i have swim suit confidence… and cookies
also, i don’t mind making a complete fool of myself, especially when snacks are involved.
a little while ago, a bunch of bloggers were contacted by lands’ end who had partnered up with the ladies of curvy girl guide for a fantastic campaign.
this week marks national swim suit confidence week, and i am honored to be a part of it and spread the message that confidence is beautiful, no matter your size… even in a swim suit.
today, may 23rd, kicks off this week with us posting about the campaign on our blogs, as well as asking you, our loyal readers, to join us in participating by adding a picture of yourself, swim suit clad, on the facebook page of lands’ end.
what was i saying? oh yeah, in addition to joining us on facebook, you can participate on twitter by following the hashtag #landsend and keeping up to date by the minute on some stylin giveaways as well as gaining some swim suit tips. BONUS!
in the near future, paul and i are headed for a little vacay to an undisclosed location of beachy awesomeness. i dreaded the bathing suit purchasing and put it off FOR-EV-ER, until i learned of lands’ end 2011 swim wear collection… uber flattering, tons of options, a range of sizes, and quite literally something for everyone.
so i bought one. i bought the black one pictured above (you can also find it by clicking here).
i’ve been a one piece bathing suit wearer since jackson was born 3 years ago, and after birthing a kiddo who weighed well over 9 lbs, i don’t see myself ever going back to a bikini. in fact, i may just have a bikini bonfire to solidify that.
the seaside sheath one piece bathing suit actually looks like it’s a two piece thanks to the multitude of scrunching and ruffling and gathering of material in all the right places.
i personally love that i can tug on it just a bit and it’ll adjust to cover my cheese-thigh-hips (you know, the stuff that’s below your hips but above your thighs in that odd middle of no where portion of your leg). well, screw you if you don’t and if you do, you’re nodding your head with me and saying “FINALLY” because THIS SUIT COVERS THAT.
fast forward a few weeks and i learned about national swim suit confidence week and was asked if i wanted to participate in it. HELLS YES! where do i sign? this time, i chose a two piece (NOT A BIKINI) but a top and shorts… ya know, switch things up a bit.
the beach living geo print bandeau tank swim suit top was just what i was looking for… something with removable straps, cute pattern, little ties on the sides to add a touch of femininity. perfect, done!
oh wait, i needed bottoms. i scoped out the choices and holy smokes are there a lot… the typical bikini bottom is always an option, in addition to the skirts, board shorts, skorts, ruffled swiminis (no i did not make that up) and what i settled on, the beach living 3″ swim shorts WITH TUMMY CONTROL. need i say more? since having a kiddo, those three words are music to my ears.
and there ya have it, folks… i am beach ready, but more importantly, i am swim suit confident, thanks to lands’ end.
now paul and i can go away on vacation, eat island food we’ve never heard of and drink as many coconut concoctions as possible… all while feeling fantastic in my swimwear.
join national swimsuit confidence week, get the twibbon and display the “I have swimsuit confidence!” twibbon on your twitter profile photo.
FULL DISCLOSURE: i purchased the first bathing suit and was given the second one by lands’ end for purposes of this campaign. all opinions are of my own.
i feel pretty… oh so pretty…
y’all, i’ve been nominated for the Top 25 Moms with Style on Circle of Moms.
to say i’m stoked doesn’t even touch on how i feel in mah gut. i’m over the moon to be included with such a fantastic group of strong and beautiful women.
typically i am found on this side of the camera… which i have come to truly adore…
on rare occasions *cough* like, for the sake of the “about” page of this here blahg, i’ll snap a quick shot on my laptop (even if it means my tattoos show up flip flopped…)
and then there are times when i’ll do what moms don’t typically do… i’ll spend time on myself.
::GASP:: THE HORROR!!!!!!!!
i’ll remember that i while i am a mother, i am also a woman, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend, an individual who enjoys expressing myself and my style…
so from now until april 28th, you can vote for me, once a day, by clicking on the pink button at the top of this post (it’s also on my sidebar) or you can CLICK HERE and go directly to the voting page that has been set up for My Bottle’s Up.
thank you so much!!! it’s lovely to be included. have a perfectly purty weekend!!!
naked time
ya’ll know there’s a group of bloggers who got next to naked for charity, right?
good! we’re excited too.
as you’re cyber-mondaying yourself today, please sneak a peek at the calendar over here and then proceed to the check out line, knowing that you’re supporting the National Eating Disorders Association with each purchase you make.
after that, go ahead and get naked.
be comfortable in your skin.
if you feel so inclined to share yourself, in your skin, please link up at the blogger body calendar’s flickr group. you don’t have to be one of the 12 crazies in the calendar to show and share your goodies.
many thanks and happy naked time… all the time.
to be continued
some 9 + years ago, i found myself on a plane bound for tampa.
my grandmother picked me up at the airport. i was alone.
it was spring break and i was going to spend 7 days at her condo on the beach.
it was only 7 months since i had been raped.
i don’t remember much from that trip. i couldn’t tell you if i even set foot on the beach or not.
what i do remember is a nap.
my grandmother’s condo sits directly on the beach. upon arriving to her sanctuary, i remember dropping my bags in the hallway, walking out to her balcony and laying face down on a lounge chair.
i slept for well over 3 hours. that entire afternoon had been spent in peaceful slumber.
i woke up to the sound of seagulls, watched them with squinted eyes and wondered where the hell i was.
it was the best nap of my life.
still is.
**********
a year ago, i told my story. to more than just my family and a close friend.
i shared with you all the intimate meaning behind the tattoos that i have… the significance of the color teal.
i shouted it from the roof tops… purging myself.
and i felt incredible. it was a high. i was riding the awesome wave of release. and damn, it felt good.
so last november, i got another.
my story continues to evolve as i continue to evolve as a survivor.
my life continues to evolve as i continue to evolve as a woman.
and while my tattoos share the common thread of rape survivorship, they each stand for something unique… something i choose to honor and remember forever.
because i get easily distracted.
though i’m moving forward, somedays are harder than others.
somedays the steps are miniscule and other days the steps are the length of a mile.
with my 10 year approaching next month, i find myself wanting to propel forward more than ever… carrying with me the good, the bad and the unfortunate.
because all of it… ALL OF IT… is me.
and i want to soar.
Have a Sip
