Why You Don't Have to Totally Love Your Body

This post has been rattling around in my brain for a while, so bear with me.

I have two fairly prominent scars on my face: One on my nose from last summer and one right above my lip from when I was a kid. I'm pretty sure it's from when my youngest brother threw a VHS tape at my face, but don't quote me on that.

Now, every "body love" thing I've read is all like, flowers and rainbows about imperfections. Hooray! Your scars make you unique! Stretch marks are beautiful! Your big nose is distinguished!

Okay, so I get the sentiment. It's good to be confident, yes. But do I love my scars? Nope. I hate them. I hate them so very much. I cover them with makeup just about every day because they irk me, even though I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who notices.

Here's the problem with being pressured to love your body. It goes something like this:
1) Have something about your body that you dislike.
2) Hear someone say that you should love it anyway.
3) Try.
4) Fail.
5) Feel extra bad because now, not only do you dislike something about your body, but you feel bad that you can't embrace it and are quoteunquote "not confident."

That's two times the bad feelings, people!!

It was as I was slapping primer all over my nose scar and repeating positive affirmations about scars being A-OK that it finally hit me. Guess what? You don't have to like everything about your body. In fact, you can straight up dislike stuff about yourself and it's okay. 

Here's the thing: Everyone -- and I mean everyone -- has stuff about their body that makes them contemplate plastic surgery or juice fasts or a face transplant. The trick to really knocking it out of the park is liking something. Not everything -- just something about your bod that you know makes other people jealous and that makes you feel good.

I propose that for real body love, you need to stop slavishly working to love all of your imperfections (I DO love my cankles I DO I DO I DO!) and focus on something that you do love. Because I feel like telling myself that I love my face scars or my big nose or my weird ribs is like hugging that aunt that I never see. It's not genuine and it makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable.

I have a friend who makes me say something good about myself every time I say something negative. The other day I was joking about my T-rex arms -- seriously guys they are SO short -- and she was like "Fine! Say what you want but now say something good!" Not: "Don't say that about yourself!" but "If you're going to say something negative, say something positive too."

Sorry, there's no special class that you can take that will teach you to love every little thing about yourself. Instead, you have to work with what you've got. Why spend time hoping that one day I'll fall madly in love with my forehead wrinkle when I have really good hair to style? My imperfections don't even deserve that much time or thought. Honey badger don't care.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you never learn to love your elbows and you don't feel like displaying your stretch marks on the beach, it's OK anyway. You don't have to love everything about yourself. You're not perfect. You'll never be perfect. Can we all like, get over it and move on?

I'll probably never make nice with those stupid scars and I'll always put makeup over them. Does that make me a less confident person? Probably not. Because I have scars on my face but I also have a really good butt and long eyelashes and I can live with that trade-off, you guys. Whole body love can suck it -- it's about as real as unicorn poop.

As my home girl Amy Poehler says, "There’s only, like, five perfectly symmetrical people in the world, and they’re all movie stars, and they should be, because their faces are very pleasing to look at, but the rest of us are just a jangle of stuff, and the earlier you learn that you should focus on what you have and not obsess about what you don’t have, the happier you will be."

What I Wore: Spring Farewell

I got back from my girl's weekend on Saturday and it was SO much fun. We ate, we shopped, we napped, we ate and then ate a little more and it was divine. Although I am sad to report that I have yet to find the perfect camo skinnies and am still on the hunt today. However, I did get some awesome stuff like shoes (of course) a bunch of nice, sloppy tees and a super-cute maxi skirt. YAY for breaking my shopping fast -- I can breathe again.

Of course, today my son woke up sick and so I'll probably be hanging out at home, which is sucky because it's gorgeous outside. Like, we're nearing shorts weather here and I am very happy. We can finally say goodbye to winter layers, like this outfit:

                                                 Top: InVein via Edge Custom Shop

Jacket: Downeast Basics (similar)
Jeans: Liverpool Abby in black obviously (here)

Boots: Soda (similar)

Bracelets: Nordstrom (similar... and cheaper!)

Leather cuff: Marc Jacobs (want!)

Say goodbye to boots and jeans because I think it'll be skirts and dresses for the next few months or so. 

Bye, adorable military jacket that I love so much. I shall put you in my guest bedroom closet, as I Have a severe jacket-buying addiction and have run out of room for you.

 We shall meet again, intentionally ugly combat boots. Thou hast served me well this winter.

Seriously though, the weirdest thing about Utah (OK, living around millions of Mormons is pretty weird) is that it has no spring to speak of. You go from snow to sunburn in like, three hours so you have to be ready. And by "be ready" I obviously mean "buy sandals immediately."

You might still see these boots if I can figure out how to wear them with dresses without looking like a grungey 90s rock singer. It's a work in progress, really.

