margaritas for us. Just grocery shopping and nasty Chinese buffet food. Sad day.

Top- Men's Old Navy (similar)
Jeans- Gap Always Skinny (similar)
Moccasin- Minnetonka
Necklace- Here

I did brighten things up with my sunny yellow skinny jeans, however. I've had them for a while now, but I hadn't worn them because of my issues with pairing tops with bright pants. Since it was cold enough for pants, I know it would be perfect for my chambray top.

You know what else is perfect with chambray button-ups? Pearls. I got this necklace last week, and I have literally worn it with everything. It is so versatile.

And don't judge me if it's still raining this morning and I pretty much wore the exact same outfit again, ok?

Floral Denim: Plus Size Edition

2013-05-03T06:07:00.002-05:00

I'm not sticking my tongue out at you, I promise! Just my photographer for making fun of my posing.

Top- Target (exact- only $10!)
Printed Denim- Target (exact plus size- Only $11.48!)

Reader-friends (like sister-wives... I hate just calling you readers, but I can't stomach to call you "lovies" or "darlings" or whatever) often ask about my camera and photographer. One of the reasons I talked my husband into a DSL camera was with the promise I'd be able to use a remote and tripod to take all my photos and then I wouldn't have to bother him, or anyone else for that matter.

Well, like most things involving technology, it has proven difficult for me. I'm not particularly good at photography, nor am I particularly patient enough to learn to be good. So over a year later, my sweet, sometimes aggravating husbands takes probably 90% of my pictures. In the past 1 1/2 years of blogging, I've taken more photos of myself than I did in the previous 29 years of my life. It can get awkward. I figure since my husband has seen me give birth, he can handle some fashion blogging awkwardness a couple of times a week!

I was late to jump on the floral print denim craze of the last year because I didn't want to spend the money on something that I figured would look awful. However, Target has this pair on sale for under $12, so I figured it was time to take the plunge. I'm still not sure what top to pair with them, so if you and a blogger you read have posted floral jeans, please leave the link in the comments below!

Sandals- Target- last summer
Similar Style
Similar Color

Don't you love awkward photos of awkward feet... second shot this week! You're welcome :)
Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Kindergarten Blues... and a Floral Dress

2013-05-01T06:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday after school I enrolled my baby in kindergarten for next year. It was a moment I had been dreading for about two years, but I knew he was excited. So it was a bittersweet time. When we pulled up to the elementary school he closely inspected their TWO (!) playgrounds with pleasure. However, he wasn't so sure about the school itself. He kept asking if I was taking him to the dentist (I guess the outside resembles his dentist office a little bit?!)!

Forever 21 Plus Dress- still available!

While I filled out enough paperwork to buy another house, or sell my child to the public education system for at least the next 13 years, he played happily in the school library with some of the other new students. I decided to wear this super cute Forever 21+ dress again because I can't get enough of its bright pattern. To pull out the subtle gold details, I knotted a green and gold belt and wore green and gold shoes. Sean wore a Super Mario Bros. muscle shirt. I did not get any pictures of that ;)

Dress
Belt- exact from Target
Shoes- similar, similar

So does it get any easier? Last night I let Sean sleep with us. It's a habit we are trying to break, but last night I just wanted my baby in the bed with me. This morning I woke up and felt his hair- it's so coarse and thick now but he used to have the sweetest blond curls- and his tiny shoulder blades- like a bird under my fingertips, so delicate and small- and I wished I could hold on to that moment forever. I thought to myself, "I wish I could freeze time and keep him 5 forever." Then he farted and rolled away from me. Oh well.

Currently: Twirling in Charter Club

2013-04-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

I was feeling a little uninspired today, I guess it's all the rain from the past few days, so I decided to borrow a page from Sometimes Sweet and share a little "Currently" post with you! Please share your own! Let's catch up!

Dress: Charter Club c/o Gwynnie Bee
Shoes- Kohl's- last year (similar, similar)

Thinking about: How busy I am going to be in the month of May! For some dumb reason, I have waited until the last possible minute to start research papers, so I am stressed about the students finishing the essays and then me grading them before final exams start (in two weeks! AAH!). Sean graduates from pre-K on May 17 and kindergarten registration is this week. Oh gosh, and he has THREE loose teeth. How did all of this happen? My baby is not a baby! I’ve got meetings out the wazoo- like two or more every week this month! So much is happening so fast. I just need to remind myself to breathe.

Feeling: Insanely nervous and/or excited about an upcoming business venture. I can’t give too much away right now because I’m still in the planning stages, but I can’t wait to share it with all of you (And I hope you will love it as much as I do!). Sorry, I can’t stand when bloggers get all cryptic and secretive… I promise I will tell you everything very soon!

Flower- From the yard
Earrings- Cato's (super old- similar here)

Watching: The Disney Channel. I swear I don’t think our TV ever leaves Disney. But the crazy thing is I really, really, really like some of the shows. I guess it’s my guilty pleasure. “Dog with a Blog”? Adorable. “Austin and Ally”? Too cute. “Good Luck, Charlie”? Obsessed. Oh, and that Scott Baio show on Nick at Night- hilarious.

Reading: Warriors Don’t Cry. This is our summer reading selection for the upcoming tenth graders, so I want to have a head start on them. I know it’s crazy to imagine, but kids actually really HATE reading in the summer, so I am trying to get them excited. The book is about the Arkansas Nine and the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, so it is very emotional and moving. This year is the 50^thanniversary of the Civil Rights movement, and I have planned a guest speaker to come out from the Civil Rights Institute to introduce students to the time period. I am also going to set up book club meetings and a website for discussion all summer long. I’m really hoping the kids will read and be excited to discuss it when school start back!

