DRESS LIKE YOU MEAN IT
Hey you!
I’m sweater shopping. My favorites for this season are all things green, and stars! I made a list of some of the sweaters I just purchased since I’m not sure if they’ll sell out before I get them and take my own photos. These are all under $80! Most of them are around the $30.00 range. Happy sweater weather, my people. Don’t forget to scroll right to see them all!
So, this week I was supposed to be cruising the Bahamas with my readers, but that nasty cuss, hurricane Matthew decided to tear through Florida, ruining our plans and sending the state into emergency preparation. Josh and I spent our day in Seattle tracking the storm and texting friends who were getting ready for the category four hurricane. Though missing the chance to hang out for four days with my readers makes me sad, the devastation many people will face puts things into perspective. I am thinking about and praying for all of you.
I traded my shorts and bikinis in for sweaters and boots. This doesn’t make me sad since we all know how I feel about summer shit. Happy Fall y’all! Josh and I are going to buy Christmas decorations tomorrow. Don’t judge me. He has the week off of work and OHMYGODILOVECHRISTMASSOMUCH!
Here’s my outfit. I love, love, love these pants by blogger Sincerely Jules. So flattering and comfortable. And my cardigan/coat speaks for itself. I never want to take it off it’s so soft.
I’m pretty excited. I found this look for you in regular and plus size! The jeans are VERY inexpensive for both, and the Peaceful Warrior tee I’m wearing in the picture is linked HERE and on sale for ten bucks! It even has a pocket (everything is better with a pocket). As for the cardigan it’s oversized and baggy (perfectly so) and soft. I am wearing a small in the picture. If you get a large it will certainly fit plus size. I’ve linked you below.
Hey, have I told you lately that love kills? Not in a knife to the heart way (though it does that too). I mean in a dousing out all the evil things-way. Peaceful warrior means you go to war against evil using love and kindness as your weapons. I’ve never seen love fail. Not ever. Wear it as your armor instead of defensiveness, and instead of retaliation. It will keep your heart kind and soft even when someone is throwing hate and shade. And given time love always turns the hardest hearts. Be consistently kind to your enemies. Not for them, for you.
I had a purple bedroom when I was sixteen. I took it so way over the top (surprise, surprise). Sheer purple curtains, purple vases, purple comforter, purple stuffed animals, purple walls. All the shades, yo. Needless to say I got a little burned out. This fall I’ve returned to the color of my youth. No doubt I’ll take it over the top again! Because, you know-when I love something I love it too hard. Like… until I kill it. But, until I murder purple here are all of my favorite things. I included two sale wallets too, because Kate Spade at fifty percent off is a great thing. Hey, girl, hey!
You have to make a blog post, you have to make a blog post…
That’s been my mantra for weeks…months?
Jolene, she’s my cousin, was visiting from South Africa. And then I had a work trip to Brazil during which I was more often drunk on caipirinha’s than not. Last year during my visit to the Philippines I was faithful to blog each outfit, this year I wouldn’t have even been able to find the space bar on my computer. Seriously, Brazil, I’m still hungover.
Also, I hate summer clothes. Have I told you that? Now that fall is upon us (I’ve already decorated the outside of my house) I feel comfortable going to the mall again. I’ll be better. Anyway, today is my first day wearing scrubby clothes, no makeup and my hair is hellavu dirty. I’m sitting in front of the fire getting ready to write while the kids are at school. So, here is my feeble blog post. Hope your weekend is great.
I feel as if this is the mullet of blazers; business in the front, party in the back. Costume party. But, hey! I liked wearing it. I’m a blazer fanatic anyway, so this addition was perfect. It’s also forty percent off right now, and I’m jealous about that. So, go check it out!
So, I have a terrible back. And by terrible I mean that sometimes the condition of my back gets so bad my hands stop working. They just seize up and I can’t drive, or write, or pick things up. Claw hands, for real. Thankfully, it’s been about four month since it was bad enough to affect my hands. Since I am an author (and blogger) the nature of my work is to always be lugging a computer around with me. I favor messenger bags, I like they way they look, and I like to wear them cross body, but every time I used one I payed the price for days after. I switched to a backpack so that the weight on my back would distribute evenly. It’s better, but not an answer to the problem. Either way, I get crazy compliments on this one whenever I wear it. I linked you below.
I read a line in a book recently that said, Evil things love chaos. Wow. A simple truth if I’d ever heard one. Part of being human is to be hurt by other humans. Sometimes people hurt you intentionally, and sometimes you just get in their way while they’re hurting themselves. It’s painful either way. That’s where grace steps in. And they don’t always ask for forgiveness. But to be on the receiving end of grace there has to be confession, a contriteness of heart. Your heart can always be filled with an attitude of grace. You can forgive someone without them asking for forgiveness, sure. But, grace cannot be given away without a repentant heart. In other words being sorry is what kicks grace into action. Grace certainly doesn’t paper over guilt. Grace is not a supernatural “Get Out of Jail FREE” ticket-a no-strings-attached, open-ended self-awarded privilege divorced from any moral demands. Sometimes, my friends, you have to realize that an apology is not coming your way. Human’s cope with their evil by pretending it’s not there. Convincing themselves they didn’t do anything wrong, or that the evil things they did were deserved by the person they inflicted them on. This is also called narcissism. When you uncover these relationships in your life it’s okay to walk away. Even while you’re walking you can forgive them and keep grace in your hearts. But, you didn’t leave Grace Town, they did. Also, my dress is linked below.
Working out. Ew. Yeah, I do it. I don’t like to though. I’m thirty three years old, so there’s that motivation. If you don’t work those muscles, Tarryn, in a few years you’re going to be lumpy. And you know…I’m vain and whatnot. My friends are into all that super fitness. They eat good, green things, and strengthen their cores. It’s all very admirable and intimidating. I’m mostly on a high protein diet. I cheat on weekends, because my boyfriend’s favorite line is-“Let’s go get a margarita, baby.” or “Let’s go out for some wine, baby.” Baby, baby, baby. These things make me pack on pounds faster than ice cream. But, he’s cute and I’m always gung-ho for a margarita.
For excercise I have a treadmill and a weighted hula hoop. I alternate between those two things. The hula hoop can be really intense cardio if you do it the right way, and it strengthens your core. I’m a big fan. Mind you, you’ll be bruised for a week after you use it for the first time so don’t start right before a beach day. Persevere. Once you’re not black and blue, and get into the habit of using it a couple times a week you’ll see results. I’m finally strong at the core! A tip: bend your knees while you’re hooping it works your glutes and thigh muscles something fierce. The treadmill makes me want to die. Let’s not talk about that.
What we should talk about is my outfit. I don’t use it to exercise. I often like to look athletic and then I’ll bust out all the Nike wear. It’s a costume based on my mood. So, I don’t really know if these shorts are good for running, or if this awesome poser sweatshirt with the cut-off sleeves is an athletic must have. I work out half naked, holding my boobs because I forgot to put on a sports bra. I like them though. I guess Nike knows what they’re doing. So there’s that…
Link to my weighted hula hoop HERE
Over the weekend we dragged the kids to Bellevue to go to the Z Gallerie. Have you ever been? No? You’re missing out. Check them out online, they’re my absolute favorite store for home decor. They have odd things, the type of things you’d imagine I’d have in my house. Anyway, I linked my outfit below. I am getting a ton of wear out of these BedStu sandals. Since they’re neutral they’ve become my go-to. I linked a bag similar to the one I have. Mine was last year’s and they don’t have it anymore.
