Getting in on the Color Trend

Spring is arriving, and, with it, colorful clothes! Yay! But instead of buying a whole bunch of new clothes, my plan is to try getting my color fix with accessories. If you're looking to save some cash, here are some smaller areas where you, too, might be able to add some of those trendy colors without breaking the bank:

Belts - I found a cute, bright blue, "snake skin" belt at Target for $12.
Nail Polish - Cobalt, hot pink, electric purple - you name it, it comes in nail polish. Just don't forget a base coat if you're planning to sport yellow.
Pins and Broaches - I got a pretty cool jeweled flower pin on clearance from Express that jazzes up cardigans with ease and sparkle.
Scarves - Infinity, knotted, or looped. Whatever you choose, they can add style to plenty of casual looks.
Rings, Earrings, and/or Necklaces - This is another one where clearance rocks. I found a pair of earrings with gold leaves and sea foam green beads that make me wish my ears were pierced...
Cardigans - This one can be a little more expensive, but a cardigan in a bright color can be played up or down. I've had a cobalt blue one that I've worn for a few seasons now. This year, I might try layering it with pink instead of the whites, greys, and blacks of past years, which brings up another point - layering things differently than you have in the past can give you a whole new look without spending an extra penny!

What trends do you have your eye on?

If Only to Listen to an Italian Accent...

I had an amazing dish at a little Italian restaurant about twenty minutes from my house. It was gnocchi in alfredo sauce. A-MAZ-ZING. The problem? It was a daily special item, so it's not always on the menu. I tried making my own gnocchi, but it was a big hassle. Until! I found this video that will show you how simple making gnocchi (pronounced nee-o-key) can be. Even if you're not interested in expanding your cooking repertoire, it's worth a listen just to hear Fabio's accent as he explains that making gnocchi is like facilitating a first date where "the flour is introducing herself to the potato and the Parmesan is there, holding a candle." Enjoy!

The Stretchy Truth

We all know about Photoshop and the fact that pretty much all magazines use it. We're told not to compare ourselves to how the stars look in photos. But then we see them on TV at awards shows and think, "She looks just as good as she did in the magazine!" Well. Now we know their secret. Check it out here.

Love yourself, strive to be healthy, and remember that that beauty you're always comparing yourself to might not be as real, comfortable, or sustainable as you think. And when all else fails, maybe find some tricks of your own ;)

Love,
Your Sister

Model Advice

I was just reading some advice from models about how to look good in photographs. Some of the tips dealt with make up, some of them talked about how to stand or pose, and some of them talked about being confident. As I was reading, I just had to pause, pop over here, and share this thought:

Even models put a lot of thought and effort into their looks. In fact, I get the feeling that they put an especially big effort into looking good and being photogenic. I'm not saying that's wrong - I put a lot of thought and effort into my job, too - but why bother comparing yourself to a pro? Is it your job to be beautiful in photographs? Nope. Probably not. Do yourself a favor: turn a blind eye toward the pros whose day job is being beautiful and love yourself, no matter how the photographs turn out.

Love,
Your Sister

For All the Single Ladies

My (real, actual) little sister told me today that I should write something about being happy being single. She meant a novel, not a blog post, but I told her I wasn't qualified. I haven't been single since I was... 17? And I married my first boyfriend. High school sweethearts, me and Adam. Aw. So sweet. Awful for having any advice in this area, though, right? On second thought, maybe not. So, here goes. My advice to the single and dating:

1. Do not trust internet quizes. I just took one to see if Adam is my "mister right." I knew it was meant for people who were dating, but I thought I'd see how well he scored. (Ha, ha, poor guy has no idea that the rating never stops!) Turns out, he's not Mr. Right. He's Mr. It's-so-wrong-it's-right. Hm. Apparently, I should enjoy the ride but keep my head on straight. I guess that means I should look out? Anyway, after eight years of marriage, I guess we've proven that quiz wrong. Moral of the story: Good advice exists, but be careful whose you listen to. Mine included. ;)

2. Keep perspective. Having the right guy is great. A life saver. But even with the right guy, there are bad times. Screaming matches (well, okay, usually I'm the only one who gets worked up enough to shout), cold shoulders, slamming doors. I can't imagine what marriage to the wrong guy would be like. You're better off taking your time than getting it wrong. Trust me. It's hard enough when you get it right.

3. Find meaning and worth outside your (human) relationships and acheivments. I had a literary agent until about a month ago. It took me about nine years to "land" her - meaning I sent out letters and emails and got back rejection after rejection before I finally found one who was willing to represent my work to publishers. And now, I'm pretty much back to where I started - worse, even. I currently have no completed manuscript to offer the market and no firm offer to represent whatever manuscript I finish next. As I work through the mess of feeling this has left me with, I struggle with the idea that I've been rejected and that I'm on my own. I'm thinking single girls feel similarly. Reality, however, is that I'm not alone and, in the most important way, I have not been rejected. I am still the same writer I've always been. God still loves me. God still has a plan for me. There are other people in my life who believe in me. I just have to pick my head up out of my murky emotions in order to see these things. So, whether you're single or half of a very good thing, you are who God made you to be. Your value doesn't change or go down. In fact, if you're single right now, my bet is that God - who is in control of even your dating life - is actually trying to RAISE your value. Not necessarily for the dating market, but for eternity.

How'd I do? Chime in with your own advice! That's what comments are for! ;)

Love,
Your Sister

Valuable Conversations, Part 2

Sometimes people say just the right thing at just the right time and it really sticks with me. My last post was one such conversation, and here's another one. Lucky for you, it was in IM, so this time I can show you the part of the actual convo that's stuck with me. This time, my mom invited me to a movie that was made about a novel.
Me: get to watch some other writer's success on the big screen
Me: sign me up ;)
Mom: yes, just like watching people get their food at a restaurant
Mom: yours is coming
Mom: soon
Me: ha
Me: nice
Me: soon doesn't seem to be the way things are going
Mom: mmmm that looks good, can't wait til I get mine

Looking back on this conversation, I'm embarassed by how very skeptical and discouraged I was. Buck up, girl! But, that's not the point of posting this for you. The point is that very last line. MMMM that looks good, can't wait until I get mine! The conversation happened on January 25th. It is now February 10th, and I'm still thinking of that line. However long the wait has been, sister, sit tight and don't be jealous of others. Your future is coming and, when it does, it will be tailor made to you, not someone else! God doesn't switch up "food" and he doesn't forget about his "tables."

Love,
Your Sister

Valuable Conversations

In my last post, I typed up a conversation between myself and my husband. That's gotten me thinking about two other conversations I've had recently that have really stuck with me. I'll try to remember the wording as exactly as I can, but you know how memories are...

Conversation 1:
Me (talking about losing my literary agent and not going to the gym): Yeah, that really took a lot out of me. I haven't been doing much lately. Just hanging around moping.
My brother: Go mope on a treadmill.

He said it nicely, and it fit the conversation. I really like his no excuses perspective. It doesn't matter how you feel; you can still do the right thing, the things that are good for you, the things you should be doing. I can tell you, that's really helped me get back in the swing of my routine and, it turns out, sometimes going through the motions helps turn things back around for the better. Pretty soon, you're not moping on the treadmill. You're finding new challenges and celebrating what you're capable of.

So, what's the other conversation? Hm... You'll have to check back Monday!

Love,
Your Sister