Looking forward to: May 24^th- the last day of school! Enough said, right?

Making me happy: This beautiful Charter Club dress from GwynnieBee. I have been searching all over for cotton jersey dresses for the heat of summer, and this one fits the bill perfectly. I love the colors (so glad that orange and coral are still in this season) and it is so, so comfortable!

So what are you "currently" up to?!?

7 Confidence Tips for Any Age and Any Size

2013-04-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week I asked for submissions for my FAQ page, and new reader-friend Mari commented that she'd like to see a post about building confidence. Self-esteem and confidence are two things very close to my heart- not only because I was a child, teen, and young adult with major self-esteem issues, but also because I work with teens and young adults just like me every day. I can't remember exactly when I "became confident", but I'm pretty sure I remember when I first lost confidence in myself.

I was in fourth grade- I had terrible acne and worse teeth. I remember being picked on all the time about one or the other- neither of which I had any control over. I spent MANY years praying every night for pretty skin and straight teeth. I would fall asleep with tears on my cheeks and my fingers pushing against my stubbornly-bucked teeth, and awake the next day disappointed. I was depressed. I was anxious. I started cutting myself in 8th grade. I wanted to disappear.

There was no on/off switch or magic spelled that transformed me from a wallflower into the belle of the ball. It was a gradual process that took many years. I started dating a wonderful young man who made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. I got a series of frustrating, yet character building jobs that forced me to stand up for myself and my beliefs. I went to therapy- multiple times. I married that awesome guy. I got braces. I lost weight. I had a child. Gained weight. Got a new job. Started blogging. See? There are so many variables.

So even though I don't consider myself an expert, here are some steps I think will really help you increase your confidence!

"You look beautiful!"
"Why thank you!"

1. Learn to take a compliment (and keep notes). How many times does someone say to you, "You look pretty" or something similar? What's your response? Women struggle with accepting compliments. We make excuses- "In this shabby dress?", "But my hair's a mess!', etc.,etc. We rarely just say thank you. So try this for a couple of weeks. When someone compliments you, say thank you. Then write it down. Keep a list of the kind things others say about you- and not just physical things. Every compliment!

2. Give compliments- There's just something reciprocal about compliments. You know when you do something nice for someone else, it makes you feel good too. Be generous, but sincere with compliments, and remember, these women struggle too, so let them in on your new secret about keeping track of kindness!

3. While confidence comes from within, it never hurts to look good! Wear clothes that make you feel beautiful, powerful, strong. Wear make-up if you want to. Get a haircut. Buy some new lipstick. Stand up straight. Look people in the eyes.

Wanna feel confident? Wear an awesome dress in a dazzling pattern!
Dress- Land's End c/o Gwynnie Bee

4. Don't compare yourself to others! Ever heard that saying "Comparison is the thief of joy"? Well, it's true. I know I'm never going to have a personal trainer and a private chef to make me look like Gwyneth Paltrow or a Victoria's Secret model. So why beat myself up about it? Who are you comparing yourself to? Is it healthy or are you reaching for totally unrealistic ideals that are sabotaging your own happiness and zapping your confidence?

5 Take risks- big or small. It doesn't matter what kind of risk, but it is essential to take yourself out of your comfort zone. We always lose confidence when faced with unfamiliar situations, so we tend to avoid them. But I am encouraging you to do those things that scare you. Wear a bright color or pattern. Join a gym or take a Zumba class. Sing in your choir. Join a book club. Heck, jump out of an airplane! Once you have completed the task, you will swell with confidence. You will be proud of whatever fear you've overcome, and you will probably discover that you enjoyed yourself in the process!

6. Don't take things personally. This is something I have to remind myself of daily- especially working around teenagers. I used to get my feelings hurt when I would hear that a student was mad at me or said I was mean (or worse!). Then I realized, they are kids, most of them are dumb kids. I can't take it personally when they don't do their homework or come to class unprepared or don't like me because I give them detention. That old break-up line "It's not you, it's me"? Well, you gotta stop thinking it's you! You are only responsible to yourself, and if someone doesn't call you back or takes two days to email you or whatever, you have to be rational. You haven't always done something wrong. Tell yourself THEY are missing out and move on!

7. And finally, be positive! When someone asks, "How's it going?", stifle that urge to whine or complain. Smile and tell them how great you feel and how awesome things are. Don't be a "Debbie Downer". I firmly believe that you should "fake it till you make it"- if you aren't feeling confident, then pretend you are! The more positive you feel, the better you will feel about yourself. I promise!

I hope this list has helped! In the comments, I want you to practice one of my steps, okay? And if you want to read more about my personal journey with self-esteem and confidence, here are some links to my favorite posts!

Posts about confidence:

Curves, Confidence, and Criticism
Oh, Say Can You See
Constructive Criticism

Hair, There, Everywhere: Styling Pixie Cuts

2013-04-24T10:18:00.004-05:00

I've had several questions lately about my hair and the products I use to style it, so I thought I'd share a few quick things today!

The biggest difference (at least for me) between having long hair and short hair is the amount of washing I do. With my long hair I washed it once or twice a week, but with this pixie cut, I pretty much wash it every other day- or every day if I've been to the gym! Short hair gets dirty faster and looks greasy faster because there's simply less hair to redistribute oils and sweat.

