Getting Unstuck

(My Mavy was a great model for me for this blog post!)

This is a very different post from the others, but why not share my feelings with my blogging community.  This post was inspired by a Public Radio episode sent to me by my big sister.  Usually my sister sends me "self help" books and podcasts, but this particular podcast really made me sit back and think. 

Lately, I have been feeling stuck. Stuck in a life with no career potential. I have spent thousands of dollars on education and my student loan bills are overwhelming, and what do I have to show for it? Two fancy diplomas on the wall and no real path to follow. The question I find myself saying a lot is, "what do you want to do, what is your dream job?" When in all reality my dream job would be swimming with great white sharks off the coast of Australia- yes, you read that correctly. Well, that dream job is unobtainable at this point in my life, since I did not go to school for science and I cannot pay my bills on the idea I am going to be a person who swims with sharks in the wild. 

So, what's next? Give up and admit failure? Right now I am sitting at home with my 4 golden retrievers (that's right, I have 4 now) thinking I am a failure.  Luckily, my goldens are great at making me smile and they are currently giving me extra attention.  They hate to see their mommy sad or disappointed in herself. Sometimes I wish I could make a career out of owning 4 big goof balls! Write a book or have a tv show! If someone is reading this and you like that idea, call me! 

But, while I am waiting on a book deal, tv show, or a chance to swim with sharks I need to figure out my path to success. I need to figure out how to become unstuck. I know it will not be easy, and it will take time, energy and dedication! I need to find myself again and be confident in the path I chose for myself. I have to create a logical plan for myself, it is fun to dream, but dreaming does not pay the bills. I have to focus on the traits that I have the the will power I need to be successful. I know I can do it. I am sure I am not the first person or the last to feel stuck and lost in this life of picking a profession. 

I am confident that many of us feel stuck. It is up to us to work through the tough times and come out on top. Most importantly, it is mandatory to have confidence and faith in yourself. I lost that confidence and I lost that faith in my ability to achieve my goals. now I need to work very hard to gain that back and hit the ground running as a professional. 

My mom and dad always taught me to never give up on yourself. Be strong, be independent and never let anyone pull you down. I need to remember those life lessons they taught me and I need to once again focus on myself and finding a career path that I can be happy and successful in. It is one thing to just write about it, but putting words into actions mean the most. Today is a new day and I WILL find myself once again. 

As Yoda once said, "Do or do not, there is no try".

No Shoes and No Worries

Sometimes when life gives you too many things to worry about the best thing to do is put on a pretty dress, no shoes and forget all of your problems.  This is a new dress and let me say it has turned into one of my favorites! This dress can be purchased from JESSAKAE and in my opinion it is very affordable and can be perfect for any occasion. This online boutique is new to me and I am loving everything I see! I want to buy everything!  If you have not checked out this boutique...go take a look now, you will not be disappointed. Another great thing about this boutique is it does has fast shipping. I used the standard shipping for this dress and I got it within the week! FABULOUS!!

It is a maxi dress, but very lightweight so you can wear it not only in the spring, but also the summer. Also, the floral print makes this dress very warm and eye catching. I plan on wearing this particular dress to a baby shower next week, but you could also wear this dress to church, a bridal shower, or even to work. The one thing about this dress that needs to be mentioned is the top is somewhat sheer, so a tan tank top or tan bra is needed for this dress. I did not find it overly sheer, but to remain modest you will need something skin colored underneath.

I'm actually a barefoot kind of girl. Don't get me wrong...I do love a great pair of shoes, but I am truly happy when I can just be barefoot, feeling the dirt under my feet!

Who cares if you have to wash your feet off before going into your house! Being barefoot is being closer to nature and I think is way more comfortable then any pair of shoes.

My main rule for clothing is dress comfortable, cute and unique. Life is too shore to blend in! If that means ditching the shoes...DITCH the shoes!

Good-bye Spring, Hello Summer

Well, it is official....it's summer! Time to pack away the long sleeve outfits, sweaters, jeans and boots and bring out the tank tops, bathing suits and flip flops!  Before the heat completely consumes us here in Bluffton I wanted to bring out this outfit one last time.  This outfit goes well in fall or spring and let me tell you...it was so easy to throw together!

 

Who doesn't love a cute flowy dress, boots and a hat? I mean come on...this outfit is not only comfy, but it is put together with little to no effort. Yet it looks like it took a long time thinking up this outfit. In fact, it took me 5 minutes to out this outfit together and head out the door...don't you just love that! Also, a bonus with this outfit is my dogs hair blends in perfectly! 

This light pink tie-dyed dress is a great go to item, especially if I plan to eat a big lunch or dinner.  It is flowy yet in my opinion is very flattering. This is the type of dress a woman of any size can wear and still look fabulous! The hat also makes a great accessory, especially since that morning I was having an extra crazy hair day.

So far in this blog I have talked a lot about fashion and my dogs, but not about my town. My town is perfect, it truly is pictureest! This quaint little town is surrounded by locals who live and breathe the small town air-many who hope the growth of residents will cease (especially residents from Ohio..no offense!) This special place is right next to the Oyster Factory and boat ramp, which I will see a lot this summer since being on the boat is one of my happy places. This picture perfect spot is a great place to sit and read, watch the boats on the river or have a nice family picnic. If you haven't been to this spot yet in Bluffton you have to go check it out!

