"What's it all about, Bree?": The 411 on this blog
Well, here I am. My first blog post for Breeslifestyle! I’ve been a bit torn about how to begin this blog; whether I should just jump into it with a bunch of outfit of the day posts or if I should introduce myself beyond the brief welcome message on my home page. I decided to give you a bit of background on who I am and the purpose of this blog.
I love clothes. I love fashion. I love to decorate. I love to eat. I’ve developed a love for fitness. And I love, love, LOVE to shop! That’s the bottom line. I love to travel, too, but haven’t been able to get about as much as I’d like to. My plan is to change that and share those experiences with you on this blog. Self-care is something I learned to indulge in without guilt. Everyone should have some “me” time, whether you’re dating, married, a parent, or simply overworked and stressed out. It’s okay to treat yourself to a day, a weekend, or a few hours where you just do YOU!
Now, I understand the fashion industry enough to know what’s “hot and in style” today can turn into “wouldn’t be caught dead in it”, tomorrow. Spending a lot of money on trends can be a waste, but there are ways to enjoy trends affordably while also investing in classic pieces that’ll always be in style regardless of fashion cycles. And when I say “invest”, I don’t mean spending $100+ on a pair of basic black pants. You CAN get a quality pair of stylish/classic black pants for less than half of that. You just need to know how and where to find them. That’s what this blog is for. I’m going to show you where to find the goods!
The decorating bug is something I got from my Mom who was notorious for changing rooms around the house every six months when I was a kid. Home Decor magazines and books were always around and I could spend as many hours turning the pages looking at bedrooms and bathrooms as I could fashion magazines and catalogs. As an adult, my mood tends to dictate my decorating style. The look of my domain probably changes more often than six months at a time; more like season to season. To be able to change things around this frequently I have to be creative, not only with the items I purchase, but with my budget. I dabble in DIY, but being short on time, it’s easier for me to be fiscally creative as opposed to whipping out a hot glue gun or needle and thread. I do, however, appreciate those who go full-on in transforming items via DIY. This blog will highlight a little of both!
Fitness was never something I imagined I would ever be into, but there’s nothing like being out of breath on a 3-flight stair climb to make you realize you need it in your life. Once, two years ago, the elevators were out at work and we had to use the stairwell for two or three days. The first day, I thought I was simply out of shape from having not climbed that many stairs in awhile. By the third day, I realized I was simply out of shape…and in a bad way. The pain in my legs and lungs was a sign that although I seemed physically fit on the outside, my inner couch potato was showing its true face. If I had to climb those stairs non-stop to save my life or someone else’s, it wouldn’t have ended well. A few weeks later, I bought my first pair of black workout leggings, a sports bra, a cheap pair of sneakers (was never a sneakers girl because I thought they made my tiny ankles look spindly) and started exercising in my living room. I felt defeated not being able to do 10, YES--TEN, jumping jacks without becoming winded and achy, but I persisted. For one thing, the endorphin magic is real. Even five minutes of sweating gets the feel-good endorphins popping. I began to crave that sense of satisfaction after a workout, even if I struggled during it. My posture changed in a good way. Breathing got better. I had tons more energy…even when battling after-workout soreness. A few more workout outfits and bits of affordable equipment later and I felt like I full blown fitness pro (I’m not). The other thing I discovered on my fitness journey is it DOES NOT have to cost a fortune to find cute workout gear and effective, motivating workout plans! My idea with this blog is to, hopefully, inspire you to get fit, if you aren’t already, and/or share fitness tips and programs that worked for me. My goal is to show you how you can do this for very little money and with very little time. There are tons of ways to get fit in your own home, in the backyard, or at a local park. All you need is the will.
Now, after getting my feet wet in the world of fitness, eating healthier entered my consciousness. Turns out, they go hand in hand. I have to admit, eating healthy is forever a struggle since I loathe most vegetables and anything that’s low-salt or sugar-free doesn’t appeal to my palate. But I’m determined to find alternatives that allow me to eat healthier without sacrificing taste. And note I said, “healthier”. I’m nowhere near eating “healthy”, but I’m definitely trying to make better choices towards a healthy lifestyle. If you’re struggling, too, I hope the foods and recipes I share on this blog will inspire you to try them. One step at a time, I will get there and it would be cool to know others are getting there, as well, with me. I hear there are yummy ways to get your veggies in and camouflage the taste of foods that are good for us, but may be hard to swallow. I plan to pass each and every yummy--but healthy-- thing I’ve discovered and hope to find, on to you! Stay tuned.
The travel and self-care posts in this blog may be intertwined, occasionally, because sometimes you need to get away for a little self-care. But that’s not always the case. It’s absolutely possible to indulge at home for a small cost. And let’s be honest, oftentimes, traveling can be too stressful (going or coming back) for self-care to stick. How many of us have needed a vacation after a vacation?! If you like to travel, be on the lookout for my tips on how to get great deals and travel affordably. I’ve stayed in 4-star hotels for $79 a night or for absolutely FREE! If you want to know how, bookmark this blog because I'll, most definitely, pass those tips on to you.
I know if you’re on social media sites it can seem like you need to have a lot of disposable income to have nice things, but you really don’t. If you’re into labels, luxury, and status symbols, then, yeah - it will cost you a pretty penny. If you’re all about functionality and practicality, it’s all achievable on a budget. And when I use words like “practical” and “functional” I hope I’m not triggering memories of ugly basic shoes your parents brought you for school instead of the cute stylish ones all the other kids had. You can have cuteness and quality for practical prices. Trust me. People get my income twisted all the time, but I'm not rolling in it. I think I’ve simply mastered the art of spending my money wisely; and that’s what I mean when I use words like “practical” and “functional”. Wise choice, not hideous choice. Even expensive things can be hideous or turn out to be poor quality. Been there, done that! Embrace practicality! It was the greatest thing I did in living my best life. Maybe you’ll find it’s what works best for you, too!