Monday, March 14, 2016

Swim Sassy: Confession of a plus size swimsuit shopper

This was the year. 


The year that I ALWAYS dread with passion. 
As women, I know you all must feel my pain. 


The dreaded...(insert jaws theme here) Swimsuit Shopping.
AHHHHHH


It is literally a battle against the jaws of life to get me to do anything in a store related to swimwear. For many years, I have been in and out of stores on the verge of a complete temper tamper meltdown like a 3 year old kid who had their lollipop taken from them. 


This year my family sent me on my own to handle swimsuit gate this year. Oh joy! They normally go to prevent me from checking into a mental hospital. I talked to myself as I normally do when going shopping as to prevent me from getting upset when things don't fit, you can't afford that right now, quit looking at the jewelry and get back on plan Haley! That kind of thing. Perfectly normal right?!?!


Because the last time I went bathing suit shopping was such a traumatic experience, I was walking into my first store in the mall like I was walking to my death. 

First stop...JCP (or now JcPenneys or as I have always called it Penneys). When I got to the women's department, I noticed the small section of swim stuff and gulped with fear. I looked at all the other clothes, and granted the courage to get the job done. I started pulling things in random sizes cause I had no clue what was going to happen and didn't want to be back in the dressing room more than I needed to be. (It's dangerous when I am. Trust me.)


Round 1: Suits were OK. Nothing to make me cry but just OK. 


Round 2: First suit I tried on, I saw angels with beams of light and unicorns in the background. 



I am a girl with curves. I have had my fair share of battles with my weight FOREVER. I was in an odd place when I went shopping and thought that shopping for a new suit especially this year in particular was going to really mess with me. But I kicked swimsuit shopping in the butt and showed it who is boss. 

Wanna know how? Check it!

My guide to plus size swim swear shopping
  • Support. Support, Support: Pay close attention to the straps. If you have a suit with well placed straps that give plenty of support. Thin straps are just going to make everything worse. All you will do is worry about what is hanging out and tuck and pull up your suit every time you breathe. You won't feel confident when you are worrying about that. I love halters and spaghetti straps that you can adjust.
  • Play up what you want to play up: If you have great legs, show them. Like your chest?  V necks. Decide one part of your body that you like and play it up. You will feel so much better every time you put on your suit if you like the way your boobs or legs look. Right ladies?
  • Fabric can be your friend.: Stick to tankinis or a one piece. It will elongate your torso and body to make you look long and lean. Keep in mind Swim dresses as an option as it will hide hips and downplay thighs. 
  • Find something that you love about the swimsuit itself: Patterns, cut outs, necklines are all something to look for when shopping. All of those things will make you love your suit and while on help draw attention away from those problem areas. 
  • No matter how tempting it may be, don't try to squeeze into something that is just too small: Nothing is worse than seeing someone in a swimsuit that is just plain too tight. 
 My favorite suits 


Own your bodies and show the swimsuit who is boss! 
A woman with confidence is everything.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Crazy Little Thing called...LIFE

If only there were more hours in a day. I don't know why no one has invented a way to clone people yet because I would be the first person to board that train. 

I am normally the last person to admit when I am overwhelmed and need help (just ask my boss). But things have just been crazy to say the least. I think the last time I gave a life update, I was teaching and just found out about my new job. That was 2 years ago. Yikes. But in a way it is a great thing because I am at a job I am madly in love with and couldn't be happier to be doing what I am doing. When you love what you do, it is never work!

God has a funny way of proving to you that he is in control but when you look back on it, it makes you laugh because you realize he was in control the entire time. I look back at how everything unfolded a little over 2 years ago and I can't stop laughing because he sure did have a funny way of showing me. But it makes me so happy that his plan was so much better than my own. 

Even now I look at how everything has happened recently. A lot has happened with friendships, family, and my life in general. Good and bad.

