What Does Your LuLaRoe Say About You?

Yesterday, in the throes of disbelief I realized that almost all of my LuLaRoe was.... DIRTY! I looked into my closet, at my last clean Nicole, and then looked side to side at everything else. There was not a single other item in that closet that I would have chosen over my Nicole. So I headed straight to my kitchen, grabbed a garbage bag and headed to my closet with a newfound freedom. I was bagging up clothes like a crazy woman, and It. Was. Awesome.

 

After emptying about 30 hangers and taking them out of the closet, I set into my LuLaRoe laundry basket (yes, my LuLaRoe gets it's own basket) and was determined to get through the entire basket in a day, to fill my now empty closet with beautiful clothing that makes me FEEL beautiful. I wanted to see it all hanging there at one time. How many of us can look into our closet and see something that fits us on every single hanger? And then I realized, these clothes don't just fit my body, they fit something even more important: my personality! 

Let's take a look at just my Nicole dresses for a second: 

 

Personality, right?! And that's not even including the beauty I am wearing right now!

 

Seeing my laundry hanging up to dry brought me so much joy, because I realized that for the first time in my life, I am CONFIDENTLY dressing my truth! I am not just dressing my body, I am dressing ME! How much greater that is than just fitting my curves; I am also fitting the complex set of experiences and traits that make me into who I am!

Then as I continued in my laundry day, I started seeing some patterns. Let's look at my leggings for a second!

 

I am certain that I have heard my husband tell me at some point, "Don't get those leggings, you already have a pair in that color." First of all: he's such a guy. Secondly: who says that I can't have a favorite color? I was slightly aware, but not entirely, that almost all of my leggings have the same colors in them, of course with variations of others, because, let's face it, I'm me. Aquamarine, turquoise and mint are my best friends. I will tell you that I bought a pair of red leggings once (it was a unicorn!) and as soon as I put them on my legs it was offensive to my SOUL! I know they look killer on whoever has them now, but for me, I kept the blue pair that matched (I was hoarding the deers) and traded the red pair, because I KNEW I would never wear them, even though I thought they were crazy awesome on someone else.

(Now let me say for a second, this is by no means a show-off or contest of how much LuLaRoe I own. We all know I have hosted a bajillion parties in the last year, earning most of my LuLaRoe for free, while my family was barely off of WIC and foodstamps. Poverty did not hold me back from realizing the importance of dressing myself with love, of caring for myself, or realizing that I am worth it. With thoughtful decisions and hard work, anyone can do this!)

So I started noticing patterns in color, but then I noticed a few other patterns as well, quite literally!

 

I love circles. It's totally a thing. I freaking love circles.

 

I also love florals. The brighter the floral the better. Throw some neon in there and I can't even go on. 

(Let me also throw in here, a note: I literally earned five of these pieces for free, and only paid full price for one of them. Host parties, ladies!) Anyway, the first floral I earned for free (the purple one!) I actually thought it was hideous. Grandma. But I had all this credit for free dresses and it had cerulean in it, so I was sold. I literally stood in the mirror for ten minutes when it arrived, in awe at myself in a floral. I never turned back. I. Love. Floral.

I could go on and on about my pattern choices, but instead I'll just leave this here.

 

I like feathers, too.

Now, there are a couple of pieces in my LuLaRoe wardrobe that I don't feel completely natural in. I love these pieces on the hanger, but when I put them on, often times they make me feel like I have to wear a certain makeup, style my hair a certain way, accessories are required even if I don't want them, and it takes a lot of effort, and then I take them off and put on my sunglasses dress. These are them. Tell me if you notice a difference: 

 

And on that note, I bought the red floral Nicole over a YELLOW version of my sunglasses dress, and I literally still lose sleep over that decision. For real. 

So laundry day opened up my eyes a little bit about my shopping tendencies. It was seriously a fun laundry day! Like a personality quiz, way better than Buzzfeed. And then I had this thought: has anyone else analyzed their personal fashion like this?! I'm sure someone has, maybe a lot of people do? But have YOU?

So, if you've made it this far (Hi, Mom!) you're officially into the good stuff! I am going to start something new in LuLaRoe Serena McRae, with the assistance of my bestie, Anna Schumacher! 

Wardrobe Profiling: What Does Your LuLaRoe Say About You?

I am going to create an album where I want YOU to photograph your leggings together, and your nicoles together, your Randys together, etc! Then Anna and I will go through your pictures and help you discover your tendencies. You can make a photo of your absolute favorite pieces that make you feel like you're sparkling, and the pieces you don't wear as often. And together we can create a fashion profile for you! 

Why are we going to do this? 1) FOR FUN! 2) I am your fashion consultant! If we can create a fashion profile for you, you might just get personal recommendations from me, outfits made JUST FOR YOU, or private messages when I find something that is literally perfect for you! 

So here's what I want you to do!

1) Photograph your favorites, then photograph your least favorites. Photograph your leggings, and your other pieces together in separate photos. 

