Weekly Chic

Today is the beginning of a new week which means new responsibilities & challenges are coming our way. Instead of waking up with the thought of dreading Monday and starting a new week, try to wake up tomorrow with the thought that something amazing is going to happen. Which brings me to the first item of our Weekly Chic list:

1. Weekly inspiration. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by our daily routines and just need a little positivity so why not make it a weekly thing on Mondays to read some weekly inspiration? It can be a book, the bible, a walk in the park, pinterest, a magazine, etc. Just make a point (even if it is only for a few seconds) to allow yourself to be inspired by life. I decided to help out & provide some.

I think this message is extremely important because not only is perfection boring, but also totally unattainable. If you work towards perfection then you are always going to be disappointed because nobody is perfect. Life changes when you embrace the flaws and lack of perfection.

I cannot stress this enough. Work is inevitable but we live in a society where we can freely choose what we study & try to plan life. My advice is choose to major in a passion. If you study something you have a genuine love for, every day will feel like a new and exciting learning experience. If you feel passionate while studying it, just imagine how it will be once you make it a career. 

Honestly the first time I read this quote, I teared up. If you have ever experienced depression or felt unworthy, this is for you. Despite how we feel about ourselves, we were created to be victorious. Never forget it. 

Now, let's get down to business...

2. Trend-casting for Spring. If you are unfamiliar with trend-casting, it is basically predicting trends, like forecasting except I'm not a weather man ;). 

My predictions for Spring are as follows: Floral print, bell sleeves, floppy hats, crochet, lace bralettes, lace in general, palazzo pants and bells, tapestry bags, pops of neon, tie dye, fringe and lots of bohemian inspired jewelry and accents.

3. V-day Recipes. Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and who doesn't love to receive something handmade and delicious? You know what they say: The way to a man's heart is through his stomach so check out these Valentine's Day Food Ideas for Him.

4. Hairstyles. I found a new go-to hairstyle for Spring that I am dying to share. I've seen it on pinterest a few times, but just recently tried the half-up braided crown. I love how easy it is and it totally adds a romantic & classy vibe to an outfit, which is exactly what you want on Valentine's Day.

Find out how to master this style here.

Next, I found a really innovative way to display bobby pins in hair...(Yes, I said display, not hide). 

Use two bobby pins to create an open triangle- I love it, do you?

5. Sunday Night television. Television isn't a subject we talk about much on this blog but I felt it was worth mentioning because Sunday night has become the night for television, in my opinion. THE WALKING DEAD IS BACK and as some of you might know. never disappoints with dramatic episodes full of gore and emotion. The fifth season's opener was no different with flashbacks of Beth & the twins to the super shocking ending. Also, one of my other favorite t.v. shows Girls (on HBO) came on last night after a week long hiatus, thanks Super Bowl. Shockingly, the episode was a little on the boring side, but we did see Shoshanna and Ray bond while running errands, which was cute. We also saw that Hannah might be second-guessing her decision to attend the Master's Writing Program in Iowa, which is interesting. I can't wait to see what next Sunday night has in store for both.

What was your favorite part of this Weekly Chic? Comment below!

Transformation

Lately, I have been doing some major soul searching and have come to some realizations. This was difficult to realize and accept, but I have failed at being a consistent fashion/style blogger. When I began blogging, about four years ago, it was the best decision that I could've made (for that point of my life) and I poured my soul into it. My blog grew slowly but surely and BTW, I appreciate every reader and especially the few of you who interacted with my posts; y'all truly made it a blast to dish out my thoughts on fashion and share my style with the world. Unfortunately, things
happened that were beyond my control, and I lost heart. The blog started becoming more of a chore and hassle. I saw my numbers dropping within the blog, and things in my personal life were going downhill. I truly became discouraged and uninspired, and boy did it show...
Upon this monumental point and so called "soul searching," I realized my love of blogging still exists, but my interests have shifted from strictly fashion to home decor, beauty, skin care, fitness & nutrition, DIY natural remedies, and inspirational oriented topics. So...what do you think of me incorporating all of those topics into one post each week (or more if it happens that way) titled Picks of the Week or hopefully something catchier?! 2015 is a year of transformation for Bows and Moccasins, are you ready?!
As always please leave your thoughts below because the the reason I blog is to inspire you and create content that you actually enjoy and look forward to reading! Sometimes in this hectic spiral we call life, we need a break from everything. You know, it's not a crime to take some time to yourself! Kick back, relax and become inspired.