Shampoo

I wash my hair with Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. I rarely use conditioner on my hair, maybe once every other week as a kind of deep conditioning treatment. I like the PM brand because it smells good and it does make my super dry, coarse hair smoother.

TOUCH UP

On days when I am just too lazy to wash my hair or my roots look a little greasier than they should, I turn to TRESemme Dry Shampoo. I spray in anywhere I look a little greasy or flat. It really works well for revitalizing my previous style and soaking up any grease. Unlike other dry shampoos I've used in the past, I feel like it doesn't make my hair ashy or chalky-looking, and it's super cheap to boot!

My super secret trick to getting that awesome spiky/messy look is Matrix Mega Dust Texture Volumizer. This is $10 of pure magic. You shake out a very fine powder into your roots and you just push it back or spike it up- whatever you want. It's totally dry, so you can't put too much in and look greasy, like wax or pomade. My hair stylist BFF turned me on to it, and Mega Dust is the only styling product I use.

If you have long hair, and you are trying to disguise greasy roots, here's a quick and easy side braid you can try! Kinda makes me wish I still had long hair! This video is sponsored, but you do have a chance to win some money :) The products and links I mentioned above are NOT sponsored in any way- I buy these products and really use them!

Sweeps rules:

http://www.blogher.com/hair-sweepstakes-offical-rules-week-1

Prizes & Promotions page on Blogher.com:

https://www.blogher.com/blogher-tv-weekly-hair-style-sweepstakes

The Best-Laid Plans

2013-04-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I have every intention of dressing up and taking nice photos for the blog, but life gets in the way. And you know what? I'm FINE with that! Look at what life gave me :)

Also, I've been tweaking and making changes on the blog. I finally have my FAQs page up and running. If you have any questions you are just "dying" for me to answer, then please leave it in the comments or fill out my new contact form. Hey, I've been busy!

These two were SUPER excited to be at the zoo! They ran the whole time.

Riding the camel, feeding giraffes, and consulting the zoo map

The zoo had an animatronic dinosaur exhibit and they loved it!

Best photo of the day!!! For the record, my nephew Keegan was posed like this FIRST. I copied him!

Buggin' Out

2013-04-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Another day, another animal-print shirt dress. So predictable! This particular style of dress is really out of the ordinary for me, and it is pretty impractical. See that not so crisp cotton and the wrinkles in the fabric? That's why I never buy cotton dresses like this. I'm allergic to ironing. See those perfectly folded cuffs? The first time I wash it, I will never get those sleeves folded as neatly. But, oh, the print.

Shirt Dress- Gap (on sale and 25% off purchases!)

I couldn't resist that sweet ladybug print. The ladybug is pretty much the only bug that doesn't freak me out. I mean I know they can be serious pests, but come on! They are so cute- not slimy, won't sting you, pretty much the perfect bug. Which in turn makes it the perfect bug dress!

Brighten Up the Little Black Dress: Neon Edition

2013-04-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

I am one of those women who feel like I need to have a black dress for every season. I'm pretty pleased with my ponte knit dress from Eshakti for fall and winter, but I've been on the lookout for an appropriate spring and summer version. So, of course, I've been browsing Gwynnie Bee's selection because I can try lots of different styles without spending $100 on each dress. If it looks weird or bad, I can just try something else. I wasn't surprised when I really, really liked the Ciara Cinch Dress from the awesome Kiyonna.

This dress is super lightweight and jersey, so it's never going to wrinkle or stretch or shrink. I love the gathered ruching on the right side at the waist. Not only is it super flattering, but it also adds a special little touch to the LBD. I attended a social media conference Monday night, and I felt so put together and classy. I paired the dress with an old turquoise chunky necklace and a pair of turquoise heels. I loved the shade of blue with the black. While this outfit is very va-va-voom to me, this is not something that I would usually wear to a meeting or conference. But sometimes when you are doing something that makes you nervous (like networking with a bunch of strangers), you need a power outfit to give you an extra boost of confidence.

Funny story, I actually bought these shoes last spring to wear with my LWD (little white dress) and pretty much copied this outfit completely from a post from last summer... But I was totally shocked to discover that my shoes are now at least a half size too big! How the heck does that happen? Has some of my weight loss come from my feet? That seems crazy to me because I've heard of feet getting bigger, but never smaller.

Dress: Kiyonna c/o Gwynnie Bee
Shoes- Xappeal Rack Room Shoes (similar)
Necklace- New York and Co.(similar, similar)

One final note, yesterday in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon attack, I turned to the internet to find something happy and uplifting. And I found it here. I actually posted this several times last night, but I feel like it's worth posting again. Dove has a new commercial out in which an FBI-trained forensic sketch artist sketched women based on their descriptions. He never saw them; he just asked questions "What's your hair like?" "What's your most dominate feature?" Then complete strangers came in and described the women for a separate sketch. It was fascinating, heartbreaking, and inspiring to see how different your own perception of yourself is. Every one of these women described themselves with such disdain and disrespect- focusing on the negatives- moles, wrinkles dark circles; while the stranger saw a much different person.

It's so wonderful; I hope you will watch it right now. And ask yourself: "How would I describe myself?" It's a very eye-opening activity!

