In a Rut?

You have those times when your relationships just seem to be stuck in a rut. You feel like life with this person (friend or significant other) is montonous. Hey it's normal, we all go through it and for fear of hurting the individual we never speak up about it. Having experienced this rut myself on several occassions, I did a little research to find things to change it up (or spice it up!).
I've dedicated an entire post to pinterest before, and seriously am I ever thankful for this site. I end up finding so many things to attempt, inspirational quotes/pictures, and ways to add some flavor to any relationship.
In day to day activities, we tend to get busy and "forget" about our friends, family, and significant other. It's nothing personal, it just happens. When this happens, we don't realize how we isolate ourselves making the other individual feel awkward and left out. Then when you try to pick back up where you left off, you don't understand the space between (insert DMB music) that makes you feel so distant. I've listed a few ideas below that  can assist in getting back to normal. I've catogorized them as to whether this is best for you and your gal pals, or just for you and your significant other. Enjoy, I know I'll be doing a few of these myself.

Girl's day out:

• lunch out at a quaint restaurant
• Manicures & Pedicures
• Visit a winery ( also good for the romantic getaway)

• Out of town shopping spree (book a hotel for the night so you don't have to worry about the drive back)
• Painting Class (Sips N Stroke in Birmingham, AL is great, as well as the paint class offered by Relique in downtown Florence, AL)
• Girl's movie night in (bake goodies and share some drinks while watching old flicks)

Significant Other:

• Prepare a candle lit dinner as though you were out to a fancy restaurant
• Buy a new outfit (a naughty one) and model it for your spouse
• Get out of town-enjoying new places is a favorite of mine, and I've been begging my husband for weeks to do this
• Take a class together-whether it be cooking, painting, pottery whatever it is will be fun to learn something new together and have to talk about
• Outdoor activities-take up tennis, biking, or tossing a frisbee. Getting active together can be a lot of fun
• Games-my husband and I love to play card/board games. Make it interesting by making naughty bets ;)

• Surprise-either book a couples spa day, hot air balloon ride, or even a night in a local hotel.

Comment below, and let me know what you do to spruce up your relationships.

xoxo~

Time of the Blouse

Back in the day I can remember being called a "maw maw" and "grandmotherly" for liking blouses. If you were young, you just didn't wear them. Well now, they are the newest, hottest trend (and one of my staples!). Not only can you wear them to work, but it is a transitional piece that can be carried over into an evening look (going out with friends, dinner date, etc). Blouses can make me feel very feminine while either being professional or laid back. The shape and look of blouses have changed to appeal to the younger generation (to which I'm very thankful): neck tie blouses are very in, and recently I've purchased a "cropped" button up blouse that adds a hip style. I've added several blouses to my closet and I love pairing them with skinny jeans, especially colored ones. Check out these outfits I've pictured below:

This is my rendition of a neck tie blouse paired with a black pull over vest. Perfect for work (and I had several compliments-bonus!)

 I love this cropped button up blouse. I purchased this same one at Forever21 just a couple of weeks ago. Especially love it with my black skinny jeans.

Another purchase from Forever21. I've worn this one to work and have gotten compliments as well. I especially love the lace around the neck.

 Rolled up skinny jeans are cute, especially with an untucked blouse ( I hate tucking and avoid it at all costs). Very simple look for a lunch with the girls.

The texture in the cuff and neck on this lace make it eye catching. Great for work or dates

Who doesn't love the combination of this nude blouse and turqouise/green skinnies!

 One of my favs: untucked button up with black skinnies and heels (I've recently purchased a black felt hat to go with outfits such as this). Very Audrey Hepburn meets 21st century.

Another nude blouse/color jean combo.

Textured blouse.

Ok I do/don't like this outfit. What I do love are the scarf and blouse mix. 

So, don't fear of everyone thinking you've raided your grandmother's closet (actually that might be a good idea if you're on a budget, don't be afraid to change it up how you want). All of these blouses are adorable, trendy, and cute. Mix it up how you want and make it your own. Hopefully these have given you some inspiration. I can't wait to add more to my closet {much to my husband's dismay}.

xoxo

Maggie

Obessions:

Feathers!!!!! If you know me, I have a slight (ok, major) obession with feathers. I can't help it. I'm being a peacock for halloween, I wear feather earrings, feather hair clips, and feather necklaces. Currently I am researching ideas for a feather inspired christmas tree (but I am not going overboard with it). (psst, I even want a small feather tattoo on my wrist or foot-but that would be cause for my husband to divorce me). So, here are a few of my favorite feather photos. What are your thoughts on feathers: love or hate? And what is your favorite way to wear feathers? xoxo~

Feather Mask (New Years)

Feather clutch

Feather wall art

Feather bouquets

Feather photo (should have done this at my wedding)

Feather hat/dress

Inspirational feather photo

Feather tattoo

Reality Check: Health Edition

In watching recent news, I heard of one of my favorite reality stars/hosts had been diagnosed with breast cancer: Giuliana Ranic
What a shock! To be only 36 and have early stages of breast cancer, but Giuliana is an extraordinarly strong person and is handling it well.

It had me thinking about our health though. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month; and even though the month is about to be over in a week, we should be active about our health.

We stress more about how we look on the outside, instead of focusing on what is going on inside of our bodies (myself included). That's partially to blame on media, but thankfully the media has become extremely active in promoting the health of our inside as well. To me, the more healthy you are on the inside will show on the outside.

