Picture me, at a table, with my hair a bit of a mess, in a somewhat raggedy shirt, spreading cream cheese on slices of ham (preparing to host my first-ever baby shower for a friend). I imagine that, as: 1) I am the event hostess, 2) it is about an hour before showtime, and 3) I don't get changed again, that I must believe I am dressed appropriately for the event. I was wearing maternity pants that would have been a nice fit had I remained within the 25-35 pound recommended pregnancy weight gain range, but were a bit snug as I had actually packed on close to 90 pounds by then. The best part was a silver-dollar sized hole in the heel of one of my socks.
This picture is a reminder to me that I did not take care of myself. It is probably a feeling most of us can relate to--if not as young adults, then perhaps at least as parents. It has always been easier for me to focus on being there for other people than to determine who and what I really want for myself. This point is driven home even further by the fact that too-tight clothes and too-holey socks were never reason enough for me to acquire replacements. My main cues indicating needed wardrobe updates were others (usually my husband or mom) charitably pointing this out to me, reminding me to also make time for myself.
So, what triggered my change? I am mother to three precious girls. My oldest is the spitting image of her dad, while my younger two take a bit more after me. They always love to hear about what things were like when Matt and I were their age--and what our predictions are regarding who they will take more after as adults. Ha takes so strongly after her Filipino father and grandmother that I have often been asked if I adopted her. She was not at all surprised when we told her she would probably look a lot like her Mimi as she aged. V, on the other hand, is more of my mini-me. This was a concept that always excited her until she realized that looking like me as a child suggests she may also look like me as an adult. When that concept clicked, the poor girl actually cried. You can imagine how that made me feel; on the upside it helped me make some very positive changes.
The biggest obstacles to updating my wardrobe were my extreme dislike for shopping and the feeling that nothing I purchased could possibly look all that good on anyway. Enter LuLaRoe. I purchased my first pair of leggings about 2 months after the birth of my sweet Flossie. I felt wonderful and comfortable in them the moment I pulled them on--LuLaRoe makes styles that flatter EVERY body type; I have found that the few times I have not instantly fallen in love with a piece, it is usually because I had tried on the incorrect size. LuLaRoe has given me excitement and interest where I just didn't have it before. Having clothing I actually feel good in inspires me to take better of myself.
I am happy to say that V is now a lot more excited about favoring me -- and often runs into my bedroom early in the morning to see what I have laid out so that we can coordinate our looks! Here we are are both sporting boots, leggings, and cardigans. I also have on my favorite Irma.
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