Father’s Day:SUPERMOM edition

Father’s Day brings a whirlwind of emotions to me, the only daughter to my single mother. If your mother is also Superwoman (along with mine) then you understand what I mean. The real recognition of today not only belongs to the men who had the balls to step up and be the man they were called to be but to the single mothers who do it all by themselves. If you are a single mom, I would like to sincerely thank you for picking up the broken pieces of your family and putting them back together solely with your support, love, and encouragement.

I do not personally know what it is like to run a household and a family but I cannot imagine it would be some easy task. I have trouble remembering clothes in the washing machine or dishes in the dishwasher. Some mothers have multiple kids and keep an immaculate house. HOW? I will never know. It is also those same mothers that run around like chickens with their heads cut off and can’t sit down and relax, because there is always something that needs to be done. If the person reading this has any of the qualities mentioned above, do me a favor and take some time for YOU today. Even if it is just giving yourself a pedicure or maybe finishing that book, go do it. After spending today with your father or not (whichever) or tending to your family, sneak one thing into your day or night which benefits YOU. You deserve recognition and relaxation too.

AM I RIGHT?

Again, thank you to all the single moms out there who play SuperMOM and dad (all in one). Your kids will never be able to say in words how fortunate they are to have such a wonderful person like you as a mother & father.

Also, to all the dads who stepped up, THANK YOU for being the person you are to your kids. The world could really use more caring & strong men.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY Y’ALL

XOXO,

SweetSouthernPea

Pondering

Here is something to ponder on:

We the people; a nation which circulates around wealth and not health. Why are we not more worried about incorrectly labeling our food rather than ignorantly labeling each other?

Think about it.

Research it.

Act on it.

-SweetSouthernPea

Depression

Today, I want to address an important issue. If you are expecting something style and beauty related, exit off now. For a real issue affecting people everyday, stay tuned.
Did you know that one half of all college graduates become mentally ill before graduating. Mental illness includes alcohol addiction (substance addiction), down syndrome or autism, an old person losing their memory, a depressed college student, and many other situations describe someone as mentally ill.
Until 1963, homosexual people were even considered mentally ill.
A mental illness causes a lack in creativity, a lack in vibrancy, and a lack of confidence.
Did you also know women are more likely to get anxiety in their lifetime than men and men are more prone to substance abuse?
A mental illness is a relatively common thing so don’t judge or misuse the terms for mental illness. Be careful the next time you want to call someone a psycho or retarded. You might not know their personal situation and they actually could have a mental illness, so be considerate when lashing out those terms.
I for one, have experienced and am currently experiencing depression. I have never been on prescription anti-depressants but I have taken some natural things. Though lately, I have been considering medical treatment because it just doesn’t seem to go away.
The best way I know how to explain being depressed is looking at the world through a black and white filter. Everything you see has no color, no life, and no purpose. You don’t see the bright and wonderful things in life, instead you’re head is filled with dark and sad things.
Depression is like a dark cloud that gradually creeps up on your life. It’s not something that happens over night. You don’t go to bed one night happy and then wake up the next morning sad. It’s way more subtle than that. In fact, sometimes people go months not realizing they are depressed. Me? I guess you could say I was in denial about being depressed. I would put on an act and a smile and act like everything is fine but you can’t do that forever. Eventually, I had to admit to myself that I was/am indeed sad and want to stop living my life looking through a black and white filter.
Do you live your looking through a black and white filter? If so, lets just try to help each other. What makes you sad? Are you in denial about your outlook on the world?
If so, don’t be afraid to comment below and express how depression has affected your life or your in depth description of depression.
I just wanted to get this off my chest and don’t forget to comment if you can relate.
 
XOXO,
SweetSouthernBeauty

Over it.

I'm so over being the girl that cleans up after him.
I'm so over trying so hard and him still being unhappy.
I'm so over being the only girl without a sweet gift on Valentine's Day.
I'm so over putting in all my effort and getting none in return.
I'm so over constantly trying to make things better and them remaining the same.
I'm so over playing this stupid love game.


I'm so sorry for my absence y'all but I have been dealing with some personal issues hence the depressing poem above. I've decided I need to take some time to figure things out; which doesn't mean I'm not going to post things.



Stay Tuned.

XOXO