when feeling blue...get creative!

I started this blog because I was feeling pretty down and useless. I didn't have a job, and being a stay-at-home mom is so not my thing. I was in such a rut, not using my brain at all. When I got the idea to start a blog, all of sudden my brain woke up! I had ideas like every second and I had to keep jotting them down. This has been a wonderful creative outlet for me, because its keeps me accountable to use my brain in creative and fun ways, and constantly try new things.

What's funny is that I was speaking to a coworker, and she said that she was also unemployed and feeling down, and also used a spark of inspiration to start using her creative abilities, which pulled her out of it. I am wondering if anyone else has had experiences like this?

Now the trouble is making time for myself to express my ideas and keep the creativity coming. I just started a job last week, and I just moved apartments, and I am so busy! But I try, whenever I have a few moments, to brainstorm or sketch in my notebook, and stay on the lookout for things that will inspire me. I am happy to say that I have been feeling much more fulfilled and happy in the past few weeks!

Here's a blue outfit to start you off- turning "the blues" into something fun!

black white and pink

Wearing collared shirts has never been my thing- it reminds me too much of my school uniform. But seeing how versatile a look it is encouraged me to try it. So I bought a couple of collared shirts, and I don't regret it!
Here, I wanted to be warmer but not too warm, so instead of a sweater, I wore a regular crewneck tee. I really love this look because it is professional but still sweet and girly, and the head scarf brings it all together.

acting on inspiration

So as I said in a different post, that I sometimes procrastinate being creative, I am trying to seize my inspiration and act on it quickly before I chicken out.
The other day, I had a flash of wanting to do something creative. I got this idea of using a bottle to make a collage from my friend. It was fun to do, quick, and most importantly, it made me let go of any "plans" I had to make the bottle pretty. I just kept picking out images from magazines, and just seeing what happened. I think I am going to start doing more collages. Here is the bottle from different sides.

denim on denim

This is with my new (self-made) denim vest!

body image

alhambraantiques.com

I have just finished a book called Mirror, Mirror, Off the Wall by Kjerstin Gruys, about her personal experiment of not looking at herself in the mirror for a year in order to learn to love her body more. I am amazed at Kjerstin’s courage to not look at mirrors (even with her wedding coming up!), and inspired by how she explored the meaning of beauty and learned to feel more confident and comfortable with her body.

Through this experiment, she was able to give thought to what it meant to *feel* beautiful. She came up with - feeling surrounded by people who love her, feeling pride in her accomplishments, and feeling confident and at peace with herself, among other things. 

change in the air

Outfit details-head scarf-lemon-headband-sherel's-tee-adea-dress (used as a top)-banana republic-skirt-gap-shoes-bamboo-belt-jcrew-ring-gifted. I wanted to do fun makeup because, even though I love grey, its not a popping color. Makeup is electric purple and fuschia shadow with silver liner on the inner corners and black mascara.