Watercolor Wear

Dress - Calvin Klein via Marshall's, Belt - Lulu's, Necklace - Gifted, Shoes - Rachel Zoe, Watch - Michael Kors (gifted)

Lately, I have been finding myself obsessed with watercolor prints when it comes to my clothes. There's just something so gorgous about the haphazard mixing and meshing of colors that just makes my eyes light up. I was recently shopping for a dress to wear to a dear friend's baby bash (not a shower, to be clear), and when my eyes fell on this gorgeous chiffon maxi, I knew this baby was coming home with me. I love the bright colors and the layered cut of the dress. I've said before that I love movement when it comes to skirts, and this dress was just so fun to move in! For accessories, I decided to go with a thin, stretchy retro gold belt and a colored necklace to finish the look. OH! And how could I forget to mention the most important accessory of all...my brand new ceramic Michael Kors watch, a birthday gift courtesy of the Boyfriend.

I have been searching high and low for the perfect white watch for about two years, and I couldn't be happier with the one I finally got. A white watch is such a great statement accessory. It adds a pop of exciting to any outfit, it's flashy, but not too flashy, it looks girly or sporty depending on how you style it, and most of all, it's just...well, PRETTY. I love, love, love it, and have planned numerous outfits around it just because I can't bear not to wear it.

The Hunt

Top - F21, Heels - Zara, Necklace - BaubleBar

I think it was last spring when Zara released a gorgeous pique short-sleeved white peplum top. But as with so many things that Zara releases, the top was quickly sold out, and I cried. Okay, so I didn't really CRY cry like the way I do at the end of Karate Kid I when Daniel wins the tournament with the crane kick and yells, "Mr. Miyagi! We did it Mr. Miyagi, we did it!" as Mr. Miyagi smiles proudly (gosh, that scene gets me EVERY time). But I did weep a bit on the inside. Like when I found out that Channing Tatum had a baby and my master plans for stealing him away from his girl evaporated. But I digress.

I'm not one to give up when I'm on the hunt for a fashion acquisition (remember this?), so I wasn't going to give up searching for a short-sleeved white peplum top. Well, unfortunately, Zara never re-released the top, so I wasn't able to buy the original, but I found a very similar version at a GIANT new Forever 21 in San Luis Obispo, of all places. I snatched it up right away and couldn't be happier with the results of my tenacity and persistence. Now if only I could channel this never-give-up-never-surrender attitude toward something more productive...like work or the gym...

Resurrected

Dress - Target, Necklace - F21, Shoes and Cardigan - ModCloth

Hm. Where to begin? I guess first off, I have to apologize for my lack of posting for the last (could it be?) nearly two months. It's definitely the longest hiatus this blog has ever taken, and I am so sorry for my military silence. The cause of my absence was multi-fold, attributed partially to work, partially to a lot of travel, and partially to helping a good friend cope with the loss of a loved one. But if I'm being totally honest, which I admit I'm sometimes a bit afraid to be on here, a large contributing factor to my absence on this blog is that I just haven't been feeling very good about myself over the past several weeks.

I started this blog almost three years ago because I felt like I had finally reached a point where I felt confident and happy and content with who I was. It took a long time for me to feel that way because being a petite and curvy is just not something I grew up thinking was acceptable in my culture/community/family (have I mentioned that my mother and sisters are my height but each weigh less than 100 pounds?!). When I finally reached the point where I felt like I could happily accept that not all petites are cut the same, I started this blog because I knew there were other amazing women out there who maybe needed help learning to be comfortable in their own skin.

But I guess carving out my own little space here on the Internets doesn't mean that I don't sometimes need some support in feeling good about myself too. Several weeks ago, I noticed that I had gained a bit of weight. Not a lot, but just enough for me to notice it, and it wasn't until I had been absent from this blog for weeks that I realized that I was feeling pretty low in the self esteem department. I just didn't want to have my photograph taken, and the photos that I did take made me unhappy. I didn't even want to shop because I didn't like how clothes looked on me. Let me repeat: I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO SHOP. Clearly, something was very wrong.  BSMMH's mantra from the beginning was "look good, feel good," and I realize now that the mantra can go the other way too: when you don't feel good, you don't think you look good. 

So there I was, about to drown my troubles in...I don't know...a pint of Ben & Jerry's when I realized that I needed to get out of my funk, not just for myself but for BSMMH. That's right, you anonymous readers of my little blog here motivated me to take control of my sinking psyche and do something about changing my outlook. Because it's one thing to let myself down, but a whole other unacceptable thing to let you all down. So here I am, back and feeling better (although not yet the best). I've decided that feeling healthy is a part of feeling good about yourself, so I've started exercising and eating better, and just taking that proactive step has done wonders for my mindset. I'm sure I haven't lost a pound (and that's not my main motivation), but I feel so much happier and that has put me back on track with my "look good, feel good" philosophy.

If you've read this far (sorry for the novel!), I just want to apologize for the abandonment and to say a big THANK YOU so much for being a supporter of BSMMH...you don't know how much that means to me! If it wasn't for you, I may never have gotten off of the couch and out of my funk. I promise not to leave you again without explanation like that, BSMMH followers...here's to looking good and feeling good!