Re-Post in Honor of Summer

This is a post I put together two years ago, but it still absolutely rings true.  It seems like the right time to start talking about bathing suit shopping again since New Orleans has entered full on hell-heat.  Also, amazing plus-size blogger Gabi Fresh has just launched a super gorgeous line of swimsuits that are made for more than just one body type.  See the original post here.

Two Piece or Not Two Piece

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I started planning a beach vacation with my husband last week, and it reminded me that I only own one bathing suit.  I usually keep two on hand, so I am not always wearing the same wet suit to the beach day after day.  I mentioned to my husband that I wanted a tankini after realizing how difficult it is to get in and out of a maillot to pee (not to mention the dreaded sand crotch from getting tossed around in waves).  He wondered aloud why I didn't just get a regular bikini and started me thinking.  Why don't I just get a regular bikini? 

I started wearing bikinis sometime in high school or college; it was a sign of my adulthood and womanly body.  They weren't skimpy or expensive, and I think one even had Winnie the Pooh on it.  I didn't look "perfect" (I've had stretch marks and cellulite since I was 13), so I was never completely comfortable flaunting what I had, but I didn't let it hold me back.  I only switched to a tankini when I started gaining weight post-wedding.  It seemed like the thing I was supposed to do as a larger woman with a round stomach who was still young.  

One pieces weren't cool, and sexy ones were impossible to find back then, so I wore a tankini until two years ago.  I bought my first one piece as a potential swimsuit for the gym.  After losing weight, I bought my second one with a super sexy low cut front.  It made me feel less awkward and more confident frolicking around the beach.  I have used that same inexpensive black bathing suit for about a year. 

Now, that I once again need to go shopping, my husband's comments make me realize several things.  He thinks I am beautiful no matter how much I have gained or lost, and he enjoys the way I look.  I don't want to pick a suit based on hiding what I don't think other people want to see.  I want to feel good about how I look without that kind of hindrance.  Lots of other people I know wear bikinis that don't have "perfect" bodies and they look great and lots of people find them attractive.  (No one is ever repelled or puking on the beach.)  And lastly, very few people really look good in bathing suits.  They don't seem to be designed for the majority; they seem to be designed to make the majority feel bad about themselves.

In the next week or two when I have to go on a dreaded bathing suit shopping trip, I will probably try on bikinis and tankinis.  I don't know what I will like the best or what I will end up purchasing, but it will be something pretty that makes me happy.  It will also probably not end up on me on the Internet in pictures!  What do you guys think about bathing suits and the public perception that the larger people should cover up but still show off?  How do you reconcile hiding your stomach but flaunting your thighs?

I Love Kimchee, Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

I woke up this morning sore and a bit worn out, which seemed so unusual after a three day weekend.  It took me a few minutes to realize that I was in fact sore from riding horses and going to the beach the day before with my Sizzler and T.  So, I'm not a morning person, but I don't think anyone who reads about me running out the door some days for work was under any illusions about that.

Being covered in beach and sunscreen meant I needed to shower last night after Korean food dinner.  (I love kimchee!)  This also led me to be sleeping in and only needing a few minutes to pick out an outfit for work.  I tried three outfits on total and the first two were tight as a result of me eating too much!  This worked perfectly though between the professional feel of my good old stand-bys, the tweed skirt and blue sweater, and the trendiness of this lace top with Peter Pan collar (not Christopher Robin collar, Sizzler).

Today promises to be uneventful, which is good.  Morning meeting, paperwork, lunch at my desk from the union.  Work on video project in the afternoon, then home to eat delicious food out of my fridge and enjoy Behind the Candelabra.  I may or may not be fascinated with all things Liberace.

Pyramid stud earrings :: Anthropologie

Blue sweater :: Maurices

Lace top :: Marshalls

White tank :: Loft

Tweed skirt :: The Limited

Nude peeptoe heels :: Nine West

Star Trek, Sunday, May 26th, 2013

Sunday nights usually suck for me because I feel like my weekend ends early.  Most Mondays I'm at work for 6am, meaning I should be in bed early.  Should is the optimal word there, but with Memorial Day, I get to sleep in on Monday and stay up late Sunday.  This particular Sunday, I stayed up with my MIL (mother-in-law) watching Benedict Cumberbatch twice.

As a family (husband, me, MIL), we went to see Stark Trek in 3D at Canal Place.  I'm not going to lie and say I loved the movie, but I did love Khan.  I think having watched so many old Star Treks and, in general, being a bit of a movie snob is what held me back.  I'm not going to print any spoilers though, so you can make up your own mind.  Post movie, I told my MIL that she should watch Sherlock on Netflix, and so we did.  Now, she is hooked, and Benedict Cumberbatch has a new fan.

But, we're supposed to talk about clothes here, right?  So, let's do that.  Movie theathers = cold, New Orleans = hot.  That formula tuned into me wearing a light dress with a jean jacket, platforms, and a little bit of jewelry and makeup.  I was feeling simple stuff like I always am lately, so all of the jewelry was what I'd call dainty.  My makeup was just for fun because I never have the motivation when I'm going to work.

Pyramid stud earrings :: Anthropologie

Pearl and diamond necklace :: gift from husband

Jean jacket :: NY&Co.

Striped dress :: Maurice's

Black platforms :: Nine West outlet

The Case Against Statement Necklaces or Why Small Jewelry is Cool, Too

Before you guys take away whatever blogger cred I have, let me say upfront that I don't dislike statement necklaces.  Statement necklaces are great, but the whole idea behind them is to stand out and draw attention.  Few people wear one everyday.  Even fewer people combine those statement necklaces with flashy earrings, an arm of bracelets and hands full of ring.  The Oscars is the only time I can think of.  Any time you wear a loud, attention-grabbing piece of jewelry, you're supposed to either wear it alone or with subdued playmates.  And, I can't abide by that philosophy.



