Monday Musings // 13 Things

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HEY! Thanks for keeping me going friends! Thanks for reading! Thanks for actually caring about 13 things I'm currently "musing" about. Hi-YAH!

Lez do dis. 

1 // WHY on EARTH do girls post the following: 

"My dad is better than yours." 

"My hubby is better than yours." 

"My baby is cuter than yours." 

"My family is cooler than yours." 

Why do they do that? Why is that necessary? Why can't they post things like: 

"Hey I know you have a best dad, but I have one too! He's the best for me, just like your dad is the best for you! Some people don't have dads, boy I'm so grateful I have a dad. You can share my dad if you want, if you don't have one or if your dad isn't that great, because sometimes that shiz happens." 

OR

"Hey my baby is really adorable, and I love them...I know that some people can't have babies and it's really hard for them. I'm so sorry that someone has to go through that, you can definitely hold my baby, you can share my baby, my baby is your baby, that really blows,  let's cry about it together, or your baby is the cutest darn thing in the whole entire world. I love your baby!" 

OR

"I am really grateful for my husband today. He's a great guy. The end." 

I just feel like the world would be a better place if we didn't go around flaunting all the "cooler than yours" things, ya know? 

2 // Why is Gap selling the cutest and the ugliest t-shirts right now? Heck, I would buy one of those ugly t-shirts. Let's get real. 

3 // Don't mistake someone's feelings of self-love for them feeling complacent about their health. I am all about loving yourself and loving your body. I'm bad it a lot of the time, but I love it. I couldn't support it or preach it more, but sometimes I feel like people think I'm saying I don't have to work out or that being unhealthy is okay. I'm not saying that at all. You need to take care of yourself. You need to go on a walk. YOU NEED TO SLEEP! YOU NEED TO DRINK A WHOLE BUCKET OF WATER! You need to stop eating 5lbs of ice cream a day, that's really irresponsible, or you need to start eating! Guys, that's real. People destroy their bodies because they don't like themselves and we need to start taking care of our bodies because we LOVE our bodies! Taking care of your body can even be saying that you like parts of it when you look in the mirror. Do what makes you feel happy. You *clap* do *clap* you *clap*. 

4 // Tyler and I MIGHT moving to a condo this Fall and so I've been thinking about how we're going to decorate, because we're going to be there for the rest of the time we are in Provo. This room really got me so inspired. I love the grey walls and the bed spread! Dreamiest!

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5 // I am obsessed with Hozier and Nick Jonas right now. Judge me all you want! I'll never surrender! Hozier's voice makes me weak at the knees. #SorryNotSorry

6 // A lot of people are going to complain about things that you like. That's just life. Today though, I saw Madewell post this picture in an instagram.

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I was personally going ham and cheese over the styling. Some ladies over 25 did not feel the same. One lady even commented: "Uh, Kurt Cobain for Madewell, if I wanted this outfit I would go to Good Will and get that ratty t-shirt for 50 cents." 

First of all lady, great, you have an opinion. I am so proud that you want to voice it. 

Second of all, Kurt Cobain for Madewell would be a kick-a collaboration, too bad he died way before his time. 

Third of all, I freaking love a good deal, Goodwill? Count me in. Don't make fun. Go there and get your t-shirt. 

Fourth of all, ratty t-shirt, yeah it could be, but Madewell has good quality clothes. They really do and if someone actually had that ratty t-shirt I would hope that you'd be nice enough not to say that to someone's face and keep it to yourself. 

Fifth of all, her hair is practically amazing. Disheveled is in. You being rude...is OUT. AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE SHORTS. THE SHORTS, LADY! 

Sixth of all, I got WAY too passionate about that. I'm sure that lady is the nicest. 

7 // I realize that I never finished my runway recaps. I still have stuff to do. I'm going to finish them even if it's been like a month since fashion week. Better late than neverrrrr. 

8 // Good food and good people, that's all you need in life. 

9 // Sometimes, you just have to let go of all that "caring" you have bottled up inside of you. Not the kind of sympathy and empathy caring, I mean the "I care too much about what people think of me" caring. The toxic caring that eats at your soul. Just get rid of it. Say, be gone, caring! I'm through with you. 

