Dec 27, 2013
Hi pretties! I’m back today to share my first excerpt from my book “Get Pretty, Kick Butt!“. If you missed Monday’s post, I announced that I’m taking a break from my regular blogging format to bring you a series on preparing for 2014. There won’t be any new outfit posts but there will be loads of inspiration for being your best YOU in the new year – including an amazing personal training package giveaway from Morganize with Me.
I’m also taking a mini-break from answering comments and visiting other blogs so I can spend some QT with my family. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon refreshed and ready to go!
Today’s excerpt is from the introduction of my book which explains how I got into (and out of) my own mom rut.
“Being a mom shouldn’t mean losing yourself.”
From the day I graduated college through the next seventeen years, I worked in a corporate office environment – dressed to the nines every day in heels, pencil skirts and pretty blouses. Oh how I loved getting fixed up every day.
But what I didn’t love was my job.
With three kids at home, I desperately wanted to be with them. Each year I watched as my department shrank more and more, a casualty of evolving technology and the economy. Every time a lay off happened, I prayed to be on that list so I could take my severance package and finally be free of the confines of corporate America.
After fourteen years of waiting, it finally happened! I was able to be the at-home mom I always dreamed of being. During that same time, I decided to step away from my part-time career as an actress and print model to fully dedicate myself to my family.
Without a job or auditions to go to, my closet full of high heels started to become pretty useless. I slowly transitioned my wardrobe, starting with footwear. Flats took the place of my prized collection of heels. Skinny jeans took over for skirts. Cardigans replaced blazers. T-shirts pushed out button-downs. Ponytails did away with my need for daily hair styling. Tinted moisturizer took the place of foundation. Then…
Yoga pants replaced jeans.
Sneakers replaced flats.
Moisturizer replaced makeup.
Uh oh.
Six months later, I was a full blown yoga pants addict, never getting ready or fixing up. I picked my kids up from school wearing the same workout clothes that I had on when dropping them off that morning. Worst of all, I would go the whole day without showering. Eww.
The house started to get messier.
I slacked off on my work outs.
The healthy food in our fridge and pantry slowly got replaced with convenient junk food.
The pounds started creeping up.
All of my motivation and drive was gone. It was all I could do to drag myself through another day. A dark cloud of depression set in over me.
I was in a full-blown mom funk.
I desperately needed to find a way to get out of my rut and into my groove.
Something had to change. One morning I decided to try something different. I woke up an hour earlier and planned out my day. My plans included getting my workout done, taking a shower, putting on makeup, fixing my hair and getting dressed in a real outfit – all before picking my kids up from school that afternoon. Drastic times called for drastic measures.
So I did just that.
When I picked my daughter up from school that day she said “Wow, mommy! What happened to you? You look…pretty!”
That moment was my wake up.
I realized that pretty actually matters. I wanted to do it, not just for me, but to set a good example for my daughters. The fog that I was living in had lifted, at least for that day. I felt productive, energized and PRETTY.
I vowed from that day forward that I would make an effort to shower and get fixed up every day, no matter what I had going on. I sat down and made up a schedule for the next day. I would have a routine and stick to it. Getting pretty would be a big part of it.
I had found my way out of my mom funk.
For more kick butt inspiration, download “Get Pretty, Kick Butt!” now on Kindle. As my gift to you, the book is ON SALE through December 31st.
PERSONAL TRAINING GIVEAWAY
Start the new year off right with 30 days of FREE personal training from Morgan of Morganize with Me!
Her 30-day virtual personal training plan includes the following:
- A specific written plan tailored to help you to meet your goals.
- Continued communication via email throughout your consultation package.
- Ongoing support, encouragement, motivation, and accountability.
- Commitment to walk with you every step of the way.
As an added bonus, the winner of the personal training package will also get a free copy of “Get Pretty, Kick Butt!” to kick start your new year. Just choose any or all of the easy ways to enter below! You can also earn 10 additional entries for sharing a link to this post on Facebook!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Be sure to come back on Monday for the next installment in the series where I’ll be sharing my secret for getting more done!
