Life & Leopard

Saying Goodbye: A Lesson in Self-Worth

Mar 10, 2014

At the beginning of this year, I decided that one of my goals for 2014 was to feel better. I wanted to have more energy, a better frame of mind, and I wanted to feel good in my own skin. I didn't realize what I was unlocking within myself when I set that goal. This goal of mine has actually opened my eyes to a lot of things and has helped me to start undoing some of the things that I believed to be true.

I have a little story...

Saturday I was kid-free, and after I did my grocery shopping and the unloading, I decided I would head out to a couple of stores to see if I could find a pair of jeans for myself. If you have been a reader for very long, you know about my struggles with jeans. I wasn't exactly looking forward to this, but the one pair of jeans I already owned had gotten too big, and I like having at least one or two pair in my wardrobe.

Kohl's didn't have crap, so I went to Target. I stood looking at the jean wall and decided to grab a pair of 12s (my current size) and a pair of 10s (a size I hadn't been in almost two years) and I headed off to the fitting room.

The 12s were as big as the ones at home, so I removed them and stood staring at myself in the mirror for a bit, thinking there is no way in hell those 10s are going to fit me. However, I wasn't going home without a pair of jeans, so I grabbed them and pulled them on.

They slid up over my thighs and hips without a problem.

I buttoned them.

I zipped them.

And I could breathe.

There I was, for the first time in two years, in a pair of size 10 jeans.

I think I may have scared the little teenagers trying on their bikinis the way I shrieked and did a Snoopy happy dance all over that little dressing room in my size 10 jeans that made my ass look like a million bucks, but I didn't care. After my celebration dance, I changed back into my clothes and headed for the check out.

My mind was racing on the drive home. I couldn't believe that I had actually did it. I had manged to do something that I never thought was possible again.

And then it hit me:

When I let go of the number on the scale and started making better choices about how much and when I eat (not so much what I eat-because I still love my junk food), and just trying to be more active-it all seemed less daunting. I still haven't weighed myself and I don't care what it says-I feel better and I will no longer allow a number on a scale to define how I feel about myself.

I have stretch marks, a flabby tummy, and my hips are wider than they used to be, but it's my body and it can do amazing things without being a size 6 and weighing 120 pounds. It wrangles a toddler, it cleans our home, it cooks meals to feed my family, and it surrounds and protects my unique heart and soul.

It doesn't matter how much we weigh or the size of our jeans or even how much flab we have on our bodies. Those things don't define you as an individual. They never have and they never will.

You will not be remembered at the end of your life by the number on the scale or the size tag in your jeans. Your going to be remembered by what your body protects: your heart and soul.

Linked up at:
Motivation Monday via A Life in Balance
Mommy Monday Blog Hop via Squishybaby

Labels:2014,goals,health,life,motherhood,self-care,weight loss | 2 comments

Style on a Budget: February

Mar 3, 2014

Happy March everyone! As I write this, we are awaiting yet another polar vortex to come crashing into our state and freezing everything for a good portion of the week. Yay. I'm so over this. I'm just...so over it.

Anyway, despite the crappy weather, I am here today to talk about clothes! (Everybody say YAY!) I have a new thing I'm starting on the blog and I have waited a whole entire month to write this post. I'm nearly bursting at the seams here!

I caught a post a couple of months ago from Marissa over at The Modern Austen and it caused a very large light bulb to go off in my head. Marissa does a post at the end of each month documenting her clothing purchases for that month. She has a budget, she breaks down what each piece cost, and how much she spent overall for the month. Genuis! Then, she takes her post and she heads on over to see Franziska from Franish and links it up with the rest of the bloggers who do the same thing! Double genius! They call it budgeting bloggers!

All of these findings got me thinking about when I purged most of my wardrobe and was left with virtually nothing. Ah, see, now it's all starting to come together as to why you haven't seen a style post from me in a while, right?

I talked to The Hubbs and he agreed on a monthly budget for clothing for me. I kicked off February with my clothing budget and spent half the month figuring out what to buy. Ha! Next month won't be like that-I already have ideas! :)

I kept it simple this month because I really needed to get some basics (and by that I mean I bought socks and sports bras...I'm not joking.) I was testing the waters a bit, but I knew there were pieces that I needed to replace in my wardrobe that were important i.e. socks and sports bras.

Enough of this chatter! Gah! Here are my February purchases!

