Rule the Rules

As I was sipping my coffee this morning, I found myself thinking about all I want to accomplish in my lifetime. I also, found myself counting the reasons why certain ideas were silly, or why I could obviously never do a certain thing- "Oh my goodness, people would be so annoyed if I even attempted that." I find that so many of us are quick to put our OWN selves in a box of what we are expected to do in life. We act in a specific way because we feel that people expect a certain *insert your name here*. I have realized that many people don't pursue their dreams because they feel they are already "too deep" in their current life. That they have already made a certain name for themselves and if they stray away from that, people will view them differently.

UM HI. Lest you forget, who's life it is. Yours. It is yours. You've known from the very beginning what excites you. You've known since you were young what makes you feel confident and capable. Somewhere a long the way you let your validation and worth fall into the hands of others reactions and approval. Somewhere along the way, you suppressed what you love to "be loved". Somewhere a long the way, the girl who was jumping out of bed in the mornings with feet stomping down the stairs, began walking on eggshells. You are so much more than what others have shaped you to be. I believe you forget that you do not have to explain yourself to anybody. You do not have to fit in anyone's box, or tell them why you are leaving it. You do, however, have to leave. And I hope you do. I hope you realize that you were created with so much passion, creativity, determination, and interests that are specific to you. I hope you realize that those specific talents will propel you into the plan God has for your life. Use them. See what truly happens when you focus on you. Be all that you love. Like I always say, "You are what you love, not who loves you."



Also, how cute and happy is this wall on 12th South! For more "12th Southy" adventures, check out my instagram!
Insta: @hannah_neese

Love me? Love U? Love O.

Ahh, I cannot get over how cute and comfy these pj's are and I am so excited to be partnering with Love Ophelia to spread the cheer! If you know me, you know I'm the kind of girl to have the hair done, makeup done, jewelry on, THEN change out of my pajamas in to "real world" clothes. Therefore, I don't accept just any pajamas in to my life, but this set may just be at the top of my list! They are just as comfy as they are cute and I'm having a harder time putting on actual pants each day.

Love Ophelia is a loungewear line with the cutest selection of pajamas, robes, and rompers. Perfect for lazing around the house, or matching sets for all the lovely bridesmaids getting ready for the big day! Especially as the weather gets cooler, Love O. is perfect for a lazy day indoors.

Not to mention, this is the perfect Christmas gift for all the ladies in your life! Their prices are super affordable and clothes fit true to size. Hey, never underestimate the happiness a pajama set can instill. Pajama gifts are so underrated. Scroll on down for their contact info and get to gifting! Yes, it is acceptable to buy yourself gifts for Christmas.

While you're surfing the internet for cute things, make sure you check out my sweet friend's blog, Daily Shealeigh for the most recent fashion picks and what she has to say about Love Ophelia, too!


CONTACT
 - Instagram: @loveophelia
 - Blog: blog.loveophelia.com
 - Website: loveophelia.com

SHEA
 - Instagram: @shealeighmills
 - Blog: dailyshealeigh.com

Christmas is Close = Christmas Clothes

Hi hi! I am definitely the kind of person to put up the christmas lights and tree before Thanksgiving. Hate me all you want. I also like Nickleback, so it's all a mess over here. BUT- I say it is never to early to start the Christmas spirit! I love this time of year. Coffee tastes better somehow. Houses are more beautiful. People are weirdly nicer. It is a beautiful season, so I start as early as I can.

I am so excited to share with you a brand that I have been LOVING lately: Solidlightco. This company makes the cutest clothes and I absolutely adore the message sent along with their items: Jesus. Go check them out by clicking on this link! You won't be disappointed. https://www.solidlightco.com

This top is the cutest and oh so comfy! I am wearing a medium and it fits perfectly.

It's also a steal- only $20.

and HOW CUTE is this sweatshirt?! It's also just as comfy and only $30.

Over all, I am very impressed with how cozy and cute these tops are and I highly recommend you go check out their content and follow their Instagram: Solidlightco

Tis the season <3 

Fall is for Relaxing

       It's fall time!! Which that in itself is a reason to relax, right? I feel like the second a leaf turns orange on a tree, I find myself digging out my comfy socks and a big sweater whilst brewing coffee. Fall is my guiltless lazy month and I am more than happy with it. So let's talk relaxing. That word has come to be a sin in America. One should always be working harder, staying up later, studying more, getting that LAST thing done no matter how exhausted they are. We don't listen to our bodies because the world is telling us to never stop. "Hustle. Hustle. Hustle" has become the newest trend. The media isn't encouraging you to take a nap, or read a book for your enjoyment. So, I will. (u welcome) 

Life is rough, it is crazy and exhausting. But you never have so much going on that you can't take some time for you. 