Anyway Spring, it's been a slice. But it's like, 80 today and my kids are out of school in three weeks and Summer will be back in full effect. Heaven help us all.

Spring Shopping List 2013

So I'm doing my big Spring shopping trip this weekend and I'm pretty darn excited. Like... I'm actually doing laundry right now and cataloging what I already have. Note to self: You have WAY too many button-up shirts and don't really need more kthanks. SO while I check out what I've already got goin' on, I'm making a shopping list of stuff I must have immediately so I don't go out of control. Other note to self: You will most definitely get out of control.

Here's what I'm on the hunt for!

GUESS Boyfriend V-Neck Tee

Favorite short-sleeve crew T

Chinese Laundry Dance Floor Wedge Sandal

KUT from the Kloth Women's Wide Hem Colored Denim Bermuda Short

1969 Printed Always Skinny Skimmer Jeans

FOREVER 21 Neon Heart Top

OK, so I'm looking for a few very specific things. The first is definitely a really good-quality boyfriend tee. I wear my T-shirts until they're falling apart because it's so hard to find one that's soft, fits well and that I love. But a tee plus skinnies and wedges is pretty much my spring uniform and I need one baaaad.

I'm also on the hunt for colored bermuda shorts. Um, HOW do I not have ones already? I disappoint men. Love it with a chambray shirt too... so prep!

Also, I bought these wedges and they are roughly 400 percent brighter in real life. I am looking all over for some cute neon accent clothes to pair with them. That heart sweater with a black circle skirt and wedges? I die and must try it.

Finally, I'm also on the hunt for some camo skinnies that I can buy without selling my innards on the black market. WHY IS THIS SO HARD? One day last month I dragged my husband to like nine different stores and still didn't find any. But it's gonna happen this weekend. I love them with heels and sloppy shirt.

I also want to buy a ton of jewelry. I've gotten to that sad point where I hate 99.999999 percent of what I own. 

So basically, I'm looking for sloppy spring clothes that I can wear with cute shoes. This is more or less my shopping list every spring.

What are you looking for?

What I Wore: Shopaholic

I totally forgot that as part of my Cheap Tricks, I wrote an article for MoneyCrashers.com-- Check out Cheap Swaps and Alternatives to Expensive High-End Makeup Brands to find out where I splurge and steal when it comes to makeup. I knew I was forgetting something!

Speaking of being cheap, this week is the end of my shopping diet and I could not be happier.  It has dragged on way too long. I do the diet because not only do I tend to spend a lot in May, but it's interesting to see how often I default to shopping. Bored? Shop. Mad? Shop. Stressed? Shop. Have a spare five minutes? Shop. It's insane! Want to shop? Shop! Instead I've taken to organizing my closet to see what I have on hand. I will not say that I've been "shopping my closet" because that's obnoxious. I'm just wearing stuff I already own geeeez.

 When I went out to lunch for a friend's birthday last week, I dug out some old standards.

 Chambray: Urban Wear
Jeans: Calvin Klein
Flats and earrings: Ardene (Canada)
Watch: XOXO
Glasses: Buckle
Bag: Coach

When I don't have a supercool, brand-new piece to showcase, I fall back on color. Going all monochromatic and grabbing some bright flats saved this from being too plain Jane until I can shop again. Also, bless my mother's heart because she took pity on me and sent me down a few pairs of flats to help me get through shopping withdrawal. 

 Ugh my little brother took these pics while he was here visiting and he's so much taller than me that all these pictures make me look like a miniature pony. When really I'm more like a moderately-sized pony. Note to self: find shorter photographers.

Chambray options for those of you not currently dieting:

women's chambray shirt

 So here's my question today -- what do you do when you get that itchy shopping finger? Because I just did some damage in the home organization section at Target to stop me from buying shoes. On the bright side, my desk IS more organized. On the other hand, it was like an alcoholic drinking a wine cooler. I cannot be satisfiiiiiied. Any ideas?

 

Freaky Friday

So, how did everyone like Cheap Tricks week? Something you want to see again or no? Because I have roughly a bazillion cheap tricks up my proverbial sleeves. And also my literal sleeves.

But now it's time for Friday and further prove that "expensive" doesn't automatically mean "good." Here are some of the most heinous pricey finds I've seen.

 This is my favorite. It's a "maxi skirt" (heavy emphasis on those quotation marks) that Amy sent over. My favorite are the "skirt" details: 

"no pockets, unlined, rear slit"

no pockets

no pockets 

NO POCKETS 

 PS it's $585 I'm dead.

 Sara sent me this skirt that is a relative steal at $60. On the bright side? It's cheaper than an x-ray AND it helps remind you to take your vitamin D. 