Weekend Warrior: Elephant-Print Shirt Dress

2013-04-15T06:59:00.000-05:00

The weather was just absolutely perfect this past Saturday. We spent the morning cleaning up around the house- I worked inside, while Curtis tackled the lawn for the first time this spring. For lunch, I have a craving for crawfish, so I Yelped to find the best reviews in town, and that's how we ended up at a dive bar with no signage outside at noon on a Saturday. The bar was empty, except for a party on the patio, but the beer was cold and the crawfish was cheap and delicious.

Shirt dress- Gap Outlet (similar from Gap, under $50, here, here, and here)
Moccasins- Nordstroms

This was the THIRD time I've worn this dress with the intentions of photographing it for the blog (the first two times didn't pan out). Let me tell you about this dress. It was the dress that almost got away. Back in March I saw this cute elephant-print shirt dress at my local Gap Outlet. It was a little on the expensive side (like most Gap items), so even though I loved it, I passed on buying it. A week later, it was still on my mind. I headed back to the outlet only to discover they had sold out.

Of course, there is no Gap Outlet online store, so I pretty much felt like I was out of luck. I even checked at a Gap Outlet in California when I was out there visiting Megan, but it was to no avail. Fast forward to about a month later, and I am back in my local Gap Outlet. We were standing in line, and what do I spy behind the counter? This dress. I asked, tentatively, if it was on hold for someone or if it was being restocked. After some conversing between managers, they determined it was not on hold. First hurdle cleared. Then I checked the size. Holding my breath, I checked the tag.

And score! The dress was mine, AND 40% off! Booyah! So my weekend was filled with elephants and "mud bugs". One is delicious to eat, and the other is delightful to wear. Try not to get 'em confused! Do you have any items in your closet that almost "got away"?

Short Hair, Don't Care

2013-04-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Wanna get people all up in your business FAST? Well, the easiest way to do that is to cut off all of your hair. It's been about four months since the big chop, but some people still can't deal with it. It seems almost daily that someone wants to share his or her opinion on the length of MY hair.

"Oh, you've cute your hair since I last saw you.... it's so.... short," followed by an uneasy smile.

"Well, you don't have much to cut, do you? What's next? Shaving it?" followed by a derisive laugh.

"I like your hair short, but not that short," followed by tongue-clucking.

"OK, you can stop cutting it now!" followed by a "I'm going to laugh like I'm kidding, but I really mean it" chuckle.

This is not the first time I've had short hair, so you think by now I'd be used to it. I just will never understand why my hair is so important to other people. Look, I get it. I had really friggin' amazing long hair. It was beautiful and curly and awesome. Sometimes I really miss it (mostly when accidentally running across blog photos of it like this).

But daily, in general, 95% of the time, my hair is the last thing I think about. I don't miss the sweaty mess it was in spring and summer. I don't miss fighting with my bangs to behave or giving up and tossing it up in a messy ponytail or bun.

If you wanna see more big girls with short hair, check out More of Me to Love's series Short Styles for the Plus Size Woman. I was so pleased to be featured in part two of the series and I hope you will all check it out. And if you are thinking about taking the plunge, I say GO FOR IT NOW! One of my students just chopped off like 18 inches of beautiful blonde hair and she looks amazing and loves it!

Bloggers who Brunch

2013-04-10T08:18:00.000-05:00

So I rarely fawn over something in my closet, but take a look at this beauty below (some of you may have seen a sneak peek on Instagram)!

Dress- Forever 21 Plus
Cardigan- Lane Bryant (similar, similar)
Belt- Target (similar)
Wedges- Payless (similar, similar)
Bag- Jo Totes Rose

I am seriously in love with this dress, I've already worn it twice this week, and frankly if I could wear it every day, then I'm pretty sure I would. This is one of the few things I bought for spring. I am really trying to not buy anything at all, but last year I sold all of my spring dresses in my Store Envy shop, so my closet was a little bare.

This one was under $25 at Forever 21, not a store I have much luck with usually, so I snapped it up. I paired it with a turquoise cardigan and mustard shoes and belt, but there are so many colors in it- I know I can do a ton of mixing and matching for spring and summer.

I also have my Jo Totes Rose camera bag with me.I needed a bigger bag because Curtis and I attended a local "Bloggers Who Brunch" event hosted by See Jane Write founder Javacia B. The Rose bag keeps my camera safe but leaves tons of room for my wallet, makeup, a bottle of water, a notebook, etc, etc. Nearly twenty of us met to eat, drink, and discuss legal matters for bloggers. It was so fun to connect with other bloggers in my community. And the food was delicious!

What's your favorite spring purchase so far? And don't be surprised if I go buy it too!

Taking Gratitude for Granted

2013-04-08T12:28:00.000-05:00

"When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude"- Gilbert K. Chesterton

Gratitude is not something I think about often, I am embarrassed to say. I take so many things for granted, and I know many of you are guilty of the same thing. Saturday night I stayed up late and finished reading Jodi Picoult's latest book The Storyteller. I don't care what your personal opinion is of Picoult; I think she is very skilled at weaving tales that transcend time and narrators, and this latest novel was no exception. I'm not going to spoil anything, other than to tell you that there is a Nazi/Holocaust theme throughout.

In college I minored (almost double majored) in Religious Studies, with my concentration being Judaic Studies, so none of the information in the novel was new to me, but it was a great reminder of how blessed and lucky we really are. I was taking a shower Sunday morning and it dawned on me how lucky, how BLESSED, I am to have running water, which led to a long list of things I take for granted instead of with gratitude. It can be a rude awakening.

