Glitter and Gratitude

A Guide To Finding Your Inner Sparkle

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Just Do It: The Moment That Changed My Life

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An Unexpected Getaway

Just Do It - Maine

In July of 2017 I had come to the end of my rope.  I was over 300 lbs, unhappy, exhausted, and just going through the motions of life but not really LIVING.  My husband, Eric, and I had an unexpected opportunity to go to Maine for a few days for a much needed vacation. We had a moment of hesitation but then we said, “Just do it”.  We packed our bags, loaded up the “boys” in the car, and headed out.  Little did I know, this trip would change my entire life.

A Life Changing Moment

We were enjoying a swim at Sebago Lake and there was an awesome dock that you could jump off of into the water..the cold, dark, water.  I didn’t want to jump in.  I couldn’t just jump in.  Plain and simple, I was scared.  In that moment, I realized fear had been holding me back my entire life.  What was the worst that was going to happen? Believe me, I thought through all the scenarios…I even made my husband jump first so he could tell me how deep it was, etc.  Anyway, I finally got up enough nerve to  JUMP.  I hemmed and hawed.  I got to the edge, and stopped.  I paced back and forth…and then I JUMPED!!!  I got out of the lake and felt such a rush of adrenaline and excitement.  Guess what, I went back and jumped again.  This jump catapulted me into my life, not just the lake.  It was a complete wake up call.  At that moment,  I made a vow to start living my best life.

The Aftermath

Soon after we returned from Maine,  I joined Weight Watchers.  I needed to get control of my relationship with food and start taking care of myself.  I needed to make myself the priority.   Shockingly, I also put in my resignation.  I denied it, I ignored it, I tried to hide it but, the simple truth was I didn’t want to be a teacher anymore. This was something my husband and I discussed multiple times but, I could never bring myself to actually DO it.  After that day in Maine,  I knew I had to take another leap of faith and quit teaching.  Let me just say that leaving your career after 12+ years (plus schooling) is a very difficult decision to make.  I am beyond grateful that I even had the option to quit.  What it came down to was this, do I want to continue teaching and look back in another 20 years and wonder what happened to my life or did I want to listen to my heart and follow a different path?  The day I gave my resignation I felt an immediate sense of relief.

Just Do It 

Maine

Sometimes, the universe has a funny way of showing you what you need.  My a-ha moment came to me when I needed it most. I stood on the edge of the dock (and my life) and was SCARED but, I took a chance.  I did it scared! I believed in myself and I jumped.  It was in that moment that I decided to live my life with purpose, to find my inner sparkle, and to let it shine.

If you would like to join a group of ladies finding their sparkle, join me over on Facebook.

With glitter and gratitude,

My Top 5 Accessories

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favorite acccessories

Glitter Here, There, and Everywhere

If you ask me, a girl can never have too many fashion accessories.  The right accessories can add flair, fun, and the finishing touches to any outfit.  My personal style motto is “give me all the sparkly things”!  I have a slight obsession with necklaces, purses and everything in between.  Here is a list of my personal top 5  accessories.

1. Brandy Bell Design Leather Earrings – I love supporting small business owners and Brandy Bell can take ALL MY MONEY!  These handcrafted lightweight leather earrings are to die for amazing.  They are an awesome addition to any outfit AND are a fun way to sneak some pattern or a pop of color into your outfit. Her website is easy to navigate and she has tons of styles and selection.

2.Mantra Band – My sister gave me a rose gold mantra band as a gift and I immediately fell in LOVE.  I am a sucker for anything rose gold but this bracelet has a special meaning.  Engraved across the top is the mantra, “Let Your Light Shine”.  I say this all the time and I have a constant reminder now that I have found my sparkle, it is my job to let it shine.

3.My Wedding Rings – My engagement ring and wedding band obviously have special meaning for me.  I love wearing them for several reasons…um hello, diamonds are the ultimate glitter.  For well over a year I couldn’t even wear my rings. As my weight ballooned the rings became uncomfortable and eventually just didn’t fit.  In August, when I vowed to take my life back, I made a pact with myself that I would join Weight Watchers and my first goal was to get these rings to fit.  After 5 months of  persistence and perseverance my rings are back on my finger where they belong.  These rings signify my love story and a commitment to my husband. They have now also become an anchor for my weight loss journey and a reminder that I can do hard things.

4.Kate Spade Rose Gold Glitter Tote –  My fabulous sister, Jennifer, really went all out with gifts this year when she gave me this AMAZING Kate Spade glitter tote bag.  Seriously, I almost DIED when I opened it.  I love this tote for the obvious reasons…GLITTER but, also because it’s a great catch all for days I needed a bigger bag to carry snacks, my water, a sweater, etc.  I put my small clutch inside the tote for easy access.LuLaRoe Amelia -Casual Style

A tiara – Lastly, every girl needs a tiara, no matter how old she is.  When I was a kindergarten teacher, I use to wear tutus and tiaras to work and my inner 5 year old LOVED it.  Now that I work from home, I continue to wear my tiara on Tuesdays.  Seriously, every girl needs to be a little flashy and over the top once in a while.  The quickest way to snap out of a funk is to put on your tiara and remind yourself that you were meant to sparkle…after all, you are a princess.  So stop what you are doing and get yourself to your nearest accessory store and pick yourself up a tiara, you won’t regret it.