2) Find the Wardrobe Profile album in LuLaRoe Serena McRae, and post one image of your favorite LuLaRoe pieces and caption it with your name! 

3) post your other photographs in the comments of that picture.

4) Get ready to have a fun conversation about your shopping tendencies, your personality, your styles, and whatever else!

5) Recieve LuLaRoe recommendations from me! 

This is going to be fun!!! As fun as my love for blue!

 

LuLaRoe: Fear No Print

LuLaRoe is pretty well known for the craziness of their prints! Personally, I think it's a great reputation to have, but I know that many of us may find busy prints daunting. I'll be the first to say that this print in the Nicole dress wasn't something I thought I would ever wear. However, a talk with my favorite cosmetology friend taught me that it is important, and very simple to break up the busyness of a piece.

 

Let's take this Nicole dress as our example. It is nuts! Every inch of it is packed full of rich color and texture. This print is definitely a DTY type 3 dress. It is a picture of texture and warmth. But it can also be pretty overwhelming! First things first, this piece needs to be surrounded by solids. Brown belt, to find your waist, or draped on your hips, and solid brown boots. A simple jean jacket or vest will frame the fun of the print, and tone it down to a manageable yet fabulous level. If you're loving the busy, boho style, be brave and throw a cream lace duster cardigan over this beauty, and some braids in your hair! (Since I just wrote that, I absolutely need to hit up target now and try it! 😱) 

 

So we used some solids to break up the intensity of the print, but now comes the fun part. With a busy print you get an overload of color, which gives you an entire spectrum of options for accessorizing! Bronze and gold metals, glass beads, bone beads, wood, seashells, minerals and gems! Seriously, how gorgeous would a bronze cuff be with this dress? Metal earrings? Gah! 

 

 

I pulled out some of my favorite pieces and discovered that this dress is basically made for me! But here's a little secret just for you ladies, and it's going to make you want to buy a bronze cuff of your own: this dress isn't mine. It's yours! That's right! This gorgeous, warm, boho Nicole is going in the giveaway stash!!!!

That's right! I now have a minimum of five items for our five weeks of giveaways coming up in June, and I'm not necessarily going to stop collecting goodies for you all, because, let's face it, I'm having way too much fun, aaaaand I really kind of like you guys!

Love ya! 😘

To join in on my LuLaRoe journey, gets tips and critiques on LLR styles, and to keep up on upcoming giveaways, join my to-be shopping group: www.Facebook.com/LularoeSerenaMcRae

To follow me on Instagram: @lularoeserenamcrae

www.Facebook.com/LularoeSerenaMcRae

LuLaRoe and The Incredible Irma

Okay, so yeah, I'm over here working my tush off cleaning my kitchen floor (seriously, you don't even want to know the details), and my thoughts keep coming back to, "Dang am I comfortable!" 

Today I am in the beloved, top-selling outfit for moms everywhere, the Irma top and butter-leggings! I tried to figure out how on earth to show it to you ladies with only myself, a three-year-old and a two year-old at my disposal. So here's my Real Housekeepers Of America pin-up, so you can see the AWESOME combination of baggy tunic with flattering fitted sleeves. 

 

I have been all over the place with this top.  I thought it made me look like a bag lady the first time I tried it.  That was with the recommended two sizes down from my actual size. Bag lady. Two. Sizes. Down.  What the heck kind of top is that?  Next I was in denial and tried out an Irma in my actual size.  This time I was beyond bag lady. I'm talking sail boat proportions. It's a good thing I didn't step outside, because it was a windy day and I probably would have made it to New Mexico. Bag lady. Kite lady. Finally I tried again, but I went only one size down, to go for a legitimate tunic/dress type look.  Ladies. This is it.  Goldilocks freaking loves Irma tunics now.  

It has the perfect balance of flowy fabric, with the fitted sleeves. It doesn't hug under my arms like your average top, which means no sweat circles!! Say what?! I am a sweaty gal. I love this feature. And let's not forget the length! For some the idea of a booty in leggings is a sin, for me, I love but don't flaunt my baby apron, left over from having two kids in two years. The Irma is coverage. Rock those crazy leggings like you are still 16, but throw an Irma on top and you'll look as fab (and appropriate) as you feel.  

Coverage.

Bag-lady fashion potential.

Mom life.

But the Irma doesn't stop there. Like every piece of LuLaRoe you can up-style the life out of this top. Seriously, instead of ogling desserts you'll never bake on Pinterest, just look up the world of possibilities with Irma. Belts. Knots that look like roses. Cinching in the waist with a hair tie, for an ultra flattering look. Irma as a swim suit cover-up. All this, and no underarm sweat circles.

Go on. Get an Irma. 

 

To join my to-be boutique, have a chance at winning some LuLaGoodies, and follow along my LuLaRoe journey, join my group here: www.facebook.com/groups/LuLaRoeSerenaMcRae

To follow me in Instagram: @lularoeserenamcrae

Growth!