So how do you take care of your inside? First, go see a doctor and schedule some tests to make sure all is well (especially depending on your family history). Next, start exercising and eating right because not only will it just make you feel better you will naturally start to like your physical appearance as well (win win!!). Love yourself and your body will love you back. And lots of prayers sent to Giuliana and        family as she overcomes this battle!

xoxo~Maggie

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

We've all heard that saying before, so is it  true? Wednesday I took a trip to Brentwood/Nashville TN for a 2 day business trip. I looked forward to the trip but always hate leaving my husband. In some cases though, it seems  a small break apart is helpful. I wanted to know my follower/reader's thoughts. Couple of days away helpful or harmful?

P.S. Got a photo style post coming up Sunday ;)
 xoxo~Maggie

Love Letter

I was searching the files in my jump drive, when I came across this letter I had typed to Matthew (and myself) back in early 2008. I wanted to share it, because I had explored the definition of "I love you". I didn't alter my typos in order to capture the "realness". I hope you can get something out of this, and can feel inspired to not give up on love.

“Love is not a maybe thing.”-Lauren, The Hills

I love you…. three little words that can change a person’s life. I love you is often thrown around carelessly and hardly taken literally anymore. It has more definitions now than it did when it just meant, “I love you”

It’s meaning can range from the friend/brotherly love, the family love, and then the hopelessly carelessly love that makes you so weak to your knees sick love.

I love you has become a weapon to break hearts so people get what they want when they want. It has become an expression that many fear to hear or even say. And I ask myself…when did it get to that point. Why did people have to take something so beautiful and make it into something people are scared of?

I love you was something I heard often from my family. My grandfather never told my mother that he loved her, so she always made it a point to let us know she loved us. And that habit has rubbed off onto me. I tell my special friends who hold a very dear place in my heart that I love them and of course I make sure to tell my family I love them every time I speak with them.

Then the day came when I heard I love you from my first serious boyfriend. Which at that time in my life was the most awesome thing that could’ve happened to me. Little did I know I would get to experience the “other” meaning of “I love you”

I learned that I love you was not something as meaningful and beautiful as I was taught. I learned that I love you was said to get what you want when you wanted. It was a trap-an awful trap that I fell for every time.

But, the heartbreaking day came when I realized I hadn’t really been loved but used. Which of course is the most awful feeling in the world. And from that point on, I really didn’t think there was anything other than the love I had between my friends and family.

I tried to find someone who would fit my definition of I love you, but the only thing was- I lowered my standards thinking that the standards would eventually be met IF that relationship lasted long enough. But much to my disappointment, it became one failed relationship after another. And to my dismay, “I love you” became a history I thought I would never be able to experience with someone who wanted to experience it with me as well.

It only took 2 years and eight months (and of heartaches later) to run into someone who wanted to make that experience happen and of course we both didn’t know it at the time.

From the very first night that we talked, he made such an impression on me that I couldn’t get him out of my head. I was so impatient waiting on him to call or send me a message just so that I could get to know him better or just be around him.

I hadn’t felt this way…well never about someone. It just caught me off-guard because I had not been looking for anyone. I was just being myself-my goofy self (which is something I hadn’t done with anyone else) and then a wonderful thing happened. I met this amazing young man who shared my passion about several things and even better met every single standard I had set. I had no reason to lower my standards. Granted I had my guard up for a long time before I let him completely see me, but when I did our relationship grew so much and so fast that even now almost a year later I can’t believe that God has brought him into my life. I want to spend every waking moment with him, to give him everything I am. He is my other half, my best friend, my love, the one I can finally say those three beautiful words to.

Of course I waited for a long time before I even had the courage to say “I love you” but I was so excited to hear and feel the same thing from him.

And I’ll admit we have some rough patches-sometimes more than we want, but it only grows us stronger and helps us to learn about our relationship even more.  We are a very strong, passionate, and loving couple. I don’t know what I would do without him, better yet I wouldn’t know who I would be without him. Even though I knew who I was before he was brought into my life, he helped to bring me to a deeper level of knowing myself than I could have imagined. We’ve discovered so much about ourselves, because of who we are together and it is the most awesome experience ever. I can’t wait to share the rest of my life with him. I can’t wait to experience the rest of our lives together. To experience all the world has to offer. I love him and I’m so proud to say it. I love you Matthew George Crowson.

And I still love you Matthew...God only knows what else we can accomplish together (if we don't kill each other first lol).
xoxo~

LC Inspired Post

If you're like me, you always have trouble trying to figure out just what to wear to your 9-5. Every morning I stare bleakly into my closet and feel out what I'm in the mood for that day. My position requires professionalism. I try extremely hard to present that look every day, but there are just some days that I want to feel more laid back with a comfy cardigan and smaller heels. I tend to feel restricted in showing personal style, because I don't feel like the business suit compliments me (at this point in my life), looking in the mirror I feel like I little girl playing dress up in her mother's clothing. I do love suits, they reprsent a kind of power and fierceness in the office; and my husband loves to see me in them. But I find myself having to grow into the style. I blame it on my age, maybe when I hit 25 I'll feel better about it (since I'll be halfway to 50). So, you'll never guess what I've found that has changed my persepective and given me the much needed guidance for my business wardrobe..... and you'll find it at http://www.laurenconrad.com/ . As she stated, she's cracked the code and I am so thankful for the posts she put together-defining each type of Business Attire, whether you work in a casual office or if suits are your must, then she's got it laid out for you. Along with her 10 Commandments on office attire, it helps make better sense for those of us trying to figure out how to be within dress code and ourselves at the same time.

"Needless to say, at the end of the day clothes come off and what really matters are the accomplishments we have to show for ourselves. "-Lauren  Conrad

Go check out her posts, and hopefully the guidance she offers will help you find the fashionable/business woman in you :)

~xoxo