Boyfriend Jeans- Gap
Bird Print Button-Up- JC Penney's

So what is gratitude? Gratitude is defined as feeling or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. In the Jewish religion, since I have that on my mind right now (and please correct me if I am wrong, because I am not Jewish), gratitude is integral to daily life and worship. The Old Testament is filled with the idea of gratitude. To take it a step further, Picoult mentions several times in the book that it is most important to "be a mensch", a person of great integrity and honor. A person who does for others and is thankful for what they have. A person who helps others, who is a peacemaker, who does the right thing the right way, who strives to be a better person.

How can we have an "attitude of gratitude"? How can we become better people? There's no book to buy or club to join. It's easy to do. It's free. It can change your life. You can write a gratitude letter to someone in your life. You can keep a gratitude journal and statistically be happier than people who don't. Instead of being angry, criticizing or complaining, try being kind, grateful or thankful. This is not an overnight experience. The road to gratitude is long and filled with detours and setbacks. I write this as much to remind myself as to remind you.

It doesn't matter what religion you believe (though all teach gratitude) or if you follow no religion. This is a universal idea. So, let's hear it. What are you grateful for?

Surviving Sinus and Septum Surgery

2013-04-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

I see-sawed back and forth quite a bit about whether or not to post about my recent surgery. I finally decided to post because of the number of blogs I looked at when preparing for surgery myself. Some people, like myself, like to have as much information as they can coming into an event like surgery. So really I'm doing it for any of my reader friends who may be interested, but also for those nervous souls who find themselves Googling "sinus surgery" or "deviated septum surgery" or anything else of the sort late at night when they can't sleep.

"Arm Party"- so fashionable, so glamorous

Quick background- I have had major sinus issues for nearly ten years now- constantly stuffy, runny nose, sinus infection after sinus infection. In the past 12 months, I had been to my general practitioner FIFTEEN times for sinus infections. I'm dumb and he's greedy- he never once suggested I see a specialist; he just kept prescribing ineffective antibiotics and collecting my co-pay. Once I visited an ENT, he didn't take long before he recommended surgery because of my severely deviated septum and chronic sinusitis. Now I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, so here's sinuses for dummies.

The septum is the line of cartilage separating the left and right airways in the nose. Ideally the cartilage is fairly straight, but sometimes it becomes deviated (crooked). Deviated septums can come from having your nose broken or just something you're born with. If your septum is badly enough deviated, then it could cause a myriad of problems- sinus infections, sleep apnea, snoring, facial pain, nose bleeds, difficulty breathing and partial or total loss of sense of smell. Some septum problems can be treated by antihistamines or decongestants. More severe deviations require surgery to straighten the septum and clear out the sinuses. My doctor said my septum was one of the worst he'd ever seen. I had nearly 100% blockage in my right airway and over 75% in my left.

After surgery, I needed a little extra oxygen. And a shot of Demerol.

Surgery was scheduled. Now I am usually super OCD about finding out everything I can about everything, but my mother had this surgery when I was a child, and it traumatized me so much that I was terrified to do too much research. I officially had a septoplasty a turbinectomy,and a sinoscopy . I arrived at the surgical center at 7:00 AM- clean and starving (no eating after midnight, you know!). I signed all the paperwork, took off my clothes (don't wear a bra, so pointless!), put on that pretty gown and waited for my IV. Surgery was painless, mostly because I was totally unconscious. However, waking up was bad, real bad.

Because my septum was virtually broken and reset my nose was packed to the brain with, well, pretty much foam tampons. The purpose of this torture was to hold my newly straightened septum in place, and seriously, it was torture. The packing was by far the worst part of the entire experience. My throat was sore from being intubated for surgery and swallowing was excruciating. I can't explain exactly how it feels to be stuffed to the brim. It's very claustrophobic. Each swallow was slow and torturous. It felt like when you are swimming and accidentally inhale pool or ocean water. You know what I mean? Each swallow felt like the liquid was coming up through my nose. It was so awful!

I know, I know! I look AMAZING!. Excellent tip: use
latex gloves as ice packs. You can arrange the fingers around
your nose!

After a few hours of recovery and a shot for pain and some liquid Loritab for pain, I managed to get dressed (yay for no bra!) and be wheeled down to Curtis's waiting car. He drove me home and babied me for the rest of the day. I tried my best to eat and drink to avoid dehydration, and eventually we had to call the doctor's office and have them phone in liquid antibiotic and pain medication because it was too hard to swallow the huge pills!

My first three days of recovery were pretty much the same. Try to drink some soup. Try to swallow some water.Change my bloody drip pad under my nose. Try to rest. The pain was completely manageable; the swallowing and suffocating feeling from the packing were the real problems. What goes in must come out, and having the packing removed was absolutely horrific- I don't think words can describe. The worst part is, after the ENT removes the packing from your first nostril, you have about five seconds of painful relief before you realize, "Oh, hell, now the other one has to come out!"

So swollen! Super unflattering photo but I'm all about the truth!
This is what my nose looked like with the packing and "moustache" bandage.
Oh, and a moustache tattoo!

The good news is within a minute that's over and done, and you immediately start feeling better. Ironically, because of the surgery my nasal passages are super swollen, so I'm all stuffed up like I have a cold. It's been a week and a half and I think I spend most of my day irrigating my nose with saline spray to keep it clean and moist. My nose is tender. My teeth are sore (It's really amazing how connected everything in your face really is!). But I am definitely on the mend, and I am so excited for my recovery to progress and to be able to breathe and not be sick all the time. I'll keep you updated, and if you have any questions, ask away!!