Breakdown:

Old Navy Women's Perfect Crew Neck Tee (Black and White) $15.00

Old Navy Women's Classic Flip Flops (Black and White) $5.00

Old Navy Women's Logo V-Neck Tee $9.50

Grace Adele Rae Clutch (Leopard and Black (not shown)) $24.00

White Plum Watercolor Chevron Infinity Scarf via Jane.com $7.99 + shipping= $10.98

(Not pictured...because...really...)

Package of your basic, run of the mill, no show socks $6.00

3 pack of your basic, run of the mill, sports bras $7.00

Budget for February: $100.00

Total Spent: $77.48

Leftover: $22.52 (Which I turned around and spent on the kiddo. She was in need of some new pants and shirts because she won't. stop. growing.)

I think I did okay this month. I needed those plain crew neck tees. I purchased a blue one that I wore here and a black/white striped one (worn here) over the summer and loved the quality so much, I knew I wanted more. They are thick and they don't loose their shape after washing. However, they do shrink at least one whole size, so, order up! I ordered a large and it looks massive out of the bag, but once you wash them, they are, well, the perfect tee. :)

I splurged on the clutches. I am tired of carrying my big 'ole bag with me when it's just The Hubbs and I. If we don't have the kiddo there isn't really a need for it. These clutches will work well for date nights and, every lady needs at least a black clutch, amIright?

The scarf, flips (or flops...I use them interchangeably), and the random v-neck tee were all, "Oh hey, I like those, lemmebuythemnow" purchases. Every year I purchase black and white flips from Old Navy. (I've done it since college. You can't change me.) While I am sad that they changed them, they still work okay. It just takes longer to break them in. Meh. The scarf I just couldn't pass up. I totally have an outfit in mind that uses that scarf and I can't wait to show you guys. I have caught myself just randomly putting the scarf on throughout the day. Just wearing it makes me happy. That's a good scarf, ya'll.

Okay! I'm done! Geez, I'm so sorry! Next month won't be near as long! If you have actually made it this far, you are awesome. I love you. Bless you.

Have a great week guys! I will see you later this week! I have a couple of other posts planned for your entertainment!

This post is liked up with Franish and the rest of the Budgeting Bloggers.

Labels:budgeting bloggers,fashion,frugal,Grace Adele,old navy,style,wardrobe,White Plum | 4 comments

Life Lately

Feb 19, 2014

First of all, I wanted to thank everyone for the sweet comments on my last post. That was actually one of the hardest posts I have hit 'publish' on, believe it or not. I got tired of it just sitting in the back of my brain, nagging at me. Ha! What is it that they say? Sometimes you only need 20 seconds of insane bravery to change your life? I believe that was mine. :)

Since I am in a period of transition here on the blog, I thought I may take today to stop in and say "hello" and fill you all in on what is going on.

I am in contact with Jessica from CreationsbyJLyn and we are working together to create a brand spanking new blog for this little space right here. Up until this point, I have done most of the work around here, but I wanted to step my game up a bit and have an expert come in and give this space a face lift. Guys....it's going to be epic!!

Secondly, I've been doing tons of research on blogging and really trying to get myself organized since I am going to be managing two blogs instead of one. There is a lot of information out there on managing your time, how often you should post to social media, SEO, blog organizers, your about me page....I mean, Pinterest is full of this stuff! I have been reading and pinning so late into the evenings it's shameful! I have found a lot of great things though, so there is that.

Lastly, I've not really talked about it much here on the blog because I didn't want to jynx myself, but....I've been working out. I have been putting L down for a nap and walking on the treadmill (that my completely awesome husband got for me) every day since the beginning of February. I am up to walking two miles a day (at 3.8 mph) and have noticed some results. My waist is a half an inch away from pre-pregnancy and my hips are about an inch and a half away from pre-pregnancy size. This is the best I have felt in over a year and I don't even care what the scale says. I never thought I would say that.

So, there you have it! I am still here, I'm just decompressing. I am nearing the end of a chapter in my life and I am getting ready to begin a new one. I am all kinds of emotions right now, but they are all expected. I will keep you all updated on the progress of this blog and will let you know when the changes take place so you can come celebrate with me!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Labels:blogging,changes,life | 4 comments

Saying Goodbye: A Lesson in Self-Worth

Style on a Budget: February

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