 If Jerry Seinfeld had a less-attractive, colorblind twin sister. And had $1,260 to spend on ugly dresses.

 Oh REALLY Marc Jacobs!? We're selling sweatshirts from my childhood at $1,300 are we? Because I probably have like, 6 in storage.

 This is either a shrug or something your cat barfed onto your carpet. I can't tell. 

 For when you feel peskily small around your midsection and want to add about 10 lbs and what appear to be harlequin elephant legs for the tidy sum of $1,825.

 You guys. This is a $1,700 Cosby sweater.

Stoppit, fashion. 

For when you want to look like a slightly more masculine Michael Jackson. It's $2,390 which is probably what he spent on waffles so it's really a steal when you think about it. 

Oh fashion, you so crazy. Always proving that it takes a lot of money to look really cheap.

 

Cheap Tricks: Manicure Saver

I am notoriously impatient when it comes to nail polish. I put it on and will definitely have it smudged within about 90 seconds. While I almost never wear polish on my fingernails -- I have a wicked nail biting problem -- I almost always have my toes all polished up. Problem is that when I do get a spare minute to do my nails, I end up getting up and having to get someone a cup of chocolate milk or something and I get it smudged. And I haaaaaaate smudges.

So imagine my happiness when a friend introduced me to this $5 wonder:

It's called Seche Vite and it's literally the best top coat that you'll ever use. Not only does it make your nails super shiny -- it even works on matte polish -- but it dries rock-hard in 60 to 90 seconds. My favorite part is that you can put it right over wet nail polish. HELLO, time saver! Then, it makes your nail polish last forever. I got five to seven days without chips on my hands and up to two weeks on my toenails.

Even when I have my pedi done at a salon, I rush home and slick this stuff on top. It makes my pedi last longer, which means saving money. And at home, it saves my frustration level when I don't have to use nail remover and start again after my kids drag a stuffed animal over my toes while they're driving.

For $5? Totally worth it.

P.S. I am not getting reimbursed for this post. I just love this so much that I would name a child after it.

P.P.S. Don't really do that. It's French for "dry fast."

P.P.P.S. That's the extent of my six years of mandatory French.

Cheap Tricks: Homemade Toner

Just in case yesterday's cheapie post wasn't MINDBLOWING enough, I have more for you.

So, I have a confession to make: my skin sucks. Like, big time. It's a huge jerk and I'd punch it if the face if it wasn't, well, my face. Seriously, it's totally T-zone oily but dry around the edges and literally every product I use irritates the crap out of it. And I've tried pretty much every product possible to clear up my skin and nix oiliness without completely drying my face out. And I've never been loyal to anything because I've never found anything that was super-effective.

A couple of months ago, I was suffering through a particularly heinous stress breakout when I turned to Google for help. After doing some excellent research and by research I mean reading online forums, I came up with a recipe for a toner that has seriously transformed my skin. Yeah, I'll get the occasional zit, but this stuff zaps 'em. This stuff has also changed the appearance of my skin, getting rid of faded scars and shrinking pores, too. When I went to Moab, I didn't bring it with me and the next week my skin was back to its old tricks and I was so mad at myself.

In short, this is my favorite thing ever. And the best part is that it takes like, pennies to make.

 

Here's all you need:

1/3 cup RAW apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. tea tree oil

1/2 cup water

Spray bottle 

That's it!

I should note that I got both the apple cider vinegar and the tea tree oil from my local grocery store -- nothing special. Just make sure you get the raw stuff. I bought a huge bottle of filtered without thinking and it now is my floor cleaner. Unfiltered is what you want because it has all of the good fruit acids inside. Anyway, the ACV was about $1.50 and I spent $4 on the tea tree oil and both will last forever. I figure I'm mixing this stuff up for like, 25 cents a bottle. And it actually works, unlike pretty much every product that I've spent serious money on.

Now, all I do is mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle and give it a good shake. At night, I wash my face -- right now I'm just using an Olay cleanser -- and then spray my toner on a cotton round. Swipe it all over your face and you're finished! If I do have a zit, I like to saturate the cotton a little more and hold it over the blemish for 10 seconds or so. By the next morning it's way smaller and almost gone. 

Another tip? Keep some in the fridge for morning use. I find that it cuts oiliness first thing in the morning and the cold shrinks pores so my makeup looks better too.

You can totally adjust the amounts, as well. If your skin is way oily and doesn't dry out, I'd add some more ACV. If your skin is more acne prone, up the tea tree oil a bit. Play with it until you've got the combo that works for you. And yes, your husband will complain about the smell of the tea tree oil: it's really strong and herb-y. But he can deal with it, because this is your skin we're talking about! 

Give it a try and lemme know what you think!