Here are just a few inspirational books that have been getting me through some tough times. I hope that they can help inspire you as well.
Enjoy!
5 Inspirational Audio Books That I am Loving
Know Your Self-Worth
This is just a friendly reminder to let you know that you are amazing. Don’t let anyone take away your shine, it doesn’t matter who they are. Know that you are on this planet for a reason. You are worth everything and more, believe in yourself. Cheer yourself on just the way that you would cheer on your best friend. You are here to make a change. Let go of those that try to put you down, they are jealous of your success.
Fall Transition OOTD
I cannot believe that November is here. This year went by so fast, it came with so many ups and downs. We will get into that topic in a whole other blog post.
Today’s blog post is going to be short and sweet. I wanted to share my cute OOTD for the fall weather. It’s officially time to bust out the booties. Ugh, I can’t get over this look. The boots are from Charlotte Russe, my jeans are from Torrid, and my top is from Lane Bryant. Did I mention that I have officially went down an entire pants size? Yea, that’s right!
What is your favorite fall item?
5 Bad Habits to Kick: Self Love Edition
As a “bigger girl” I have always had self-love issues. I would constantly make fun of the way I looked so that others couldn’t do it first. My excuse for everything was “because I’m fat”. I would always wear black and I never really believed in myself. All of that stops now. I have been going through a lot of changes recently and have decided that it’s time to love myself first. I need to kick those old self-hate habits. This is going to be tough at first, I know, but it has to be done. If you are someone that needs a little wake-up call, then this post is for you. I hope that you can relate to some of the things that I am going through, and change them with me.
- I am going to stop feeling bad for being my size. How can I expect anyone to love me if I don’t love myself for how I look?
- I am ditching the clothes that make me look “skinny”. Today is the day that I am going to strut my stuff in whatever I feel like. I have recently purchased a few crop tops that I never thought that I could ever wear as a “fat girl”. Guess what? I don’t give a fuck anymore. I look gorgeous no matter what.
- I am going to stop telling myself that I can’t do something because of my size. I can do anything that I put my mind to. I just have to want it.
- I am going to stop making fat jokes about myself. I am hurting myself more than anyone. It’s not healthy, especially when I start to believe that the jokes are true.
- I am going to stop caring about what others think of me. I am going to start living and enjoying my time on this Earth. There are a million other things that I can be doing with my time, and I need to stop wasting them on being self-conscious about myself.
Loving myself is the first step to happiness.
5 Best Blogger Investments
I have been blogging for a little over three years now and I have put a little money in behind the scenes. If you are a new blogger, I wouldn’t recommend going out and dropping a lot of money, especially since you don’t know if blogging is something that you are going to continue doing. If you are serious about blogging, then these are a few things that I have found to make blogging easier. Enjoy!
- Ring Light- a ring light is perfect for the cute flat lays that you see all over Instagram.
- Theme- If you want your blog to have personality, purchase a theme that fits your aesthetic.
- Smart Phone- If you don’t already have a phone with a good camera, you need on in your life. 99.99% of the time, I am taking photos, writing blog posts, and taking notes on my iPhone 8 plus. Just saying, these devices are worth it in the blogging world.
- Custom Domain- This makes you look professional and makes it easier for your audience to find you!
- Grammarly- Although there is a free version, the premium version helps improve your vocabulary.
There you have it! My 5 investments as a blogger. Do you have any favorites? I need to do some more investing. I hope that this helped.
How to Practice Self-Care
Self-care is something that I have always struggled with. I have always been one to work constantly, keep moving, and get everything done. I would make myself sick because I would not take a break. As I got older, I realized that if I keep going without taking a break, I’m going to work myself to death. On this new journey of mine, I have practiced self-care and love it! If you keep reading, you will discover my self- care habits.
1. Take the day off
If I know that I have been going non-stop and don’t want to get up for the day, that means that it’s time to take a day off.
2. Turn on my favorite music
I don’t know about you, but music always helps me to escape this crazy reality. 90’s country is the way to go for me.
3. Take a hot shower
A nice, hot shower can calm any day for me. I can stand there for hours just relaxing and thinking.
Put on a face mask
I don’t know what it is about face mask, but they scream relaxation. Sheet masks are my favorite for self-care days.
Turn my phone off
No phone, no distractions.
Go get a pedicure
I love to let someone take care of me for a change.
Go Shopping
A little retail therapy never hurt anyone! Torrid and Forever 21, I am coming for you!
Go see a movie
This helps me escape from the real world and forget about everything that is stressing me out.
Exercise
Exercising can also be another way to clear my brain.
Go to the beach
Some days I like to just get up and drive to the beach. I am at the edge of the world and the stress stays in Bakersfield.
Father’s Day: Meet my Dad
The thought of this post getting out there for everyone to read it just scares the hell out of me, but that is exactly why I am posting it. For those of you that have a complicated relationship with your dad. In honor of Father’s Day, I felt the need to share a little more of my personal life with you. I know that most of you follow my blog for the fact that I am a plus size woman that loves fashion. Or the fact that I write a lot of boss babe inspired posts, but today I want to share more with you than just my favorite dress at the moment. I want to share a big part of my story with you. I hope that you are ready because, to be honest, I may not be.
This is my favorite and one of the few photos that I have with me and my dad together. Meet my dad, David, a hard working man that lost his life too soon. I don’t even know where to begin.
My dad and I haven’t always been the closest. He got my mom pregnant at a young age and then left her while she was pregnant to join the Navy. I know that it sounds horrible because it was, but the truth is that he wasn’t ready to be a father. He was in and out of most of my life, he made me cry, and made me feel like he didn’t love me. He missed father-daughter dances, he missed all of the football games that I cheered at, he even missed my high school graduation. I can count every single fight that we got into, I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t good enough for him to want to always be around me. Some may say that he was not the best father, but I can’t say that it was his fault, not entirely. When someone wasn’t taught how to love another person, how can you expect them to love you?
When I did get to see my dad, we always had an amazing time. He took me to the San Diego Zoo, I got to go on his boat, and he even took me ice skating. When he wanted to be, he was the best dad that a girl could ever ask for. I can remember every single moment that I got to spend with him growing up. Him not being around all of the time, made the moments that we did get to spend together even more special.
As I got older I started to accept the fact that he wasn’t always around, but once I accepted it, we became closer. He taught me to always be humble, to be thankful, and to be strong. A big part of who I am today is thanks to him. Him not being around showed me that I am strong. I am able to take care of myself in the worst situations. I don’t need anyone to depend on, and if I want something in life, I have to get it myself. He also taught me to not take things for granted, he is proof that people are not going to be around forever.
September of this year will be five years that my dad has been gone. Once again; he wasn’t there to give me away at my wedding, he isn’t going to be there when his grandchildren are born, and he will miss their high school graduation. It hurts to say that out loud, but it’s the truth. Dad’s are blessings, mine was a blessing in disguise.
I want to thank my dad for everything that he has done for me. He may not have even known what he has done, but he has helped me out tremendously. For those of you that have a weird relationship with your dad, try to see the good in what he is teaching you by not being around, or by being too harsh on you. Do me a favor, make sure that you tell your dad that you love him today. Even if you have to write him a letter and throw it away, he won’t be around forever.