Six months ago my mornings were a mixture of depression and anxiety about the following day. If there was dishes in the sink I would literally cry through washing them, while my children screamed for breakfast. Some days I would forget to feed my children until lunch time, because I was too depressed to feed myself. I was malnourished. I was given doctor's orders to drink protein shakes even when I didn't think I could. I needed more than I was giving myself, but I thought more sleep, more peace and quiet was what would heal me.

I visited my sister, who is an early bird, and she had to wake me up every morning. She, as older sisters do, told me, "You don't need more sleep. That's not the answer. You need more activity. Get up early, set a schedule."  If someone else would have said this to me, I probably would have given them the, You-Don't-Know-What-You're-Talking-About-Because-You-Don't-Have-Children Speech.  But my sister is different.  As one of the strongest, most independent women I know, I was like, "... Okay."  

And I did. 

I went home and set my personal alarm to 7:00am. And the next morning I didn't snooze it. I made my kids breakfast. Nobody yelled at me. I didn't cry.  Did I take a nap with my kids that day? Heck yes I did!!! But this time, I deserved it.

This decision to change has snowballed, and it hasn't stopped.  My visit with my sister was just two months ago, and since then, I have walked three mornings a week at 8am, and my enthusiasm has gotten a friend to join me on those mornings, and is helping him battle his depression.  The other days of the week I get up and start my chores without delay. 

But that is not all.

I finally decided it was time to take charge of all of my habits. I joined Weight Watchers, and lost 8 pounds in my first month.  I am about to reach a weight I haven't seen for over two years.  I am planning meals, and buying more produce, and actually eating it before it goes bad!  And you know what?  I can take my kids out for ice cream, watch their joy and not feel sad.  I am finally balanced and happy, and claiming more healthy habits in my life!  And when I absolutely need some Super Nachos from Paco's, I budget it into my day, and I eat it, and I love it!

I decided I needed time for me, so I reached out, and found a job, photographing inventory for a LuLaRoe consultant.  One night a week, I get to chat with a lovely woman while doing work that makes my back hurt, and I get to think about exposure and white balance, while doing something that directly blesses someone else.  And then I take home my paycheck in clothes, drape them over my shrinking body, look in the mirror and love myself.

Today I got up at 7:15am, did a load of laundry, washed all the dishes and cleaned the counter tops, hung up the laundry to dry, walked two miles, sweated out an entire pound, showered and fed my kids all before 10:30am.  Six months ago I would have climbed out of bed at 10:30 in tears

And then I realized that I now have the confidence and the capability to run my own business, and to do it well. So I took the plunge and signed-up to sell LuLaRoe. I'm going to make money. I'm going to have something that is mine. I am going to help my family gain financial freedom.  And among these goals I am going to make it a top priority to help women see themselves in a new light.  I want to help women to transform their confidence and their lives the way that I have in these past months.  I want to help them love themselves, the way I have learned to love myself!

 

If you'd like to join me on my LuLaRoe journey, feel free to join my group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1588650218132032/

Self-Love and LuLaRoe

Let me tell you a story!

I had my two babies very close together. By the time I was coming out of the babymoon of my second baby, I didn't have a single piece of clothing that fit right. Everything has been stretched to 41 weeks pregnancy size, and spit up on, and stained and I just wore these ratty old clothes and it made me feel like a martyr to the cause of motherhood. 

A year later, I had bought a couple of jean shorts and some new tee shirts, but nothing seemed to fit right after all my body had been through in the last two years. Then enter LuLaRoe! I was invited to a party on Facebook, and saw a maxi skirt that I would have rocked in highschool, but I felt like, as a martyr to motherhood, that I was destined to wear stained black and grey for the rest of my life. 

I got crazy for a minute; I bought the skirt.

 

And then I was suddenly enveloped in this incredible world of self-love.  These clothes were made for me! Who else refuses to buy yourself nice clothes because you want to reach a weight-loss goal first? That's what I was doing. Eyeing a $150 dress from mod cloth, that I could buy when I lost 60 pounds. It felt like punishment and torture.

Then I bought myself a $48 knit dress, with a full circle skirt, that was blue with red sunglasses all over it. It was BETTER than that mod cloth dress, and it was kind to my body. Suddenly, in the middle of my weight/loss journey, I had an adorable dress, that rocked my body, and felt good! I didn't have to fidget with it or be embarrassed. I posted a picture in my new dress on Facebook and found a community of women who lifted me up, and reciprocated to me that I am beautiful! 

I. Am. Beautiful.

 

A year later, now finding the most measurable success with Weight Watchers, I have signed up to become a fashion consultant to this company that has helped to lift me up. It has helped me to not plan to reward myself when I get there, but to reward myself now, while I am on the journey, doing my best! I deserve it! I deserve it for doing well, for being healthy, and for being and LOVING me!

Thank you LuLaRoe, and thank you Weight Watchers! 

And thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey! Let's open the doors to self-love to as many women who want to come in!

Feel free to join me on my journey here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1588650218132032/