Buy the book on Kindle NOW!
Mar 8, 2013
Confession: I’m kind of obsessed with nudes right now.
Uhh…
What I really mean is I’m kind of obsessed with the color nude. It’s just so fresh and perfect for spring!
From pumps and nail polish to pencil skirts and blouses, this color is popping up with spring’s pretty pastels and brighter hues as the perfect complementary color.
And I’m totally on board with the trend.
For this week’s Payday Pretty inspiration, I’ve curated some of my favorite $50 and under picks to keep you in the nude.
Fact: Nude heels make legs look miles long.
They also work with virtually everything. Don’t have a pair yet? Let’s fix that.
[Jessica Simpson Nude Pumps]
Nude nails are always in style. Invest in a classic polish like this and save money by not visiting your manicurist!
[Dior Vernis Nude Nail Polish]
This nude pencil skirt gets a makeover for spring in of the moment lace.
[Dorothy Perkins Lace Pencil Skirt]
A pretty peplum and fun polka dots create a French chic look with this blouse.
[Polka Dot Peplum]
Dior creates the most beautiful classic nudes. This lipstick has just the right amount of sheen.
[Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in Incognito]
It’s Your Turn: What’s your favorite way to wear nude? Tell me in the comments!
FASHION INFORMANT LINK UP
I’m linking up today with my beautiful friend Sherry of The Life of the Party for Fashion Informant Friday. Stop by and join her new link up that launches today!
Follow GYPO on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Feb 13, 2013
There’s no doubt that one of my favorite pieces that I’ve upgraded my wardrobe with recently is my chambray shirt. Actually I didn’t even buy it for myself. My hubby got it for me for my birthday. When I first saw it I thought, I’m NEVER going to wear that thing. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it. I just rarely wore button downs of any kind. But as the Biebs would say, never say never…
And for good reason, check out how he rocks chambray with denim on denim.
[Via]
First I paired it up with colored denim.
Then I got all crazy like Justin and wore it with denim on denim.
After that I layered it under a sweater.
Then I got super brave and wore it with leggings.
It has truly been a closet staple for fall and winter.
And now I’m looking at ways to keep pairing it up for spring and summer.
With mint jeans, a striped tank and floral flats.
With some floral shorts and wedges. I lived in my floral shorts last summer and plan to get more this year.
Over a maxi dress with metallic flip flops.
Even thrown over a bikini at the beach!
What’s that you say? You don’t have a chambray shirt yet? Well, girlfriend, we need to fix that!
Here are some options for every price point.
Spendy
[Madewell Perfect Chambray]
Mid-Range
[Delia’s Fitted Chambray]
Thrifty
[Mossimo Chambray]
Buy one now, ya hear?
I FEEL PRETTY LINK PARTY
I’m starting something new this week. Each week I’m going to feature a Pretty of the Week from the previous week’s link party.
Our very first Pretty of the Week is…
Amber of 3 Ladies and Their Gent!
How cute is she? I just love her leopard heels, plum cords and perfect accessories.
And now on to this week’s fun!
Link up your outfits or anything else that makes you feel pretty. There are just a few simple rules:
1. Link up your pretty post.
2. Link back to my blog.
3. Visit other pretty peeps.
That’s it! Let the fun begin.
‘);
// ]]>
Getting my pretty on with The Pleated Poppy, Random Wednesday, Style Sessions, Wardrobe Wednesday, Rolled Up Pretty, Look What I Got, Aloha Friday, Friday’s Fancies
Nov 12, 2021
It’s that time of year for the GYPO annual gift-giving guides! We’re sharing them a little earlier than we normally do but that’s because we’re finding people are trying to finish up their shopping lists as soon as possible allowing for more time to relax as we approach the holidays. So who are you shopping for this year? Below are some of my favorite things and hopefully they’ll help you cross some people off your list!
