The Loverly Dream Day Style Challenge

This past summer was definitely the summer for challenges. It all started with the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, and then there was the Grateful Challenge, the Nice Challenge, the Pretty Face Challenge, and... after a while I just lost track. But I had no intention of participating in the fad until Loverly invited me to take part in their Dream Day Style Challenge. Loverly is a wedding website that offers everything you need to plan your wedding at a wide range of price points. You'll find tons of great brands, including Jimmy Choo, YSL, BHLDN, and the list goes on. I was asked to pick three wedding gowns and accessories based on three different types of settings. And if any of my outfits catch the eye of the Loverly social media team, they'll post it on their social media site. Pretty cute, huh! But post or not, I'm all for a good style challenge. The settings I was given to work with definitely influenced my choice of dress, but I also picked dresses that simply caught my attention.  See if you can get a sense of my personal style by the dresses and accessories I chose.  Here they are:

dress ♥ headpiece ♥ shoes ♥ bag ♥ nail polish

I'm really drawn to wedding gowns that cause a stir, and what better way to create one than by wearing a romper wedding gown (I'm not sure you can still call it a gown, but I'll just go with it). It's perfect for a beach wedding, and the veil, strappy heels, and "something blue" purse are ceremony classics that remind us it's still very much a wedding. Add pink polish on the toes for interest should you choose to go barefoot on the beach. Love!

dress ♥ headpiece ♥ shoes ♥ lipstick

Whenever I think of a wedding in the city, I think chic, sleek, and glamorous, just like this wedding dress. And who else would have the audacity to wear red lipstick on her wedding day but a cosmopolitan girl with lots of glam appeal! A flower veil and glittery sandals complete the glam look.

 dress ♥ headpiece ♥ shoes♥ bangles ♥ nail polish

I love the romantic, vintage appeal of this bohemian wedding dress. If I had a bohemian wedding, I'd want to be (and look) comfortable, and wear pieces that reflect the free-spirit and eclecticism of the bohemian style, much like the studded headpiece and flats, diamond bangles, and black nail polish.

So what do you think? Were you able to tell my personal style from the dresses and accessories I chose? One thing I look for in wedding dresses (or any outfit for that matter) are unique details that make it stand out from what "everyone" else seems to be doing. I admire when a  person can really express themselves through their clothes in a way that is unique to them, and I try to achieve that as well. You may have noticed that each gown has some type of sleeve or detail on the shoulders. I find those types of dresses most refreshing since there already seems to be a sea of strapless dresses out there.  Okay, now it's your turn. I challenge you to go onto the Loverly site and pick your own dream day wedding dress and accessories. Let me know what you chose!

Newsworthy: My iBC Radio Interview

Hey Guys! A few weeks ago I had the very cool opportunity to be interviewed by Matt Lawson of iBC Radio. Matt is a clinical therapist, personal trainer, and blogger who focuses on mental health and fitness. You can check out him out here. He  had a lot of questions to ask me about my career as a psychologist, how I started my blog, and fashion psychology. Listen to the podcast and tell me what you think!

Mad Hatter Inspired Playroom (No Alice in Wonderland Characters Allowed)

Some months ago I introduced the theme for my boys' new bedroom. I assure you I haven't forgotten about it, and it's still a work in progress. How I would have loved for it to be completed by now, but as you may know, sometimes life gets in the way and things don't happen according to plan.  Nevertheless, the show must go on! So I decided it's time to start designing the playroom. When I think of a playroom, I think of a stimulating, creative environment full of fantasy. And I've been really inspired by the whimsical vibe of Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter Tea Party. But the one thing I don't want is for it to be a cookie-cutter themed room, overrun with Alice in Wonderland characters. I want it to be a loose reference to the mad hatter tea party, rather than a literal interpretation of it. So I set out to find just the right amount of whimsy for my boys' (and soon to be girl's) playroom that is entertaining enough for both them and me. In this room (channeling my inner Vanna White), you'll walk into a colorful mosaic pattern on the ceiling, adorned by a glittering ship chandelier (love that!) and a proper, over-the-top red balloon shade. Want to do some arts and crafts? No problem, just head over to the craft table with ornate and modern mismatched chairs ( the perfect combination of whacky) and a paper table runner that you can decorate any way you like. And just to give you that outdoorsy mad tea party feel, you can find a grass rug underneath you're feet. And who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to place some flowers on it. If you're like my boys, you love superheros, and your beloved superhero posters always have a place inside a quirky, ostentatious frame decal. Take a look:

Where do the toys go, you ask? Well, the plan is to use a lot of shelving to store toys and books. I'll also paint one wall with blackboard paint so the kids can feel free to write on it. So what do you think of a mad hatter playroom, yay or nay?

So Long Summer

Well it's that time again. The time when we enjoy the last few days of vacation and outdoor fun (ahem...no matter how cloudy it may be), and get ready for the cooler weather, school, and/or whatever  changes we plan to make once September starts. I enjoy all seasons, but I'm usually happy to see a season end and a new one begin. I always think of fall as the season of new beginnings. I love looking forward to cooler nights, cozy indoor spaces, and the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. Of course, this upcoming season is extra special as I look forward to adding to our little brood.

