Spring is springing, folks! Though we lost that hour of sleep in the morning, there’s nothing like having brighter evenings and starting to see the flower buds slowly start to open, offering glimpses of the secret, fragrant blooms inside. I don’t know about you guys, but this winter was harsh. Not precipitation wise, but the wind and cold temperatures shattered all of my defenses. My skin, my joints, my mood, everything was affected more so than winters past. But, like many harsh experiences, it makes you appreciate the things you took for granted, like sunshine and warmer temperatures.
I don’t know about where you guys live, but here in Virginia, Mother Nature decided that she would exercise her womanly decision making logic, and she’s decided to be indecisive. One day we have warm, mild temperatures and then the next day feels arctic. So, I’ve been looking for transitional pieces that will keep me warm during the cooler spells, but something that can also speak to the milder, pleasant spring days. This sherpa coat is the perfect statement coat for spring. It kept me so warm during this shoot, (side note: we always seem to shoot on frigid days-but you just have to smile through and forget that you’re experiencing the initial stages of hypothermia), but it also has this beautiful metallic floral print that makes it perfect for this time of year. Layers are SO key right now, and you’ll be glad you have this coat when those temperatures dip. The best part? It’s on sale!
I paired it with a midi skirt, which I’m really loving that style, because I think it works with a lot of body types. If you’re self conscious about your legs, the skirt bares just enough of the skinniest part of your legs while keeping the rest of you a mystery. This skirt is also on MAJOR sale, which is always a plus. I loved the champagne color, because you can wear rich, darker colors for the fall, but you can easily transition into spring with florals or pastels. Let’s not forget the shoes! Shoes are my weakness, well, clothes in general are my weakness, but I love a good shoe that can transform your outfit from 0-hero. These lace pumps are comfortable, but they also have that dainty lace pattern so they’re not just another black pump. And, guess what? They’re on sale, too! This whole outfit is a steal. I find myself gravitating towards sales more, especially when I’m trying new trends that I’m unsure of. That way, I don’t feel bad if I spent money on a trend that didn’t work as well as I thought it would.
Speaking of spring and preparing for it, I’ve been doing some personal spring cleaning. I find spring to be a really good time to reevaluate where I’m at mentally and emotionally. For example, I’m very affected by winter-I’m more introverted, sad, less motivated, and more emotional. I really loathe winter, if I’m being honest. You see the death and decay of the naked trees, and it’s hard to not feel that personally. So, when spring comes, I find myself desperate to shed the layers of negativity and recharge. It takes a lot of energy for me to do this, but I feel it’s so important. Continuing the journey to honesty town, I’ve been stressing more about my blog, criticizing certain aspects, taking stock of all of things I need to implement, comparing my efforts to other bloggers, etc. I’ve been so focused on all of the work that needs to be done, that I haven’t had time to be proud of myself. I’m building a brand here; my dad pointed out that I’m starting a business-I’m being entrepreneurial. Funny as it sounds, but I’ve never really thought of it like that or realized that. Talking to my dad, I realized that I needed to start my spring cleaning. I need to restart my gratitude journal; I need to incorporate positivity in my self talk. I need to be proud. Stress and negativity have such harsh side effects on your body-mentally and physically, and I need all of my inner and outer strength to accomplish the goals I’ve set for myself. It’s funny, because I stressed and overworked myself to better myself, but of course these things only hindered my ability and furthered myself from achieving what I set out to do!
So, as spring approaches, I’m working on organizing my priorities, listening more to my body, and most importantly, I’m working on taking pride in myself. I’m taking pride in my site, my images, and where I’m at in this moment. Have I reached my goals? No, but I am hustling and making progress, and I’m doing a damn good job! It’s easy to compare yourself, especially on social media where you can easily get sucked into measuring your value and worth by the number of likes or followers you have. That’s not real life, though. It’s hard to go against the societal grain, but my spring cleaning is about cleaning and freeing myself from negativity or material worth. It’s all about loving myself, positively motivating myself, and being proud and confident in my God-given ability. If the King of Kings loves me and says that he created me in his perfect image, then I need to get my act together and start appreciating his creation! I’m me; I’m beautiful, and I have the ability to do anything I want. With hard work and dedication, sprinkled with a lot of positive self talk and confidence, I will achieve my goals, and so can you.
If you felt that this winter cooled you to your core, then maybe it’s time for you to warm your heart up with some spring cleaning. You are enough, and where you’re at in life is exactly where you’re supposed to be. However, it doesn’t mean that where you’re at is where you’re going to stay. Stay positive, stay motivated and dedicated, and most importantly believe in yourself. When you’re confident, you can achieve anything. It’s all about perspective. Wishing you all confidence, love, and motivation as we clean our hearts and homes this spring. We can do this, guys!
Thanks for joining me in my closet, and I look forward to our next hangout!
XO,
Sarah