1. Turn off your phone. Nothing is more distracting when you're trying to relax, than scrolling through Facebook looking at people doing more than you. So turn it off. Do you. 

2. Put on comfy clothes. Obviously don't be wearing jeans. Oh my goodness, no. We're trying to relax here, dangit, not subconsciously feel the love handles.

3. Make tea or coffee. A warm cup of coffee resembles a hug and we can all agree on this. 

4. Listen to music or read a book. Sometimes I find my "relaxing" time still focused around what I should be doing. Read a completely unrelated book from school or work. One that you enjoy. REMEMBER YOUR PHONE IS OFF SO NO ONE CAN TEXT YOU SUBTLY TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY'RE STUDYING.

5. Finally, spend some time with Jesus. Life can get so overwhelming and I find myself immediately trying to do it all on my own. Every little thing, I quickly grasp with my hands and try to fit it in MY schedule. This usually results in a stress-cry and the realization that I was never meant to do this on my own. "The Lord will fight for you. You only need to be still."

So, be still. Give it to God. Relax for a little bit today. Even 30 minutes to yourself, completely undistracted, can change things. This life is doable once you realize how uncool it is to actually "hustle so hard" that you lose a little piece of who you are. 

Like I said, it's fall. A month of forced relaxation and cuddles. Calories don't even count this season!! Take some time for you each day. Enjoy, lovelies <3 

Something so Beautiful

   
    There's something so beautiful to me about someone being whole heartedly themselves. Something so beautiful about someone being silly they're so happy. Something beautiful about someone being proud of themselves for something they've accomplished. To see someone run up to another in order to tell them good news about themselves is stunning. There's something so breathtaking about a woman who walks into a room with a smile and glow in her eyes because she isn't one bit worried about another's opinion of her. Something so beautiful seeing two friends laugh until they cry in public. There wasn't one friend saying, "Stop. People are looking." Something so beautiful about a man being proud of his girl. Something so beautiful about a man spending more time talking about his girl than himself. Something so beautiful about someone praising another's accomplishments, even when they are the competition.


     However, our culture has this all wrong. When someone is so happy that they're silly, they're psycho. When someone is excited for their accomplishments, they're conceited. When a woman walks into a room with confidence, she is immediately arrogant. When two friends are laughing in public, people are thinking, "Pull it together." When a man talks more about his girl than himself, he is whipped.

Why do we do this? Why is this the culture we live in?

     There is something so earth shattering to me seeing someone wholly happy, but receive the wrong look from another and watching their smile fade with embarrassment. Something so earth shattering seeing a girl walk into a new room full of beautiful girls and instantly feel inferior. It's heartbreaking to see someone telling another of their success, only to be told by the other what THEY have done. To belittle someone to make you feel worthy is disgusting. To make someone feel wrong for being happy is revolting. To not let someone have their moment because you haven't had yours is sickening.

     Take a minute to watch someone's eyes when they are talking about something they love. Take a minute to watch the reaction of someone when you give them a compliment instead of waiting for one in return. Turn the camera around on someone else today and capitalize their beauty and talents.

Life is so beautiful. Let people live theirs freely.

The Thief of Comparison

     As you can tell, I post most on body confidence. I find that this is where I am most vulnerable, but also most strong. I have found that the view of my body can ruin or propel my productivity. I have found that comparison is the largest trap, that I sometimes don't even plan on wandering in to.

     Today, I wanted to write about overcoming comparison. I write in my personal journal whenever I feel down, and I use that time, to build myself up. After writing for my own eyes, I wanted to share it with you. I believe that vulnerability is the most beautiful thing about someone, because everyone puts on their masks each day. 

     I originally wanted to use my journal as a template for writing this post on comparison. However, as I typed, I found myself scratching out the sentences where I appeared too distressed. I found myself attempting to ice over something that many women struggle with. 

     So I decided to give you my journal entry. An entry that is raw and 100% how I feel and what I struggle with. An entry that shows how I  build myself up when I am down. I hope this helps many women see that they are not alone and are breathtakingly beautiful.