I didn't think it was possible, but I'm pretty sure my nose is even cuter than it was before!
And I didn't have THAT kind of nose job!

Geo + Moto = Looking Good, Yo!

2013-04-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite ways to ease into spring fashion is by pairing my flirty spring dresses with my tough moto jacket. I bought this jacket two years ago and I just love the way it "toughens" up an outfit. I feel like this jacket could be a staple in many wardrobes.

If you aren't ready for the commitment, Gwynnie Bee has a nice collection of jackets and blazers you can try out and send back!

Eloquii Geo Print Dress c/o Gwynnie Bee
Old Navy Moto Jacket (old) Similar Plus Size here, here and here

Speaking of Gwynnie Bee, boy, do I have some awesome news for you! During the month of April, Gwynnie Bee is giving away a free month of services to one lucky subscriber!

Entering is beyond easy. Just check your virtual closet and make sure you have at least 25 garments in your closet. That's it! No jumping through hoops or tattooing their name across your baby's forehead or liking ten million different pages!

One day in April, they will randomly draw a winner, and that lucky lady will get a month subscription free (even if you are currently a trial member!). If you still haven't done you free 30-day trial with Gwynnie Bee, girl, what the heck are you waiting on?! Here's a link to your invitation and mention Hems for Her to get you free trial.

Need more info about Gwynnie Bee? Here are a few posts:

Introducing Gwynnie Bee

What's the Buzz about Gwynnie Bee

For a complete list of rules and regulations, please visit their blog.

Need some tips on filling up your closet?

Have a favorite brand? Use the search option for see all the garments
from that brand.
Love peplum or sequin? Search by cut, pattern or texture.
(example: drapey, studded or striped)
Start your search from a new direction: Select "Show All" in a collection and start from the bottom.

Easter

2013-04-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, I can't lie to you. Technically, we celebrated Easter with my side of the family last weekend because we knew I was going to be out of commission for a little while. I had borrowed this beautiful dress from Gwynnie Bee, and I was not going to pass up the chance to wear it out. I have discovered that I absolutely LOVE the 1950s' full skirt silhouette this dress has. I want every dress I own to look like this one. If I could have found a pair of gloves I would have totally felt like Audrey Hepburn.

Spense Dress c/o Gwynnie Bee

Sean has so many cousins and extended relatives on my side of the family so the annual Easter egg hunt is always a chaotic, but joyful time. We always have a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny, though my nephew likes to tell everyone that it's not really the Easter Bunny, that it's a "sossume" (love the way little kids say things!)

This is another example of what great things Gwynnie Bee can do for your closet. I would have never have paid full-price for this dress to wear one time for Easter. We all have dresses like that- they stand out too much or they are too fancy for everyday wear. They languish all alone shoved into those deep, dark corners of your closet. They usually waste space and waste money. But with Gwynnie Bee's "Clothing without Commitment" philosophy, you will never run into this problem again. What do you do with fancy, special occasion dresses?

Guest Post: On the Nose

2013-03-29T07:45:00.000-05:00

Still feeling a bit under the weather 3 days after surgery, but each day I do feel a little better. Later today, I am going to have the packing removed from my nostrils. If you don't know what that entails, here's some YouTube links. I'm too scared, I refuse to watch them!

I thought I'd get Curtis, my dedicated and hilarious husband, and the blogger behind One-Step Father to give you the low down on how things have been around here the past few days.

You should know that Katie is very dedicated. Even as we sit on deck for her septumstraightenoscopy, she is typing away on her phone. I’m sure she’s tweeting out something or other… check that… she got excited about some offer for eyebrow tattooing. I can deal with a lot, but I’m not so sure about eyebrow tattoos. Katie has expressive brows, and I require them to fully understand the degree of how bad I messed up. She says her eyebrows are wonky because of undiagnosed thyroid issues.

Let me just say that if this is the type of stuff she talks about without being doped up, we are all in for a treat.

Dismissed from the room that is really just a bed behind a curtain, I have lugged my work gear and a bag of Katie’s clothes back to the waiting area. Earlier today, Katie tweeted an inquiry as to whether she should wear a bra or not, and judging by the bag the answer was no. I’m not sure why she even had to ask that question; I've made it quite clear over the years that I saw no need for her to wear bra. It would seem that my expert opinion is not quite as convincing as a doctor’s.

I’m not sure what the best part of the waiting room is, but it might be the bad local morning news on television. Ambulance chasing lawyers and overly-chipper news anchors are everywhere, but we’ve got a reporter that just interviewed a lady about a book she wrote and then stared at the screen to declare, “I’m going out TODAY and buying this book. You better believe that!” You can’t intimidate me into buying anything, man! Also, today on Kristin Chensworth and Michael Strahan’s show, Dido is coming back from the great beyond to do a performance. I really expected to see her in Starbucks serving up some lattes, so good for her. Three minutes in, and I’m convinced these two are drunk.

Let me throw my “Dad Blogger” hat on for a minute. There’s a lady in here with her little girl. The girl has the sweetest little southern accent you can imagine, and is understandably sick of sitting around this waiting room with nothing to do. She keeps asking her mom questions, and this lady is straight up ignoring almost everything the girl says. “Mama, I can see a plane! Do you see it?” (crickets) “Mama, can I look at that book?” (crickets). I’m tempted to say something because it comes across as lazy, and as someone that goes into a borderline rage when I ask a question with no response, I’m vicariously done with this lady.

