Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a day full of love, joy, & laughter for Easter weekend. I had a busy weekend with the boys. On Saturday, we went to the Easter Egg hunt in our community and it was such a blast. The boys had such a great time meeting the Easter bunny and finding eggs. They also had little activities for the kids to do as well. The weather was a bit warm but it didn't seem to bother them after cooling off with a snow cone. On Sunday, we did another Easter Egg hunt at Enchanted Island which is located in Phoenix. We've been going to this since Liam was two years old. I still remember him getting eggs and having to chaperone him. This place brings back so many great memories of Liam when he was a toddler. Since Liam wasn't feeling well, he didn't participate, but Ashton had a blast. Unfortunately, we had to leave early since Liam wasn't feeling well.
Reflecting back on this weekend, I need to not push myself and my boys even though they had fun.Yes, I'm the mom that wants to do it all and I think we may have over did it. I'm always the person who is on the "go" and wants to do it "all" and want the boys to have fun. It's really hard for me to slow down and not do everything. I'm still learning that it's okay not to do it all. I wanted to dye their eggs when we got back, but since Liam wasn't feeling well we didn't get to do it. I'm hoping to do that when he feels better. I wanted to share some highlights of our Easter weekend in case you missed on it on Insta Story. I also post a lot on my stories that are more real life and not staged as it is on my Instagram. I hope you guys were able to enjoy this day with family and friends.
I also got a lot of questions about the dress I wore. I got mine from Ross and couldn't link the exact one, but I have a bunch of similar ones at different price points. I think this dress is super flattering and prefect for spring. It's perfect for Mother's day, a graduation party or "just because", because there shouldn't have to be an occasion to dress up. In my opinion, you should always look fabulous, because YOU want to! Have a great Monday and even better week ahead! Thanks for stopping by! Xo
Happy Friday Eve everyone! I hope you all are having a great week. It's been a rough week here for me. I've been struggling a lot in changing my perspective and controlling my actions and how I response to things. Like I mentioned in my other posts, I'm really working on self-care and self-love. It's definitely a daily struggle for me especially since what I went through last year. I am definitely taking it day by day. One of the struggles that I have been dealing with lately is letting people or events control my feelings and mood. I never really shared this before, but I'm a pretty emotional person. I react very quickly to what others say or think of me. I then internalized it and it usually puts me in a bad mood especially if it's something negative. Today, for example, I was having a great day. I went to workout in the morning and felt great. After my workout, I received a text that really bothered me. My instant mood with from happy to sad and I hate that it did that to me. I've been working really hard to not let that happen, but I'm only human and it does. As I'm writing this, I'm thinking of all the tips that I learned from my therapist, talks from my parents and my good friends on how I can change and shift my mind and perspective. I instantly take 3 deep breaths and tell myself that "things will be okay" to not worry about the "unknown" and to let fear control my mind or my life. I tell myself that I am in control of my thoughts and no one can make me feel weak or unworthy. I also instantly think of 3 positive things in my life that I am thankful for which puts me in a better mood. I also need to learn not to respond to negativity and not to react. I'm hoping to put this in practice for the rest of the weekend especially since it's Easter. I just wanted to let you know if you are struggling you are not the only one. Everyone is working on something and struggling with issues and I'm hoping to be more transparent about mine. Instagram and social media can make life seem so glorifying. I can almost guarantee that is only about 1% of someone's life. At least, I can say that about mine.
In my last post, I mentioned that I was going to share my top 6 trends for Phoenix Fashion Week. One of my favorite trends from the show was the "White on White" trend. I love white for spring. It's such a great color and it reminds me of "innocence" and "purity". I wore this white dress with my favorite white boots that are currently BOGO 50% and under $38. They are seriously so comfy and perfect for spring. I wore them for Fashion Week as well and got so many compliments. Here are some of my favorite ways to wear this trend. I'm linking my favorite white on white outfits below that you can shop.
Another trend that I love is the 80s trend. I was born in the 80s and love the music, fashion and everything that has to do with the 80s. Here are so me of my favorite pieces that you can wear that were inspired from the runaway to everyday wear.
SHOP THE "80S TREND"
The utility trend is also very popular for spring this year. I love that utility can be sporty, dressy or work appropriate. Here are some of my favorite ways to wear this trend.
SHOP THE UTILITY TREND
The monochromatic trend is another personal favorite of mine. I love the chicness of wearing an outfit that is all one color. I linked some of my favorite monochromatic looks here that you can shop that is perfect for spring/summer.
SHOP THE MONOCHROMATIC TREND
For men, one of the spring trends at the fashion show was "Men Boxed Suits". I really loved how the stylist curated some fun looks. Here are some images of my favorites and also some looks that your husband/boyfriend/brother or "friend" can wear this season.
MEN BOXED SUITS TREND
Last but not least is the "All Dolled Up Trend" which was the winner of for the Phoenix Fashion Show. These looks were definitely fun to see on the runaway. I found some more everyday looks that was inspired by this trend.
ALL DOLLED UP TREND
I wanted to say a very special thank you to Brian Hill the executive direction of Phoenix Fashion Week for not only having me at the show, but as a judge. I had such a fun time and it was such an amazing experience to be part of such a great network of people and stylists that are so inspiring. Thank you for letting me be part of this. It means so much to me and to be able to do what I love and what I passionate about. I also wanted to thank the Andaz Hotel for their hospitality and stay.