White boots are everywhere this fall so I treated myself to these pair by Marc Fisher. I’m not ashamed to admit that I love them even more than I thought! While this particular pair isn’t stark white, they still make a fresh, crisp addition to any outfit. See how I paired these up on last month’s Pretty Fix!
Monogrammed items are having their moment and if you live down south, it’s never not having a moment. I love the layered look of this necklace paired with the on-trend chain links and monogrammed medallion is not overwhelming. This necklace is available in both gold and silver with multiple fonts available for your initials. Items ship 24 hours from order ensuring they’ll make it in time.
While I’ve heard a lot about Seint makeup, I’ve never really made the plunge to check it out until I started watching Colette VanPaemel. Then had the honor of talking with her, which you can check out HERE, and seeing how she puts this makeup to work for her is amazing! As we get older I’m learning that cream makeup pairs better with my skin and I love the idea of having all my makeup in one place.
I know this was on my list last year but they are just too good and too comfy for me to not mention them again. After years of spending $20 or so for slippers that never lasted beyond a season, I decided to make the investment and I’m so happy I did! My slippers look just as good as the day I got them and I anticipate enjoying them for many more years!
This is seriously one of the best gifts I’ve ever received! The Ember Temperature control mug keeps my coffee hot all morning long! It comes in two sizes, 10oz and 14oz plus they offer a travel mug. Each mug has a battery to keep your mug hot for hours or use the coaster for all-day temperature control. They even have fun metallic shades available.
This new Apple watch band from Alison + Aubrey has got to be my favorite! The chunky chains are right on trend and the black leather band gives it a fun edge. This watchband is easily interchangeable plus you can size it by removing links to ensure a perfect fit!
This nighttime moisturizer makes my face feel amazing in the morning plus it’s gentle and fragrance-free for my sensitive skin. It’s great for the summer but especially for heading into the dryer months. This is my go-to nighttime face cream and the perfect stocking stuffer!
When it’s been a long week, this tool makes getting to my wine so much easier! It has a built-in label cutter, a coated carbon steel corkscrew, and an ergonomic metal level and grip handles. This tool ensures I don’t ruin the cork and it stores nicely in my kitchen drawer.
If you’ve followed me for any time then you know how much I love my Nike running shoes and you know my love for leopard. These shoes are as if Nike was listening to me! My two favorite things combined into one! They are so comfortable and I feel very stylish when I’m working out.
For that person who’s always on the go, packing cubes have been an absolute game-changer for me! No longer are my clothes messy and unorganized when I open my suitcase. I know exactly where things are and they help me plan my outfits and what I’m going to take whenever I travel.
For the woman who has a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. I was that woman, I was in a clothing rut and the effect coming out of that rut has had on my life is indescribable. I want that for every woman! I want them to feel comfortable and confident no matter what! I believe every woman should feel fabulous in what they wear which is why I wrote this book. It’s the perfect gift for any woman on your list who deserves to feel her very best!
Oct 29, 2018
Back in August I invited you to complete a reader survey and boy did you deliver! The GYPO community is truly the highlight of this experience for me and it has been so amazing to read through your responses, get to know you a little better, and hear what you really think about Get Your Pretty On.
This information and feedback helps me and my team make GYPO a better resource for you. Our mission is to be the ‘go-to resource for inclusive fashion inspiration and lifestyle advice’ and we can’t complete that mission if we don’t know who you are and what is going on in your daily life.
So, thank you. Not only for the time you took out of your busy day to answer the survey, but for the candor of your responses. You truly are the best! Let’s dive in to the results of the survey.
Who You Are
Most of you fall into the 45-54 age bracket with the 35-44 and 55-64 age brackets nearly tied.
84% wear regular size apparel and 10% are wearing plus size. 20% of you wear petite fit and 11% are shopping for tall fit clothes.
36% of respondents are SAHMs while 48% of you work outside the home. 18% of you work from home and 12% are retired.
You + GYPO
65% of you have been reading Get Your Pretty On for a year or more. Thank you!