What is on your list of must have accessories?   I realize I didn’t even talk about shoes but that is a whole other blog post…TRUST.  You can catch me and my tiara LIVE every Tuesday on Facebook, hop on over and say hello!

With glitter and gratitude, 

LuLaRoe Style Series: The Cassie

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LuLaRoe Cassie

LuLaRoe From A to Z : The Cassie Skirt

The LuLaRoe Cassie skirt is the most comfortable and flattering pencil skirt EVER!  The Cassie has a thick yoga waistband for comfort and the skirt is made from stretchy Liverpool fabric.  The Cassie accentuates your curves in all the right places. My first LuLaRoe purchase was a green and black striped Cassie skirt and it is still one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe.  The timeless classic pencil skirt silhouette is a great staple piece for your wardrobe and can easily transition from weekend casual to workday attire.

Casual Cassie

The LuLaRoe Cassie skirt is a skirt you will easily fall in love with.  One of my favorite ways to wear the Cassie is with a simple t-shirt and sneakers for a fun, comfortable, and stylish look. Here, I am wearing a LuLaRoe Perfect Tee and a fun Aztec print Cassie skirt.  I love the flattering swing of the Perfect over the  form fitting skirt.

 

 Workday Cassie

LuLaRoe Cassie

For a more polished and professional wear to work  look, I trade in my sneakers and graphic tees for a Carly or blouse.  Add boots and a necklace and you are work day ready! Here, I am wearing a LuLaRoe Cassie skirt paired with a knotted LuLaRoe Carly dress and a sweater knit LuLaRoe Shirley kimono.

 

 

 

Cassie Out and About

The Cassie skirt is also perfect for a night out to dinner or for date night.  Take your favorite LuLaRoe Cassie and pair it with a fitted top, heels, and add some sparkle. Now you are ready for an evening of fun!  Here, I am wearing an Elegant Collection Cassie with gold foil,  a black LuLaRoe Perfect Tee (which is NOT fitted) and a black LuLaRoe Sarah cardigan.

 

The Cassie Skirt Is For Everyone…Really!

I have a few words of advice about the Cassie Skirt.  Do not shy away from the words “pencil skirt”,  keep an open mind and you may be surprised!  I have had several customers swear they will never wear a pencil skirt and reluctantly try one on.  Guess what happens??? More often than not, they leave with a bag full of Cassie skirts!  The Cassie is perfect for the weekend, the work week, and a night out on the town.  Whichever way you wear your Cassie, you will feel amazing!

Need a Cassie of your own?  Join us over in our Facebook shop to check out our latest inventory and see more styling tips.

With glitter and gratitude,

3 Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas

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breakfast

Breakfast? Who has time for breakfast?

During the hustle and bustle of weekday life, it seems almost impossible to get out the door on time… let alone eat a nutritious breakfast.  Raise your hand, if your idea of breakfast is gulping down cold coffee and finding a half eaten granola bar in your purse as you dash to the office/school/appointments.  I get it…life is BUSY and breakfast often takes a back seat.  I have 3 easy and quick breakfast ideas for those on the go mornings when time is of the essence.

 

1. Kodiak Cakes Pancakes

pancake breakfast

Have you heard about Kodiak Cakes??  They makes a TONS of options for mixes.  We stock up on the Power Cakes Protein Packed Buttermilk Flapjack and Waffle Mix.  One serving has 14g of protein…that’s way more than your half eaten stale granola bar in the bottom of your purse!  All you need is 1/2 C of mix and 1/2 C of water.  Stir and pour into a skillet.  I am no Betty Crocker and even I can handle this.  Sometimes when I am feeling EXTRA fancy I will slice up a ripe banana and stir that into the mix.  In about 5 mins or less, I have 3 delicious pancakes that I can eat on the go.  You can also make some ahead time, double the batch, and store in the fridge.  Pancakes on the go are my favorite morning treat!

2. Overnight Oats

breakfast: overnight oats

Overnight oats are quick and easy IF you remember to prepare them the night before.  My favorite combination is below.

  • In a mason jar combine the following:
    • 1/2 C of steel cut oats
    • 1/2 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
    • 2 TBSP of raisins
    • A sprinkle of apple spice seasoning.  **Please note, if you prefer sweet oatmeal you may want to add your preferred sweetener. Stir and put the lid on.

 Boom! Breakfast is made.  Leave the jar in the fridge overnight and your breakfast will be ready in the morning.  Some days I would throw the jar in my bag and eat it cold once I got to work and other days I would remember to heat it up! Either way it is delicious and nutritious.