Finally, I get to head back to see Katie. All she can say is “hurt” which sucks because a) I don’t like her to feel bad and b) all I can really do is rub her feet. Since I’m not totally sure she can feel the foot rub with the anesthesia wearing off, I’m extra helpless. We’re clearly not getting that ham and cheese croissant she wanted.

I want to offer my respect and support to all the people that help the people who are recovering from surgery. On the way home, we dropped off her prescriptions, and I bought her a white cherry Icee. Once we got home, she was able to move about under her own power pretty well! I got her all settled in, and she went promptly to sleep. With hoodie and grocery list, I set out for what can only be described as the most harrowing experience anyone in my house had that day.

First I was off to Wal-Mart, where the convenience of extensive stock and the plague of idiocy collide like a ramp-jumping motorized shopping cart. In ten minutes, I had everything I needed, and twenty minutes later I’m still standing in the checkout line behind not one but two women using coupons that require them to make their purchases separately instead of one primary transaction. Once I was at the front of the line, I assured the cashier that I had brought neither coupons nor price matching circulars.

After picking up another white cherry Icee from the gas station, it was off to pick up Katie’s meds. Another ten minutes of waiting at the drive-thru while the car in front of me couldn’t remember which address their account was set up under (which isn’t remotely sketchy), and I was off to my final stop. On the other side of town, I was at Sonic to pick up a bag of ice. Sonic ice has magical healing powers, in case you didn’t know. The last time I bought it was when Katie was pregnant, and only a few months later the parasitic organism that had been leaching her nutrients was no longer in her body. The only setback is that we had to keep it, and now it talks and crawls into bed with us in the middle of the night.

Finally, I was home, but Katie struggled. She couldn’t swallow, couldn’t sleep well, couldn’t get comfortable. Her mom and I brought up a recliner from downstairs, so she could be as comfortable as possible because sitting up was better than lying down. I hooked her up with a TV tray lined up with all her meds, blankets, and the remote control for the tv. Who says I’m not willing to make sacrifices?

Day two has been better. A good nap, a little less pain, and a little more tolerance for food makes a big difference. We have good family and friends that brought food, company, and free babysitting. The best part is that it won’t be long before Katie can breathe better, sleep better, have more energy, and get back to the blogging that you have been kind enough to read. That’s what Michael Scott would call a “Win-Win-Win.”

Guest Post: Hair's the Thing

2013-03-27T13:23:00.000-05:00

I am so so so excited to have my beautiful best friend Callie guest posting for me today ( I am in NO shape to be taking photos, trust me). I've had some hair controversy lately, as somehow each time I go get mine cut it gets shorter and shorter. How does that work exactly? ;)

I figured since Callie is the genius behind my haircut (or the culprit, if you hate it) AND she just cut most of her's off, that she would be the perfect guest blogger for me!

I have always been the girl with "the hair." Since college, I've kept it a long, fiery orange-red, and I get compliments on it wherever I go. As a hairstylist, I use those opportunities to introduce myself with a smile and a business card. But honestly, my hair really is my best feature. On the days when my pre-pregnancy jeans (still) won't button, I know a good hair day is all I need to add a little confidence to my look.

Friends for life- bonded by beautiful hair and amazing style!

So when I sat in the chair at work and had twelve inches of my hair cut off earlier this month, I didn't know what to do next. For the rest of the day, I kept reaching for hair that wasn't there. I secretly saved a lock of it from the trash and took it home. I couldn't bear to see my crowning glory thrown away like garbage. Now, I know Katie has already done a short hair empowerment blog post, and I know because I'm the one that cut her hair off. This isn't one of those.

Like I mentioned, I'm a hairstylist, so hair is not just important to me, it's my life. It pays the bills, plus I'm pretty passionate about it. All day long, I cut hair, style hair, look at pictures of other people's hair, pin fancy hair on Pinterest. I love hair. But my hair has always been such a comfort zone to me, and I was in a very long-term, very predictable, relationship with it. When I first had my hair cut into my current style (my mom calls it a Loshob - long, shag bob), I could barely style it. It was so different, I was left going, "abuuuhh??" like I'd never styled hair before in my life. After three weeks, I'm beginning to find my rhythm. So what I'd like to share with you are my pros and cons of long and short hair. If you're thinking of cutting or growing, maybe this list will help you narrow that decision down.

Cons

1. I miss my bouncy ponytail. I had a lovely ponytail. It was sassy and voluptuous and fit for the head cheerleader. Now I can still fit my layers into a little sprig I refer to as a "nubbin," but it's not the same.

2. I also miss my messy topknot. I was pretty thrilled when that thing became the "it" style, because when you only wash your hair twice a week, a dirty pile of hair on your head is a go-to look at LEAST on Wednesdays and Sundays, and sometimes even on Fridays.

3. Speaking of only washing my hair twice a week, that is a thing of the past. Short hair doesn't hold its style as easily as long hair. It gets sweatier during a workout and more matted when you sleep. Now I shampoo it three times a week.

4. Long hair is hot and heavy and made me sweat, even in winter (gross but true).

5. Long hair requires more products, more shampoo, and more applications of hair color to get the job done. Not very cost-effective or good for planet Earth.

Pros

1. Short hair is fun. I feel like it sets me apart more. My long hair was stunning, but I feel like the short cut gives me a more defined style. I feel like I look like me, instead of lots of other girls with long hair.