If your juggling a lot like me, you're probably thinking  about all the things you want to focus on and accomplish in the fall. In addition to my day job as a psychologist, I took on a part-time personal stylist position, and want to continue to pursue some writing goals I've had for a while now. It's all part of my plan to move my career in a slightly more creative direction. (I'll share more about that in another post.) My kids are also going to a new school. And while I'm a little nervous about them being in a new environment, I'm hoping they'll  meet some great friends and teachers. It reminds me how exciting (and only a little anxiety provoking) life can be when you're starting something new, or even if you've just vowed to spend more time on goals you've wanted to accomplish for some time.

As much as I'll miss the summer, I thank God I have another season to enjoy, and I'm looking forward to seeing what fall brings along with it. What are some things you're looking to accomplish this fall?

5 Tips to Help You Feel Good About Your Body Image

At 5 1/2 months pregnant (for the third time) my body has been through a lot of changes. Watching my expanding waistline (which is miraculously hidden from view in this pic) always amazes me. I enjoy showing off my baby bump, but as for the other parts of my body, I do my best to keep those intact. And as I've gotten older, I've started noticing parts of my body that I've never really paid attention to before. So when I noticed that my arms looked a little, shall we say "softer" than I remember, I was a little discouraged.  But then I thought about body image, and the value we place on our bodies. Our bodies are valuable, and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect and care, but it becomes a problem when we equate our value with our bodies. And in fact, when we start to believe that we can fix our problems by altering our bodies (like with plastic surgery), and we do so repeatedly, then we're treading along the lines of a disorder, otherwise known at Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). That's a disorder characterized by a preoccupation with one or more perceived defects in physical appearance that is either not observable or not a big deal to others. A hallmark feature of the disorder is the urge to perform repetitive behaviors (e.g, excessive grooming, mirror checking) or mental acts (e.g., comparing oneself to others) as a way to cope with concerns about appearance.

While most people who have concerns about their bodies would not qualify as having full blown BDD, I think many of us can agree that we tend to overvalue our bodies while devaluing so many other things we have to offer. So for those of us who are less than satisfied with our body image at least some of the time, here are 5 tips to help you feel better about it.

1. Focus on other parts of yourself you find valuable (and I don't just mean another body part). I've met with many young girls that struggle with significant anxiety over their bodies. And they seem to believe that life would be so much better if only their legs were "____er" or their lips were "_____er."  While many of us want to improve our looks, we often don't spend enough time focusing on other good things about us. Maybe you're funny, a really good friend (that's me), or smart (me again, ha!). These qualities are just as valuable as any other part of you and deserve to be noticed.

2. Put together a healthy regimen (even if you don't follow it exactly).  If you don't like your arms or belly do something to change it.  But don't throw in the towel if you miss a day or two. The mere act of putting together a healthy diet or exercise plan puts you in the mindset you need to start making healthy changes, and leaves you in a much better position than if your were just wallowing about something you don't like.

3. Create an inspiration mood board and put it where you can see it.  An inspiration mood board is meant to inspire you. So refrain from including size zero models who do not reflect a healthy and realistic body image for you. Perhaps there's a celebrity, model, or friend whose body type is close to yours and reflects a healthy body image you'd like to  have. Or maybe you found an inspirational quote that make you feel good about yourself and your body. All of these would be great for your mood board.

4. Buy clothes that fit.  This may seem obvious, but many of us can get caught up on the size of clothing.  I know I've been known to get a little uncomfortable when I've had to go up one dress size. While a smaller dress size might feel good when you try it on in the store, it doesn't feel so good when you go home and try it on away from the "skinny mirror"  you were using in the store dressing room. It may be helpful to know that standard clothing sizes are loosely defined, and what was a size 7 in a store several years ago may not be a size  7 today. Also, sizes run differently in different stores and even among similar garments in the same stores. So if you focus on buying clothes that fit no matter the size, you'll likely feel better about your body image because when you're comfortable in your clothes you move better in them and it shows.

5. Do unto yourself as you would do unto others. Think about your slightly overweight  or plump best, good friend, or someone overweight you admire. What are the thoughts you have about him or her? Do you ever think, I really like you but I'd like you more if you weren't so fat? I would hope not. In fact, I know some really great people whose larger body size make them, well, them and it works. I don't separate their bodies from who they are, so why should we do it to ourselves? Just as we can love and admire a friend whose body type may not fit the ideal, we can also love ourselves even if we are not completely satisfied with our bodies.

Do these tips sound like something you would or have tried? What are some other things you do to feel good about your body image?

Personality Traits and Dress: Compulsive Style

Well, we've finally come to the last part of our five-part series on Personality Traits and Dress (see previous posts, here, here, here, and here). This series has been so much fun and I'm sad that it's come to an end *sulk face here*. But our featured personality type certainly won't let you see her tears. She is the most straitlaced of them all. Here is compulsive style:

Illustration: Ann Shen

Those with compulsive personality traits have strong perfectionistic tendencies. They practice discipline and self-restraint, and are conscientious about following the rules, or at least desire to be perceived as such. You may call them goody two-shoes, Pollyana, or even drill sergeants but I'm sure many of us can relate to the desire to have things done "the right" way. If you have a predominate compulsive style, there isn't a hair out of place, or an unintended crease in your shirt. You may even be inclined to have matching accessories. You are perfectly prim and proper, and will have it no other way. In short, your outfits always read, "I'm packaged to perfection." Can you relate to the compulsive style?