The Good
Who would have thought my little brother would be getting married this year? I still have a hard time imagining it. The dude who calls me "chives" and used to steal my toys is going to walking down the aisle to the girl of his dreams. I couldn't be more excited for them. Ansley is the one. I knew it almost instantly after we met. She loves my brother and makes him the happiest I have seen him in a long time. Little did you know Ansley, I have secretly been calling you my "sister-in-law" for just over a year. Took my brother long enough to get the picture and finally propose but it was well worth the wait. I can't wait for you to FINALLY be apart of our family...officially. 

Colby and Ansley in Seattle last Christmas

So be prepared for fun posts about the wedding. I went to hobby lobby last night with my mom and we were getting the wheels turning for the couples wedding shower and rehearsal dinner. I am so excited!

The Bad
I have been noticing myself drift away a little more than I would like. I have always been a confident person. I know exactly who I am and I pride myself on that. I am Haley. I love black, white and red. I am obsessed with chocolate, salted caramel, anything with garlic, FSU football, makeup, shopping, and Josh Groban. The only time I really get upset is when FSU loses a football game, my favorite didn't get the final rose of the night on The Bachelor, or I chip my nail polish. 

Recently I noticed that littlest things that used to never bother me were and it was messing with my mind. I am a constantly evolving person but I have always stayed the same on the inside. I may change the people that I hang out with or things that I do for fun but that doesn't mean I am not the same Haley that I have always been. I refuse to change myself for anyone. If you don't like who I am than you can see yourself out. Bye Felicia! I will never change personalities when I am with different people. If I do, just slap me. I will thank you later. 

I have to do better at connecting with myself again and get back to loving me like I used to. Do I have the perfect body? Heck no. Wish I could loose weight? Of course. Want to be in a relationship with a loving man and be as happy as C&A are? You have no idea. But that isn't going to happen until I let somethings go. Cue Let it Go from Frozen. I hate myself for letting myself let things get to me so much. I never used to do this and now it like that bad stuff is all I can think about. Day and night it eats me alive and that is not good. A girl can only take so much before she realizes something has to change. 

So here is what is I am going to do to make myself happy.  
  1. Have more Haley time aka shopping for makeup and face masks 
  2. Maybe learn to sew. Need to learn to sew cute costumes for my unborn children or future nieces and nephews.
  3. Blog 
  4. Meet new people 
  5. Make more friends
I vow to do all these things and not quit like Zayn Malik left One Direction. 

To getting my strut back!

Thursday, August 20, 2015

18 years in the making

Never in a million years would I have imagined this day coming....My baby sister started college. 
Seems like yesterday she was a sassy blonde 3 year old that cut her own hair because she decided it would be fun.

I sound like a mom! 

Last weekend we made the sad but exciting drive to Tally (Home of FSU Seminoles) to move her into her first apartment. Cue the war chat! It's happening

I swear if my boss would let me move to Tally and skype in on meetings I would. I love Tallahassee. It is my place.

My loving sister wanted  a Lilly room with fluffy pillows (IT'S SO FLUFFFFYYYY) and bright colors. They found her pur-fect duvet cover and that is when it all went downhill.

Lilly Pulitzer Sister Florals Duvet Cover
Garnet Hill
Sippin' and Trippin'

This pattern is Valery head to toe. It has the Holister Navy Blue (Apparently Holister's navy blue is much different than all other navy blue's. Who knew?) The bright colors in the pattern mainly pink and green make everything pop. I know she has to have the prettiest bed in all of Tally. I mean...HELLO!

A lot of her furniture came from my brother who recently moved himself and he no longer needed it (desk and bed) or came from a vintage furniture shop for cheap (headboard and dresser)! Sometimes you can really get really unique pieces that just need a little cleaning and TLC. You never know what you find when you go. My suggestion is to go with an open mind. Hardware is cheap and can easily be replaced. Word.

One of my favorite things about her room is her photo collage right by her desk. Why? Cause it makes her think of her amazing older sister whom she couldn't live without! DUH!

 Photo board with shutters came from Kohls
Clearance

The most unique thing in her room that you will find is her Lilly inspired painting. 