2. I love hair accessories. I'm kind of an accessory fiend as it is, and short hair is made for wearing clip-in bows or flowers, headbands, wraps, and sweet little bobby pins. Long hair dwarfs little cute accessories.

3. My eight month-old daughter can't pull on my hair as easily now that it's shorter. It also doesn't get knotted up in necklace clasps anymore. Definitely a pro.

4. Long hair is kind of easier, from a styling perspective. There may be more of it, but there is usually less effort involved in getting it to look good. There are more quick options for long hair, like my aforementioned topknot, not to mention a fishtail braid, sock bun, and other updos.

5. This one is all vanity, but for the sake of honesty, I got more compliments when my hair was long. Now people tend to say, "Oh, I love your color," instead of "Wow, I love your hair."

The bottom line is, new hair can be new territory just like a new pair of neon skinny jeans can be new territory. My philosophy is to wear my hair just like I wear my clothes: with a little daring, lots of confidence and like, "yeah, I meant for it to look like this."

Callie

Katie again!
Opposites attract really, because unlike Callie, 95% of the time, my hair is the last thing I think about. I don't miss the sweaty mess it was in spring and summer. I don't miss fighting with my bangs to behave or giving up and tossing it up in a messy ponytail or bun. If you aren't ready to take the plunge yet and chop it all off for spring, then at least make it pretty! Here's a super easy tutorial for styling sexy blunt bangs all the girls envy (and a chance to win some money too!)!

Prizes & Promotions page on Blogher.com:

https://www.blogher.com/blogher-tv-weekly-hair-style-sweepstakes

Sweeps Rules (3/27-4/2):

http://www.blogher.com/hair-sweepstakes-official-rules-week-2

Blow Me Away

2013-03-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm technically on spring break this week, but it's not one I'm looking forward to. The weather is terrible (these photos were taken last Saturday, which was a beautiful day, of course)- cold and rainy. And tomorrow I am having sinus surgery, a septoplasty and turbinoplasty to be exact. Y'all, I am scared to death, seriously! Kinda like horrific birth stories, mention that you are having surgery to fix a deviated septum just brings people out of the woodwork. "Let me tell you about MY surgery," they start, before launching into a terrifying tale of blood and gore and pain.

All, that is to say that I'm not exactly sure what my blogging schedule is going to look at. I've gathered up some posts. I've got a few, fun guest posts planned, and I guess we will see how I feel and take it one day at a time. At first I was a little bummed about spending my spring break in bed, napping and watching movies and surfing the web, but then I had to be totally honest with myself. Really, that's not too different from what I would have done (except with the addition of bloody gauze and pain pills), so I can't be too bitter.

So many inappropriate photos as a result of the windy conditions! I spared you.
You are welcome.

Vainly, I am afraid of my nose looking "different" post surgery. I kept hearing "Empty Nose Syndrome" and imagining my nose collapsing like Michael Jackson's did or Stevie Nicks' after years of cocaine abuse.

For the record, it's totally not your nose collapsing in on itself, but it's still a scary name! Plus, I'm pretty attached to this nose, despite the constant sinus infections and insane snoring. I'm assured that structurally, from the outside, it won't change. But my ENT also incredulously informed me that I had the WORST deviated septum he had ever seen. So if someone were to, oh I don't know, have his or her beloved nose collapse in on itself, it would be me.

P.S. Have you ever seen a cuter spring dress?? Cats. Hearts. Red. Turquoise. Eshakti just blows my mind sometimes! New customers can get $25 dollars off their first order and free customization. If you haven't tried Eshakti yet now's a great time because they have some super cute spring dresses available! I am eyeing this one or this one next!

Side Splitting

2013-03-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that I love Gwynnie Bee. In addition to the monthly subscription saving me over $100 a month on new clothes, I am constantly adding new (and awesomely stylish) clothes to my daily mix. Literally every time I wear something cute, co-workers ask, "Is that yours or Gwynnie Bee's?" and most times I have to admit that it came from GB's closet not mine!

This cool dress is no exception. It combines two spring trends- stripes and peplum, and I was super-excited to see it in the New Arrivals. I got so many compliments, until the end of the day when a teacher noticed that there was a hole in the dress. At first I thought that maybe my zipper had come down. Upon closer inspection I realized that there were actually two holes on that side and another hole on the right side.

Stripe Knit Peplum Eloquii Dress- c/o Gwynnie Bee

I was literally splitting at the seams. Immediately I thought I must have squeezed myself into a too small dress and destroyed it. Then I thought, "Oh, crap! How many kids saw my torso today?" Then I thought about what a terribly made dress it must be. I've worn and loved several pieces from this company, so I consider it a fluke, but still, it was aggravating.

You know, what I never thought about? Having to deal with customer service to get my money back. I also never thought about what Gwynnie Bee would say. One of the questions I get asked most frequently is about staining or messing up the clothes you've borrowed. And here's the thing- it's ok! The ladies at Gwynnie Bee know that sometimes accidents happen and you aren't charged or held responsible for things like that.

Or things like your dress falling apart while you wear it. This was a BRAND-NEW dress. Once GB gets new product in they inspect them before sending them out to be professionally laundered. Then it is inspected again after returning from the laundry and again before it is sent to the customer and after it is returned. Items are constantly being checked and rechecked. When I contacted GB to warn them about possible issues with the dress, they immediately offered to re-ship the dress. Now that is customer service. You never have to worry about feeling like you did something wrong, and they are committed to doing everything they can to make things right!

So do YOU have any embarrassing wardrobe blunders to make me feel better???