A lot has happened in my life since I stopped posting last year. Some good, some bad, some mediocre. But that’s life, am I right? In no particular order, here are some highlights:
I got engaged!
My boyfriend and I had been dating for just over five and a half years when he proposed on Christmas Eve. We both knew we’d get married at some point, but I didn’t see it coming then at all. It was perfect. We’re planning a fall wedding for next year, and we’re both very excited with what we’ve figured out so far and what’s still left to figure out. Which leads me to…
I bought my wedding dress
I didn’t plan on looking for my dress until later this year, but I got a coupon from a bridal show and David’s Bridal was having a sale so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to browse. After a few appointments and showing it to my mom, step-mom and sister, we all knew this was the dress for me. The consultant that helped me at David’s Bridal described it as whimsical and simple not plain, and I knew it was the one. It’s currently hanging up in our office at home, which is just crazy to me but I love how I look and feel in it so I figured why wait?
I got some pink streaks in my hair
My mom put pink streaks in my hair a few times back in high school and college, and I absolutely loved it. Pink is my favorite color (shocker), and it was just a really fun way to express myself. As the years went on, I hadn’t added any fun color into my hair for quite a while. I always said I would add more color again one day but I never did it. A few months ago my fiance said why not just go for it, so I did and I fell in love with having pink streaks again. The pink is mostly gone now, but I’m sure I’ll get them again or even go for a different color in the future.
I’ve been expanding my wardrobe
In 2015 I made a goal to start expanding my wardrobe and incorporating more color and patterns. Welp, I’d say I’ve succeeded! Some of my more colorful and fun items include (but are not limited to) a white picnic-style skirt, a blue skirt with white polka dots, a bright pink dress with pineapples on it and a Fantastic Beasts dress with pockets and strappy detailing. It’s been fun to find new things that are part of my main style but still allow me to express myself in fun new ways. It’s really freeing! For a long time I felt like I couldn’t wear bright fun things. Why not?! Society Plus and Torrid have been two of my current fave places to shop online.
I discovered mindfulness
My self-love journey has been ebbing and flowing over the past few years, but it hit a standstill for a little while, including when I wasn’t posting on my blog. I wasn’t feeling like myself, and I didn’t know how to change it for a while. So I started going to counseling, and it’s made a big difference. I learned about mindfulness, and man is that a very powerful tool. When I first heard about it, I thought it sounded silly but it’s really not. It’s all about being aware of your surroundings, your environment, your feelings, etc. I’d highly suggest looking into it if you haven’t heard of it before or you just want to learn more. It’s made a huge difference in my life, relationships, etc.
I bought a swimsuit
This was a huge milestone for me. As I mentioned above, I’ve been doing better at not berating myself internally about various things, including body image. I really stepped out of my comfort zone a few days ago when I bought a two-piece swimsuit at Target. It’s been years since I’ve bought or worn one, and it was a weird feeling buying it, but it was also very empowering.
I developed a new motto
I think personal statements or mottos can be really important. This year, I decided to take on a phrase instead of a word: so what? Sometimes I get really nervous about doing something or I get caught up in my head or anything in between, and that phrase has really helped me. So what if someone sees my bra strap when I wear a sleeveless dress? Or if I need to put both earbuds in instead of one so I can really focus? Or if I order more food than I usually do because I’m very hungry? I’ve discovered this phrase basically applies to nearly everything, and it’s helped me reframe my thinking and perspective when I need it the most.
My birthday is this Saturday
Ok I know this technically hasn’t happened yet (and that it happens every year) but still. Usually I don’t do much for my birthday apart from going to a local Mexican place for dinner. This year I’m going to see an awesome cover band Friday night and then I’ll be doing mini golf and laser tag on Saturday. I’m sure that dinner will still happen, but it’s fun to mix it up every once in a while. I don’t usually like being the center of attention, but what better time than a birthday? What a time to be alive!