I worked right up until the very end getting this done. We found a painting with flowers already on it at Hobby Lobby for cheap. The problem was that the colors in no way, shape or form matched her color scheme we were working with. So naturally my family thought I could just buy the right color paints and make it right. Would that have been easier? Yes. Do I make things easy for myself when it comes to art projects? HECK NO! Which is how it became a Lilly inspired painting. I took the basic layout and idea of the original painting and mixed it with the Lilly print. 


No southern belle's room is not complete without the perfect monogram. I love it above her headboard. It says VLM lives here. 


My main project for moving her in was her closet. Step out of the way people. I got this.


She has 3 colored set of hangers. The thought process behind this is for this, is to make it easier in the mornings to pick out an outfit and be on your way. 

White- Pants, Skirts, Shorts. Jeans,
Teal- Blouses (dressy shirts), solid color shirts, dresses, jackets, cardigans
Navy- Tanks, T-shirts, sweatshirts

Anything on a teal hanger is going to be your basics and can easily be paired with just about anything. Navy is more casual and white hangers all have the hanger clips so when you need to put away laundry you know what to grab. White baskets in the middle are for cami's and things like that. Shoes are on the shoe organizer (Bed, Bath and Beyond) and purses are hung on clear plastic hangers. 

Easy right?


This girl is seriously one of the strongest people I know. She has been through more than a lot of kids her age and has never complained about it. I don't know how she does it. I admire her more than you will ever know. I am going to miss her like crazy. But I know she won't give us time to miss her because she is going to constantly be calling and texting us about something. I have no doubt that she is going to kick butt and be the best hospitality management student FSU has ever seen. 

You go Tinkerbell! 

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

World Photo Day

Oh snap! I am going to shoot someone...with my camera. 
(DORK ALERT) #YOUREWELCOME

One of my favorite things to do in the world is to bust out my camera and take pictures. There is something so relaxing about getting behind the lens and snapping away without a care in the world.

So in honor of World Photo Day, I am posting my favorite pictures I have ever taken. It is so hard to choose believe me but I want to share these precious memories with you. 


Photography is a love affair for life
-Burk Uzzle

It's never work when you love what you do.
I love everything I do! 

Monday, June 2, 2014

Charming Charlie Haul

Forgive me Father for I have shopped....and spendt WAY too much money. Like let's not even talk about it. I am going to put a cone of shame on my head and sit in the corner.
Some people are obsessed with shoes. Some people are obsessed with purses.Then you have the weirdos who are obsessed with eating healthy and working out. (Freaks) Ain't nobody got time for that. 
Confession:
Hi my name is Haley and I am a jewelry and makeup hoarder. 


 



Happy Monday!!!


Saturday, February 8, 2014

Valentine's Day Bulletin Board Awards

Instead of wallowing in self pity that I am spending another year alone...without a man in my life...just me, myself and I, (well you get the picture) I am spending it with 14 kids that don't get what Valentines day really means. They are going to smother me with innocent love and lots of hugs. It's going to be fun!  Let's not forget... I better get some chocolate out of this deal! 
We are doing lot's of special things during our class party. I am excited to see how they react to everything. Check my Valentines Day Pinterest board to see more. I will post pictures too afterwards ....hopefully!
My room is right by the front door where everyone comes in and out of. I have this extra sense of pressure to really do my boards bigger and better than ever especially since the classroom across from mine has the ugliest boards on the planet. (TRUST ME. I have witness'.)
Nancy's Sweethearts

Marble painted hearts (Child's name written with Sharpie in center) 
Deco Mesh border (Hobby Lobby) 
Pastel Construction Paper Die Cut Hearts
Sweetheart box poster


Sweetheart box made from pink poster board (Hobby Lobby) 
Painted on Sweetheart logo, brand, and heart in middle
Pastel die cut hearts with messages (white paint pen) in middle of heart and fill in white space 


You are the Icing to my Cupcake
Construction paper icing with glitter and a red heart sticker (Cherry on top)
Variety of scrapbook papers to make the cake


There you have my bulletin boards for Valentines day all you love birds.

Enjoy!