 

 

Good-bye spring, it was nice to see you for a few weeks!  Now, bring on the summer heat!



 

 

A Hidden Gem

I really do love my town! There are hidden gems all over- for example this perfect spot is down a little dirt road in the middle of downtown. This little treasure is called The Pocket Park. It is a great place to unwind in a big comfy sweater! Today was a beautiful day to visit The Pocket Park, the weather was 75 degrees and sunny. It was great to sit back, relax and enjoy the river breeze since this week has been a tough one!  

This look is very very laid back and beyond comfortable! This look is comprised of an oversized sweater with cold shoulder sleeves, "mom jean" shorts and slip on flat sneakers. It is the perfect outfit to sit on a bench, read a book, and enjoy the amazing view from this tiny piece of heaven. 

This is another example of the front tuck...my usual look. Since this sweater is a size L it is pretty roomy. Since I am wearing this sweater with jean shorts I wanted to tuck the front in so everyone could see that I AM WEARING PANTS UNDERNEATH! Another look with this sweater could be the sweater and leggings, and with that I would leave the sweater untucked.

This whole outfit is under $100. The sweater ($25) was on sale for from one of my favorite online boutiques, Dottie Couture, the jean shorts ($25) and shoes ($20) are both from Target. Isn't it nice to know you can look this comfy, yet stylish for an affordable price!

This is a tiny piece of the view from The Pocket Park. It is a true pleasure to sit on one of the benches and watch as boats pass by. Sometime I take this small town for granted, but when I'm here enjoying the peace and quiet I could not picture myself living anywhere else.

There are three benches at this park, and all three are perfect for sitting and talking with someone, laying down and reading a book, or just day dreaming about the endless possibilities of life. This park is usually quiet with very little foot traffic. The loudest noise you will hear are the birds chirping in the trees above you.

Thank you for letting me escape reality today, Pocket Park! I look forward to our next meeting.

I Don't Give A Tuck

Even though South Carolina was not hit by Snow Storm Stella, the weather here is still too cold for my liking. All week I had to wear long pants and a sweater or long sleeve shirt... NOT SPRING LIKE! Luckily today was a tad bit warmer and I at least got to rock an open back shirt without freezing to death while walking around the Oyster Factory in downtown Bluffton. 

If you know me, you should know I dress to be comfy and stylish at the same time. In shirts/sweaters I usually buy a size or two bigger because I rarely wear clothes skin tight! Because of that I like to tuck the front part of my shirt into my pants/skirts to cut down on looking frumpy... hence why this post is titled "I Don't Give A Tuck." 

In my opinion this outfit can work for many occasions and it is also very affordable. The entire outfit is less than $100, including the accessories. The shirt is from one of my favorite online boutiques, Dottie Couture Boutique the pants, boots (not the best for walking around on gravel) and sunglasses are from Target and the earrings are from World Market, which is one of my secret places for buying jewelry. 

Of course I had to show off my tattoo a little bit!
The open back gives this outfit an element of surprise which is a wonderful fashion statement!

When putting an outfit together it is also nice to have some humor associated with the completed look. This fun accessory was heart-shaped sunglasses...which typically you would see on a child. These heart-shaped sunglasses are trending with adults and I JUST LOVE THEM! They bring me back to my childhood and in conclusion they just make me smile. 

Even though I really love this outfit, I am so ready for the warm weather! I am ready for shorts, bathing suits and a great tan! But, if it has to be chilly this is a good outfit to rely on. 

Everything Sprouts In Spring

Spring is the season of rebirth and what better time to start my new adventure...blogging! I have always wanted to start a blog, but I have been too scared. Today I am no longer scared and I am sprouting into my new life as a blogger.  

Spring in South Carolina comes pretty early, usually the beginning or middle of March. I don't know about you, but I am beyond ready for winter to be completely over with so I can dress in my bright spring clothes. This is a new outfit I purchased during the coldest week in winter, hopeful that soon enough I could put on this bright dress and hit the streets of Bluffton. 

I may look sweet and innocent, but I do LOVE tattoos! I actually have four tattoos and I really enjoy showing them off. While buying clothes I do try to buy clothes that show off my tattoos as much as possible. I mean, I didn't get the tattoos to hide them right?

This photo shoot made me even more excited about Spring and I am ready to twirl myself right into the 80 degree and sunny weather.

The Best Accessory: A Dog...Or Three

I am a firm believer that the right accessory can truly make an outfit complete. I always love a great flowy scarf, a bold clutch, or a chunky necklace. But, my favorite accessory of all is a four-legged friend. Whether that is one, two or three! 

When I am walking down the street with one or all of my dogs, no matter what outfit I am wearing, I get numerous smiles from everyone I pass. Most of the time people think I am a crazy person, but still they notice us and that is why I think having a four-legged friend by your side is by far the BEST accessory one could ever have.  

My motto: Dog Hair Don't Care!