13% of you just started reading GYPO in the last 6 months. Welcome!
65% of you are keeping up with GYPO social media on Facebook and 54% are showing us love over on Instagram. Our Pinterest account has 32% of you pinning away. (Did you know over 1 million people check us out on Pinterest every month?)
18% of you aren’t following us at all on social media. Ouch! What are you waiting for? You’re missing out on lots of giveaways, inspiration, and live videos. We’d love to have you join the fun! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Your favorite posts on GYPO are the Style Your Budget series as well as the oldie but goodie posts from The Pretty Fix. If you are looking for fresh trends to try I share a Tuesday Trend Watch post every week in our Pretties Facebook group. You can request to join that group HERE. It’s a lot of fun!
As for what you’d like to see more of on GYPO – the top two responses are polar opposites! More SAHM outfits and more work wear style looks. How funny is that?
Since leaving corporate America, I don’t really do work wear anymore but I’m happy to add in a feature here and there for those of you who do. Also, work wear is always one of our popular seasonal Style Challenges® capsule wardrobe builders. You can check them out and sign up for one HERE.
Your Feedback
I asked what you’d like to see more of on GYPO and once again you came back to me with work wear looks as the top response. It’s clear that many of you are working outside the home and looking for more inspiration in this area. While I try to “keep it real” around here and show you what I’m actually wearing in real life, I’ll keep this feedback in mind for a special seasonal work wear feature.
You also want to read more about budget friendly style and outfit formulas and tutorials. Posts that don’t just showcase an outfit but breakdown in detail why an outfit works. Small, actionable steps you can do to replicate the look for yourself. I have some fun plans to provide this information for you going forward so keep an eye out for future outfit posts.
Your Goals
The common thread in these answers cannot be overlooked. Ultimately, they all boil down to inner peace and happiness. Things like figuring out being an empty nester (right there with you!) or how to spend your retirement; organizing and minimizing your home/life; finding direction in your life; raising happy, successful children; and mental and physical happiness and health. You wish you had more ‘me’ time, time for family and friends which was tied with reading, as well as time for exercising and being active.
If you haven’t caught any of my daily live Coffee Chats yet, I highly recommend checking them out. You can catch past episodes on Facebook or by subscribing to my Youtube channel. These are exactly the types of topics I’ve been tackling. Many women have also found inspiration and a framework for making changes through doing my Rediscover Me 28 day challenge.
Your Struggles
You were so very honest and open about sharing your struggles with me. The interesting thing to note is that for the most part, we are all struggling with the same types of things. Keeping our homes clean, organized, and decluttered topped the list while making time for healthy eating and meal planning came in second. Many of you are struggling with your mental and physical health. A common response within that was that you deal with anxiety. If you haven’t already heard it, I highly recommend Episode 26: The Truth About Anxiety and Episode 101: The Truth About Anxiety Part 2 from the Sorta Awesome podcast. I also have some Coffee Chats planned around anxiety and depression, two things which I’ve struggled with personally but haven’t shared much publicly.
Your responses to what style and beauty challenges you face isn’t so much style and beauty itself, but that you don’t feel confident in the choices you are making. From finding the right fit, colors, or flattering pieces to lacking an overall confidence in your appearance.
In this case, you’ve definitely come to the right place! From free resources like the Pretties Facebook group community to online personal styling services through Style Challenges by GYPO, I’m here to help you feel confident in your style and beauty choices. My goal is to make all of this as easy as possible, to break it down into actionable, easy to implement steps and to make it work for any budget. No matter what Style Challenge program you sign up for, they all come loaded with resources like figuring out what colors are most flattering for you and learning how to dress your body shape.
Sharing The Love
Aside from GYPO, the blog you love to read is Modern Mrs. Darcy. This is a new blog to me but as an avid reader I’m excited to dig in! Thank you so much for sharing.
Are you surprised by these results?
Do you share similar goals and struggles?
Let me know in the comments.
Start the new year off right with 30 days of FREE personal training from Morgan of Morganize with Me!
