Oooh La Leopard!



My lipgloss from Rue21 matches my skirt!  Yippee!

I hate getting dressed.  As I read comments from the post Joy wrote yesterday, I was happy to hear that I am not the only one who looks in the mirror and says "Could you have given me a little more to work with here God"?  I am 46 and still waiting for puberty to hit and the boobs to come in.  It's like Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin.  It is NOT going to happen.  20 years ago it wasn't so bad, but 4 kids later (nursing did not enhance anything except my babies immune system) YIKES.  Being tall is something I have had to grow into. It was terrible at dances because I couldn't sit down or some cute short guy would ask me to dance and then I would stand up and *awkward* I am now 2 ft. taller than you.  I walked around slouching and still have the habit of doing that when talking with others.  And finding pants was basically impossible.  A 36 inch inseam?  Yeah, they didn't used to have a tall section 30 years ago.  When I saw cropped pants come in style I rejoiced!!  

I think I have found the evil source of my body image though.  No, not Barbie.  Nancy Drew!!!!  Curse you girl!  I read them when I was young and pulled some from my collection to read with my daughter.  I quickly realized that there are some nasty stereotypes going on in this book!  There is Nancy who is perfect and her cousin "George" who has short hair because she is sporty and then there is poor Bess.  Bess is constantly referred to as pudgy.  George and Nancy refer to her size CONSTANTLY!  There are pages of these two discussing whether Bess should have more than a SALAD!!  Then you look at the sketchy pictures in the book.  Have you seen the pictures of Bess????  She is not pudgy.  She is thin.  Oh my gosh, Bess probably developed an eating disorder by her senior year of college which is why we don't hear anything more about these girls.  I vowed never to let this happen to my daughter who by the books standard is sporty and pudgy.  Jeeez!

My daughter and I are now reading Little Women. 

Today I wanted to keep up my trying something new thing. I try to copy some of the current stars *sigh* but I was born in the wrong era because the style icons I truly love are people like Grace Kelly.  So with my love for the classics I try to add an new twist.

Skirt- Jones New York Signature- Clearance!

Boots-Recycled from Monday

Jacket - ATL- Clearance!

Belt - Rue21

 "What did you just say to me?

I am NOT skinny, I'm WILLOWY I tell ya!

And yes, I still slouch a little, and I may not be perfect.  But I am the perfect ME! (and having a leopard print skirt from the clearance rack doesn't hurt either).   I heard once that the most common failing in people is to depreciate their tremendous worth.  Don't do it ladies!  Each of you have more worth than you can imagine.  One great thing about being my age is that I have learned to have more courage than I thought was possible, developed a strength and depth that is not there at  21, earned some serious laugh lines from a L O T of laughing, and enjoyed friendships that will last a lifetime!  One of the things that hasn't changed is my desire to constantly try new things.  This blog was one of those things, but Joy and I enjoy every day of it.  We hope you are able to take something good away from it (not our identities though...lol)

Are You A Nitpicker?!

Are you hard on yourself, or can you take a compliment? If someone tells you that you look great do you say thank you and that's it. Or, are you like me, and say "Thank you, but...."?

See that picture to the left? Lise thought it was so cool, especially in black and white. You know what I see when I see that picture? A double chin. That is ALL I can focus on. She told me to shut up. LOL But seriously, that's all I see. If that picture was one of y'all, I'd never notice the chin. I'd think it was just a cool picture.

Why am I that way? Why are any of us that way? I already deal with al ot of insecurities about my weight, my figure, my clothes. Doing this blog has made me aware of how very critical I am of myself.  There are a lot, I mean A LOT, of cute, skinny, young women writing blogs. And I really enjoy them. But man, they make me feel old and fat some days. You don't find many over 40 women blogging. (If you have links to some, send them my way. I follow a few, but I can name them all on one hand.) And you don't find many women that are size 12/14 and bigger blogging or being featured. I'll be forthright about my size. I'm a 12/14; a 12 on some days and a 14 on others. Then there are the days that nothing smaller than a tent feels good. I feel like Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias here, "I wear a 6 but a 7 feels so good, I buy an 8."  I just don't feel like many of the really cute looks I see on other bloggers will look right or good on me. I'll like a look, try it and think, Uh, no. I don't think so.

I am very self conscious about my weight. Even when I was a rail in high school, I thought I was heavy. My husband informs me that I was a stick and that it was really not that attractive. Thanks, honey! I've never had a flat stomach though, even at my skinniest. I tend to carry all my weight in the middle and after 2 kids, well, let's just say, it's not any better! So I tend to be really self conscious about anything I wear. It would be nice to be a size 8 again. And I guess I could be if I really dieted and exercised all the time, but that seems like a lot of effort! :)  And it affects me when we're taking pictures. I'm constantly trying to figure out how to hide my figure flaws! Do you do that?

I would love to be tall and thin like Lise. But Lise says it brings it's own set of problems and I know I've heard her complain about her figure, too. She has trouble finding pants long enough. She complains that she's built like a boy. Which, she totally isn't, by the way.

Then there are the looks that I feel are too young for me. But, really, ARE there looks that are too young for any age?

I've apparently become obsessed with Rachel Bilson, despite probably being old enough to be her mother. I like the look of the dress with the denim jacket.




Boots: Target, $7.56
Jacket: thrifted, $4.88
Dress: Sassy Pants, $12
Bag: Michael Kors, gift from B.
Sunnies: Michael Kors



It just didn't translate as well as I thought it would. It seemed to look better in the mirror at home. I'm not digging this picture at all.

So, I took the jacket off and then all I can see are every bump of my body. Maybe I'm just having a bad day?

I don't know what to do with my hands!And my tights won't stay straight!

Ok. I didn't write this wanting validation from anyone, so please don't do that. But I would like to hear how you guys deal with body issues, size issues or just flat out insecurity. Has blogging helped you get over it at all? Can you truly take a compliment and move on? Do you think you can be too old/young for a certain look? Too skinny/heavy for a certain look.

I really, really want to hear what everyone thinks!