10 // The other day whilst almost crying over a stupid assignment (the toxic kind of caring, you know) this song played and my heart melted. It made me cry good tears. Where are you now, Dani? Where are you going? What do you care about? SPEAKING OF MUMFORD & SONS, Believe ain't my favorite, but I am a loyal mumford gal, so we'll see. Nothing beats, Babel, I think. 

11 // We all have storms. Don't discount your storm even if someone has a bigger storm than you. Learn from your storm. 

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12 // These linen-blend dresses are SO cute. So summery. I love stripes and linens. 

13 // I call this my "me in a dream" self: 

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Monday {Muse}ings // Jenna Lyons (THE QUEEN)

Forget about Beyonce, okay maybe you shouldn't forget about her, but if you know me you know what I mean, when I say that Jenna Lyons is QUEEN!

So here are 10 (though there are more than 10) times when Jenna Lyons emulated her majesty.

1 // The time when she attended Solange Knowles's wedding decked out in this ridiculously beautiful ensemble. I'm no fan or fur, but I'm a HUGE fan of that feathered skirt. So major. Also, leave it to Jenna to make her signature slouchy white button up, wedding chic.

2 // The time when she let us into her beyond perfect Brownstone and wore the coolest outfit that you only wish you could wear at home. Do you think she ever wears sweatpants to lounge in on that couch? Heaven forbid.

3 // The time she wore THIS! I wish I could see that whole dress, but of course, she pairs the sweetest feminine dress with opaque tights, a great snood, a mixed material coat and her signature gold baubles. 

4 // This time when she wore Stan Smith's, slightly flared trousers and that slouchy white button up again. It's the same time that she proved that she can also be the queen of minimalism. Kudos to the lady next to her. Her outfit is right up my alley.

5 // The time when she fearlessly wore her glasses and didn't give any craps about what people may think of glasses. They are THEE signature Jenna Lyons piece. I love a girl who can confidently rock glasses. 

6 // The time when she said this. Oh and when she rocked an all-denim look with sexy Louboutins. She also says that Leopard is a neutral, sooooooo there. 

7 // #praisehandemoji

8 // The time she made all your street style wishes come true. 

9 // The time she was the most adorable and fashionable mother. Did you know she sparked quite the controversy when she painted her son's toes pink for a photoshoot. To all the haters, pleeeeease. 

10 // The time and ALL the times that she's not afraid to always rock her classic pieces. You'll always seen Jenna with her two gold bangles and that distressed denim. I love her because she owns everything she wears, and she's not afraid to stake her claim on pieces that are just "her." 

Dream Killer

Well isn't it though? You wouldn't believe what I put my mind through sometimes.

This weekend I made a decision.

Growing up I struggled with perfectionism. Oh, who am I kidding, I still do! But also, growing up, I decided that I wanted to not try so hard. I wanted to be effortless. I wanted to be gold, because it's a good way to be. I decided that I didn't want to care about what people thought of me.

In a world full of girls, we care so much about what others thinks about us. We care about having Pinterest-perfect lives, weddings, wardrobes, kitchens, hair styles, finger nails...you name it. And it's not right.

How could we ever do this to ourselves?

How could I ever do it to myself? How could I ever compare? How could I be so ungrateful?

Yes, I am human. I struggle. I learn too!

I learn a lot about myself every day.

So this weekend I decided to keep to my commitment that I made to be effortless. To be gold. To not look at others on social media and compare myself to their pictures. To silly little pictures. I can't do that, because I like my life, and I really want to lift others. Oh I do. I want to inspire.

I want to help people feel light and joy.

How can I do that if I am so busy trying so desperately hard to write the best blog posts, have the best tumblr, pin the best pins, get the most likes on instagram, have the best wedding dress, upload the best wedding photos, have the best statuses, get the best grades, be a picture-perfect wife?

I don't think I can fulfill that dream if I am trying so hard to be perfect in the eyes of the world.

If I'm trying so hard to pretend to not be afraid of what they think.

God knows me. He loves me. He knows where I am..and really that's what matters the most.

Light and joy and dreams and inspiring and being perfectly content with how my life has turned out.

It's a wonderful life, really.

Why would I ever want anything else?

+ s t a y // g o l d