3. Egg Squares

This next idea takes some pre-planing but it is SO easy and one batch will give you breakfast for the whole week!  There are a ton of variations for egg squares.  My husband loves to experiment with different combinations.  Sometimes he adds sausage and/or puts cheese on top.  Honestly, it’s whatever we have in the fridge!  I love to grab a square and make a breakfast sandwich or sometimes I just have enough time to grab a square and go.  Below is the basic recipe and you can adapt as needed.

  • Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees
  • Spray bottoms and sides of an  8×8 baking dish with non-stick spray
  • Cut up veggies of your choice: mushrooms, onion, red pepper, etc
  • Beat 8 eggs in a bowl
  • Stir veggies into egg mixture
  • pour mixture into prepared baking dish
  • bake on middle rack for 25ish minutes
  • let cool and cut into 9 squares
  • store in fridge

Those are 3 of my go to breakfasts that are a step above a Diet Coke and a Pop Tart.  Protein Pancakes, Overnight Oats, and Egg squares are a quick and easy way to keep from getting ‘hangry’ before lunch.   What are some of your favorite easy breakfast ideas?  If you love bagels in the morning,  here is another EASY recipe for you to try.   Join me over on Facebook on Tasty Tuesdays for more recipe ideas.

With glitter and gratitude,

3 Reasons Why I Love LuLaRoe

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Before LuLaRoe

I know you may find this hard to believe but, I use to HATE clothes and shopping!  As a plus size woman, it seemed impossible to find cute, affordable, stlyish, and comfortable clothing.  I would often leave the store with either 10 of the same exact shirts in different colors because it was the only thing that fit or I would leave empty handed feeling grumpy and frumpy. If I ordered online, I would have a huge pile of returns because nothing fit or was flattering.  My wardrobe consisted of probably 2 pairs of suitable work pants and a handful of tops.  I hated getting dressed in the morning and felt uncomfortable in my clothes that I did have.  Thankfully,  this all changed when I was introduced to LuLaRoe.

 LuLa What?

My friend, Stacey, was the first person to tell me about LuLaRoe.  She knew well before I did that these clothes would be perfect for me.  Based on my past experience, I  doubted they would be cute, stylish, or flattering but after touching the softest leggings in all the land,  I decided to give it a try.  I ordered my first item online, a Cassie pencil skirt, and  waited impatiently for the mail man to deliver.  The mail came, the skirt fit, and it was LOVE.  Quickly, I was back online ordering some leggings and a dress.  Again, the mail came, these “magic” clothes arrived, and that was it…I was HOOKED.  There are several reasons why I fell head over heels in love with LuLa.  Here are my top three (believe me, there are more).

1.  Style for EVERYONE 

As I mentioned above, when shopping for clothes there just was not a lot of stylish options in my size.  My number 1 reason for loving LuLaRoe is there are stylish options for EVERYONE.   There is no one size fits all garment and the designers at LuLaRoe know that.  They design and create clothes that are flattering for all body types from size xxs-xxl.  There are fun prints, solid colors, and beautiful silhouettes to choose from.  LuLaRoe is one of the most size inclusive brands I have come across…and I am so thankful I found them!

2. Simply Comfortable

The second reason I love LuLaRoe is the all day wearability of these clothes.  I have NEVER worn such comfortable clothes that are professional enough for work and also appropriate for the weekend.  Every piece of clothing is designed for fit and comfort without sacrificing style.  Hello, yoga waist band and stretchy fabrics.  I use to come home from a long day of work and strip out of my “work clothes” as fast as I could so that I could to slip on some pajamas or sweats.  With LuLaRoe, I often forget I am NOT wearing pajamas because I find all the styles to be beyond comfortable…now if only they would make bras!

LuLaRoe Amelia for Work

3. Confidence

As those LuLaRoe packages continued to arrive, a strange thing started to happen .  I use to DREAD getting up and getting dressed for work.  I would open the closet and stare at all the drab/ill fitting clothes and would resist getting dressed for as long as possible.  Once my closet started to fill with beautiful, stylish, well fitting clothes I would get EXCITED about what to wear.  Sometimes, I would even plan my outfits in advance.  I would take the time to find a matching accessory or shoes.  I started to gain self confidence and felt so much better about my self.  My inner sparkle was beginning to shine.   I have found that LuLaRoe is so much more than clothes, it really is confidence!

LuLaRoe Carly

Well there you have it, my top 3  reasons for loving LuLaRoe.  Style, Comfort, and Confidence.  It sounds a bit dramatic but, my life (and wardrobe) have definitely changed for the better because of LuLaRoe!  Need some LuLaRoe of your own?  Pop over to my Facebook  shop and I would be happy to help you start your wardrobe make over.   Already a  LuLaRoe Lover? Then leave a comment telling me why!  You can find more information on the different LuLaRoe styles by reading my Style Series: LuLaRoe A to Z posts.

With glitter and gratitude,