This is the first lesson in my becoming a professional … me that I am passing along to you, my dear readers. If you have any input or tips, please comment and share them!
These were my goals as outlined in my previous post- the Series Launch.
-affordable fashion- what are good investment pieces and what isn’t necessary as well as how to fix hair quickly in a way that looks good!
-food preparation- we are gluten free and finding quick and easy meals to make ahead to have on hand is very important, especially since we can’t afford to eat out all the time.
-finding time to exercise- it’s HARD!
-how to just balance life in general! How to still spend quality time with your family and still “have a life”.
Lesson 1 is on how I’m rediscovering fashion and how I’m trying to make it affordable. This fashion section will be a few posts, this one being more broad and the next one focusing more specifically on items that are helpful in a wardrobe and what pieces are “necessary” and which aren’t.
Here’s the back story…
Pre-kids I loved high end fashion and expensive handbags. I worked in a casual place and wore jeans to work every day, but they were usually $200 designer jeans paired with cute tops from Macy’s to Forever 21. I love accessories and had dozens of fun jewelry options to go with any outfit. When I had children my clothes budget basically disappeared and between the pregnancy clothing with the additional 75 lbs and a post-pregnancy body that didn’t loose weight quickly (Nursing did NOT help me loose weight…) I had to make due with whatever I could find. I think I was depressed with the 45 lbs of weight that seemed sticky and the fact that I didn’t have the money or know-how to even dress myself any more. As Bear grew older my wardrobe expanded some, then just as I was getting close to pre-baby weight I found out I was pregnant with Bug. The cycle continued and just as I was getting close (much quicker with the second child) to my pre-pregnancy weight (and clothes that were no longer fashionable…) Ben lost his job.
The next six months were difficult emotionally and challenging for me as I got a part time job to help out. Ben got a job a few months later that he still loves, and then a great opportunity came up for me to start working again full time for the first time in over 5 years- and hence the cause of my new fashion series on going back to work!
and now you are yawning and thinking… “wow, this would be so much more helpful if you’d just tell me what I came here to find out… enough with this bait and switchery! No more personal stories, I am busy and important and you are taking too much of my time!” To which I’d reply, “ummm, so this is MY blog and I’ll say what I want… (Can you tell that I’ve been with my kids a lot lately? hah!) but as I was already at the end of my wonderful personalization of these lessons, here ya go:”
Lession 1: Find yourself fashion wise
Overview of my VLOG:
1. Figure out who you are- what you like. Do you even care what you wear? Who are you fashion wise?
2. Save your money up and have a lot to spend at once- Great sales or Outlet Malls can be a huge source of savings if you spend smart!
3. Buy quality brands when possible. I still buy a lot of tops at thrift stores and garage sales because layered with a sweater and nice slacks, no one notices.