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This past summer, when I was in New York City attending BlogHer, I found myself walking the streets of Fifth Avenue. As I was making my way towards my beloved Saks, I noticed a Joe Fresh store. Joe Fresh! The store we all love to shop at while we're stocking up on groceries? A stand-alone Joe Fresh store, filled with lovely clothes at incredibly amazing prices?
I go excited, as I often do when I'm shopping, and spent more money than I should have, but I digress...
Finally, Canada is getting Joe Fresh out of the grocery store! Ottawa's first stand-alone Joe Fresh is set to open its doors to the public on February 27th in Ottawa's east end, but before that day, I get a special sneak peek at the lovely new store. I'll be attending the Joe Fresh grand opening party, drink in hand, credit cards um, within reach, while I check out the newest fashions for spring.
Here are the some of the looks I'm excited to buy at the new Joe Fresh store:
Also, the adorable slim jeans in the photo in my header? They're only $29, too.
Time to go shopping!
I'm a pretty confident girl. I went through a "phase" in middle school, (oh, didn't we all?) but other than that, I've loved myself, faults and all, for as long as I can remember, even when I felt most alone. There are parts about my body I love, and parts about my body I wish were a little different, but overall, I wouldn't pay a single dollar to change what I was born with. Sure, I wear make-up, sure, I dress in things that suit my body, and sure, I go for a spray-tan if I'm hitting a beach in the middle of winter. I do things to take care of myself, like working out (although not nearly as much as I should) and taking care of my appearance.
However, body image... it's been something I've struggled with since high school. For the most part, I love(d) my body. However, I'm also a crash dieter. Wedding coming up? Time to starve myself! Vacation down south? See ya, carbs! Leading up to every important occasion, I'd stop eating the things I loved so I could lose those last 10 pounds that never seem to go away. Of course, a crash diet—or, in my case, a diet void of all carbs—made me completely and utterly miserable. It's no secret that if you give up carbs the weight will come off quicker than you can say pasta, but the second you touch a carb, it's all back on, baby. It's a battle I just cannot win.
This past January I went to south Florida with my family on our annual winter vacation and I stopped eating carbs a few weeks before we left. This time, though, I hated it more than ever before. The thought of having to eat eggs every.single.morning made me sick. And so, even though I lost 10 pounds in seven days (seriously) I wanted to cry. So I just stopped dieting. I looked at myself in the mirror, and said, "Go eat a sandwich, girlfriend." And I did. And it was delicious.
I packed two one-piece bathing suits, a bikini, and a tankini in my suitcase, and off we went to enjoy a week by the ocean. The next morning, I put on my bikini, and I looked good. In my eyes. And to my children. And I played in the sand, and I built sand castles, and I collected shells even though the waves were knocking me down. Even though I wasn't at my perfect ideal body weight, even though I wasn't skinny mini Lou. Maybe I was starting to come to terms with the fact that it's okay that I don't look like I did when I was 17?
Those bikinis I loved to wear when I was 20, that I'm still holding on to, in hopes I'll wear them again one day? I'm thinking I should just toss them. After all, I've got a drawer full of new swim wear, so why am I holding on to the past? I can work out every day and eat healthy, but I'm not going to have the body I had before. I've had two children. I'm 36 years old. And I've got curves! And I'm so totally okay with this. I wear bikinis. And I smile.
My wish is for other people to also be comfortable in their skin. I'm telling you, I wasn't even my most confident when I was at my skinniest. Feeling confident has nothing to do with the number on the scale, I swear.
I'm not saying don't try to look your best; you should take care of your appearance, stay healthy, and respect your body. I'm just saying YOU LOOK GOOD, DAMN IT. We're not all supposed to be a size 0. And for those of you who are? YOU LOOK GOOD, TOO, DAMN IT. Honestly. Life is too short to not eat cupcakes and run on the beach without a care in the world.
It may be the year of the emerald, but yellow has caught my eye and I'm seeing this colour pop up in all the stores!
Maybe it's because we're so close to spring that I'm looking forward to moving away from dark colours and embracing the bright, and maybe it's because I love sunshine, but right now, all I want to see is bright colour and sunshine wherever I look, and wherever I shop!
I'm craving yellow. And luckily, yellow is going to be everywhere this spring.
Here are some ways you can incorporate yellow as you prepare for spring and summer:
Pretty Yellow Dresses: From Banana to Modcloth, you will not have any problems finding a dress perfect for you. You'll be as dazzling as the sun! I love the Banana Republic dress for days in the office, and the yellow Modcloth dress for a night out with the girls—or a day of shopping!
Shoes, Bags and Scarves: Of course, you can add just a splash of this bright colour by wearing just one item and making it pop, like a scarf, sandals, or a great handbag. I love wearing all black with a pop of yellow, whether you choose a scarf, a pair of yellow pumps, or a cute purse to bring the look together. Or, embrace a bit of yellow as you wear your new white dress.
Are you as excited about yellow as I am? What other bright colours are you looking forward to embracing as the season changes to spring?