7-16-16

"I've been struggling with comparison still. I know my body isn't how it used to be, but that doesn't mean it isn't absolutely beautiful. Stunning!- A carefully made work of art. Each curve, bump, and scar is unique and flawless. Why have we been taught that a size over 4 is too big?Why do we cringe when we reach for a large top or bottom? Why have we been taught to grab at our hips in disgust? When did it become wrong to not be stick thin or rippling with muscles? When did the true body of a woman become something we fight endlessly against? Why on earth are these thoughts and feelings put into our heads?

I am stunning.

I buy clothes that compliment my personal body type. The size of those clothes do not matter. How well they flatter your specific, incredible, unique body matters.

A pose that one girl looks great doing, may not flatter your body. Just as a pose that shows off your beauty, may not work for them.

I look at how stunning one woman is, and another. Yet, realize that the two look absolutely NOTHING alike. One is blonde, plump lips, skinny body, and a button nose. While the other is a brunette with a healthy fit body, strong legs, and a freckled face. She doesn't have a stomach as flat as the blonde, but I have found myself comparing myself to BOTH, when neither resembles the other whatsoever.

This goes to show that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. There is no "one" universally beautiful girl. Just like waves crashing on the shore is a beautiful sight, so are christmas lights at night. Yet the two are absolutely nothing alike. Someone else's beauty does not diminish yours. Just because one girl's smile is stunning, does not mean yours isn't.

Freckles are breathtaking and enviable, yet most girls with freckles are quick to cover them up with foundation and self hate.

Strong legs are enviable and desired, yet those same girls are googling ways to shrink themselves.

I once was at the gym on the treadmill. I was doing sprint intervals because sprints increases leg mass, rather than long distance running. A girl got on the treadmill right next to me. She was wearing spandex and her legs were so toned and gorgeous! TOTAL CARRIE UNDERWOOD LEGS. However, when I went to fill my water bottle up, I overheard her telling her friend how badly she wants to get rid of "these" while grabbing her thighs.

No woman is satisfied with themselves. It's how we are. In a good way, it helps us improve. However, just remember while you are wishing and working to look like some one else, another girl out there is admiring your beauty and is jealous of you. 

Don't waste time in the comparison trap.

Your life, your body, your beauty is so enviable! AND IT IS ALREADY YOURS. So go live- gratefully and confidently. 

#YouAreWorthy"

How to Survive the Dressing Room

The dressing room is a terrible place to be, let's just be honest. The lighting is horrifying, unless you're in Victoria's Secret because somehow that lighting really does make you look like an angel. Most dressing rooms, however, are lit with a terrible fluorescent glow that magnifies all of our problem areas. AND HOW DARE THERE BE A MIRROR WHERE YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF FROM EVERY ANGLE?! WHO INVENTED THIS?!

Anyways, the dressing room can be a stressing room if you aren't careful. So how do I survive the dressing room?

1. I try to avoid it at all costs.
     If I know an article of clothing is not going to work for me, I do not lie to myself and say that it will to only get horrified in the dressing room. I simply put the skin tight tank back on the rack, and run away.

2. Continue to tell yourself it's the lighting.
    "Wow, I really didn't think this top would look this bad on me." "Oh yeah, wait, it's just the lighting." It is always the lighting, ok?

3. Take in more than one size of the article of clothing.
     This may sound like a no brainer, but I rarely do this and I just end up leaving the store because I'm sad the one size didn't fit. The next size will ladies, and you will look great in it and leave happy. It's just a number.

4. Take pictures and send to your best friends for advice.
     If they are real friends, they'll reassure you that you look fine and normally it will go like this: "Oh my gosh!!!! You look so good in that! YAS buy it now!"  Then buy it and go hug them. Everyone needs a hug after the dressing room experience.

5. Never go shopping if you are on a time crunch.
    If you are planning to enter the dressing room, do not do so during a lunch break or a quick shopping run. A mental breakdown will ensue and you will be depressed for the rest of the day and hungry because you didn't eat during your lunch break, so.

6. IT'S ALWAYS THE CLOTHES FAULT.
     Last but not least, it is never your fault. Duh. Always blame the clothes. When the lady at the desk asks, "Did those work for you?" Simply respond with, "I'm sorry  but these clothes were not adequate enough for my incredible figure and sensational personality." 

Clothes. What even are they?