The biggest investment necklace I own



I like wearing lots of pieces of jewelry together--when I actually remember to put some on in the morning.  I'm an earrings, necklace, and bracelets, with the occasional ring, kind of girl.  I collect beautiful, investment pieces of jewelry I like to pair together.  It's nice to be able to wear those pieces in tandem with one another instead of trying to work around a large statement item.  So, my investments tend to be smaller pendants, short dangly earrings, thin bracelets, and moderately sized rings.



Inherited bracelet with statement, fast fashion earrings



I also think it's hard to invest in a statement necklace.  You would really need to love that piece to dish out some cash on it.  They also tend to be trendy, which it's hard to spend real money on.  I find that most people who are wearing statement necklaces are getting their fixes through fast fashion stores.  It's understandable really.  As much as we'd all like to have emerald necklaces and earrings reminiscent of the Elizabeth Taylor estate, it's just not practical.



Handmade, dainty earrings



So, wear a statement necklace if it's your thing, but small jewelry, especially the memory-holding kind, is pretty great, too.  You can easily wear a bunch of pieces together, coordinating with abandon without having to worry about anything being "too much."  And, if you're into collecting the fine things in life, smaller jewelry can be affordable, unique, and hand-made. 

Simple Basics, Friday, May 24th, 2013

I'll be honest and say that I've gained some weight since I was sick a few weeks ago.  I was doing so well walking every morning and packing lunch, and then I just got knocked for a loop.  Everything in my closet feels tighter now, and that is a total downer when I'm getting ready for work.  Some days, I just grab what I can find, but I never end up with that confident, positive feeling I would from a put together outfit. 

I wrote in this post last week that all I really wanna wear lately are simple outfits that revolve around jeans.  Today, I figured I should just go for it with the casual look while trying to keep everything polished at the same time.  Black is my go to for fast looks, so I grabbed a black tank and button up.  My skinny jeans work with flats, so I added them and black ballet flats then moved onto jewelry.  I went with silver tones in my simple diamond pendant necklace, diamond hoop earrings, blue ring, and interlocking bracelet.  In ten minutes I was dressed and finished with my hair!

The end result is that I do feel better.  This look is appropriate for work and increasing my confidence at the same time.  I feel like I look good even if what I'm wearing isn't ground breaking or cutting edge.  It makes me wonder if I need to reevaluate my look in a way.  While playing with patterns was my thing last summer, maybe simple, well-fitted looks are my thing this summer.  When life is chaotic, maybe our closets need to be simple.

Diamond hoop earrings :: gift from husband

Diamond pendant necklace :: gift from husband

Silver interlocking bracelet :: Tiffanys, gift from husband

Blue ring :: flea market

Black button up :: The Limited

Black tank :: Loft

Skinny jeans :: Forever21+

Black ballet flats :: Nine West outlet

Goals and Getting Ahead

Fifth position Relevee'

I ended April on a bit of a high, proud of myself for having accomplished quite a few items on my goal list.  I wasn't thrilled that I had fallen behind on my CSS class, but I felt good overall.  Then, I got hit with a nasty cold/flu thing that left me feeling gross for the first two weeks of May.  I didn't manage much of anything productive, and it really brought me down.

 

Of course, when you're sick, you're not supposed to be productive.  That didn't make me feel any better when I was stuck at home unable to workout or have fun or do much of anything.  It left me with more time to think about things than I really want, and I got down on myself for what I wasn't achieving.  It's hard not to get stuck in a negative cycle when you can't really change what's going on in your life.

 

I don't know if I'm the best person to lecture about how to turn around days when you're feeling low, but I'm trying to stick it out when everything seems bleak.  Over the past few months, I've been super committed to blogging and outfits and work on some days, but others, I'm just kinda here.  It's that struggle to reconnect with myself that keeps me going on this seemingly random list of stuff.  So, here's my update for the month of May 2013.

 

1. Take more 35mm photographs.  You guys should've already seen the fun set of photos I took and finally scanned earlier this month.  More to come soon.
2. Learn HTML coding.  Being sick doesn't exactly lend itself to concentrating on online classes.  I have not even come close to finishing this yet, but soon, I swear (to myself).
3. Incorporate video into the blog.  Planning a video takes time and patience, and you generally want to sound good.  I haven't had much of either this month with that cold.  Soon, I promise (to myself).
4. Wear more of my jewelry.  Not a single jewelry post within the last few weeks, so I need to ramp it up.
5. Lose the last 15 pounds by amping up my workouts.  No luck at all on this one since being sick, but more about that in a post on the plan coming soon.
6. Make myself a priority.  Does reveling in your own boo-hooness count?  I don't think it does, so I haven't been doing great here either.
7. Take another dance class.  Ballet rocks, and I've made every class since I've been feeling better.  This is where I'm excelling this month.
8. Find more passion for life.  Does passion for ballet count?  It should right.

It's Time for a Haircut

Straightened with a wave

 

Curly and frizzing out

 

As evidenced by the few times I actually decide to straighten my hair and the ever expanding mass of curls when I don't, it's time for a haircut.  I loved my last stylist, Molly, to death, but she sadly moved away to the northshore (an hour drive).  I had a recommendation from her for a gentleman in the same salon.  While he did a good job, I felt like it just wasn't quite right. 

 

Now, I need a new stylist to help me grow out this mop.  I need somebody that understands curly hair, and my likelihood to return to the salon and tweak my look.  I also need to figure out exactly what I want that look to be. I'm thinking something edgy and refined.  Yes, I know that makes no sense.  If you live in the Orleans parish or Jefferson parish area, do you have any recommendations for a stylist that will do crazy/experimental/fun/weird haircuts?