More importantly, I want to thank each and one of you for supporting my dream and being with me on my journey which I'm still trying to figure out. It definitely has taken a different path than I had planned, but I'm hopeful that good things lie ahead! Have a fabulous weekend ahead! Xo
Happy Friday Eve! One of the hottest trend this season for spring is florals. I've been noticing florals everywhere this spring. One of my favorite ways to wear this trend is a maxi dress because not only is it comfortable, but also super flattering. Since I moved to the desert, I'm all about comfort and trying to stay cool. I think it's perfect to wear for Easter and Mother's Day. I found some great ones that are super affordable and under $30. Unfortunately, my exact one is sold out, I bought it last spring. What is your favorite trend for spring? Stay tuned for the top 6 trends that are trending for spring in my next post.
On a more personal note, I've been really working on self-care and self-love. I have dedicated this month and each morning to shifting my attitude towards positive thinking and to try to let things go that I cannot control. It's easier said than done and is still it's a constant struggle for me. I appreciate all your supportive messages and comments. I also added some quotes in the highlight section of my Instagram if you want to take a look. I've been using these quotes to help me when I'm going through a tough day or time. I heard on the radio today that challenges and tough days only make you stronger. This quote for the Spiritual Movement really spoke to me:
You can sound confident
and have anxiety.
You can look healthy but feel like crap.
You can look happy be miserable inside.
You can be good looking and feel ugly.
So be kind, because every person is fighting a battle
you know nothing about!
I hope you are having a great week! Cheers to almost Friday! Thanks for stopping by.
Happy April 1st! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I'm excited about a new month and changing my perspective on what defines happiness. For those of you that have followed me for awhile, I took a year off on Instagram last year. I went through a very difficult and dark time. I'm not ready to share exactly what I went through and I promise I will once I'm ready or have made a decision on what I want to do. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me. During that dark period last year, not only did I learned a lot about myself, but I learned who my true friends were. It's really sad that it takes going through hardships to test true friendships. I also wanted to say "thank you" to all those who have reached out to me during my absence on social media.
In the past year, I have learned a lot about myself and how important it is to practice self-care and self-love. I feel like I have put others before me and I really lost who I was hence that's why I started my blog. I'm not telling you that I have it all figured out now, because believe me I don't. I'm still a work in progress and I'm finally learning that it's "okay" to be a mess. I have learned that everyone's timeline is different and comparison is really the thief of joy and happiness. I mentioned it before, but really want to hit this one home by reminding and telling myself that social media is not an accurate portrayal of anyone's life. It's the highlights and the best of someone. It is absolutely not their worst moments. Because I didn't want to share my worst moments publicly, I took a break from social media because I just couldn't deal with it all. I cancelled my personal Facebook account and I am still no longer active on it, because I couldn't deal with seeing everyone so happy while I was miserable, depressed and not myself. So when you see beautiful photos on Instagram, don't forget that they are sometimes staged and the highlight of someone's life. Here are 3 things that I have done that have helped reset my mind when it wanders to the dark side. :)
1. Yoga
Yoga has been a life saver for me. I don't think physically and mentally I could have survived what I went through if it wasn't for practicing yoga. Not only is yoga beneficial for your health, but it also helps reset your mind and helps you focus on the present. I was very angry and kept dwelling on the past. Yoga helped remind me to live in the "present" and to let things go. I know it's easier said than done and I practice this constantly. If you are uncomfortable going to the gym or a Yoga studio, I suggest going on YouTube and practicing at home. It's also free and you can practice when it's most convenient for you. I promise yoga works wonders! Not only will your body feel good but your mind will as well.
2. Therapy
Through this dark time, my friends and family recommend that I go see a therapist. Believe me at first I was so against it. I felt like there was such a stigma towards going to therapy. Initially, I was very skeptical. I thought only people who were "weak" or had severe mental illness went to a therapist. I'm so glad I was totally wrong. Seeing my therapist was the best money I spent and the best investment in bettering "me" and focus on things that "I" needed to work on. Luckily my insurance paid for most of my sessions. I recommend finding a therapist that you can connect with. Also, to give him/her at least 3 sessions to really see if he/she is a good fit for YOU. Through my therapy I was able to learn things about myself that I never did. It also helped me put things in perspective while my whole world was falling apart.
3. Self-Love & Care
This is one is the most important one that I've learned is that YOU control your own happiness. The more you rely or depend or others to keep you happy, the more disappointed you will become. So you're probably asking what does self-care and self-love look like? For me, self-care is taking care of YOU 1st. If it means go getting a mani and pedi then go for it. If it means going for a walk with the dog or walking by yourself. It could mean reading your favorite book, listening to your favorite music or watching your favorite movie. Only YOU can know what it means to take care of YOU. If you are a new mom, it can be mean as simple as going to take a bath by YOURSELF. Not only did I learn that you need to take care of yourself, you also have to learn to love yourself. No one can love you more than YOU. If you don't love yourself, it's impossible for others to love YOU. Here is one of my favorite quotes that I love from "The Good Quote"
5 things to quit:
1. Trying to please everyone
2. Fearing change
3. Living in the past
4. Putting yourself down
5. Overthinking
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. It's not your usual fashion post, but this is something that I've been wanting to share for awhile and I hope it helps you if you are going through a difficult time. I hope April is a month of blessings for you! Cheers to a new month, new beginning and endlesspossibilities! Xo
