Renewal of a Vow

I don't know what it is about Sunday afternoons that make me reflect and contemplate my life, but it just seems the best time to do such things.

Over a year ago, I began my weight loss journey on February 1, 2011. A little more than a year later, I've lost 25 pounds, but I have lost 0 pounds since last Summer. I have recently lost the holiday weight I gained though! I've since plateaued for a long while now, and I feel like I'm back to where I started mentally and emotionally--breaking down in dressing rooms and in front of my own closet, and mostly feeling uncomfortable with myself. This whole journey was never about looking good, rather it's been about feeling comfortable in my own skin. It's kind of hard to keep that in mind when running a personal style blog. Though I'm more comfortable than I was last year, I still have so many issues behind-the-scenes of this blog and my cheerful exterior. Through out these stressful months, I reverted back to the habits of comfort eating and self-pity, but I renewed my weight loss goal today (like an hour ago according to Twitter). But just like last year, something in me has snapped again this past week, and I cannot stand being in this body anymore. I tried for so long to convince myself to just accept me as I am, but I know in my heart of hearts that I'm in the wrong body (and that complacency will get me nowhere). I'm declaring it today that my goal for this Spring season is to be able to wear single-sized clothing. If I can lose another 25 pounds this Spring, I'd just be 10 pounds away from my goal weight. Now that my fieldwork is over, I am more determined than ever to finish this journey so that I can begin a new one as a healthier and happier me. With my first graduate school interview this Tuesday, I have so many things to look forward to and I do not want to get in the way of myself anymore.

If you're interested, you can read more about my weight loss journey in this post that I wrote last year.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Not a Drive By

It was really warm over the weekend that I didn't want to wear anything else but a breezy t-shirt and skirt to do a little shopping. I have my first graduate school interview on Tuesday so I need to find clothes for that. But other than a necklace and a beanie, I didn't really find anything to buy. I'm in this shopping rut, which is weird because besides eating, shopping is probably what I'm best at. It's getting a little frustrating since I feel like my style is transitioning and changing, but I can't find clothes that I want. I guess this will force me to be more creative with my closet. I'm so thankful that my fieldwork is coming to an end soon. The excitement has started to wear off and I'm just left exhausted. I desperately need a vacation. I wish I were going to the Texas Style Council this weekend. If gas weren't so expensive right now, I'd be really tempted to just drive there from SoCal.

Hope you're all having a lovely week day this far! It's halfway over!

Until next post,
Jasmine

t-shirt - h&m
belt - topshop
skirt - gap
necklace - foreign exchange
ring - brandy melville
shoes - gap
bag - madewell
sunglasses - raybans

February Photo Diary

1. Pretty skies while shopping with my mom
2. View from my bed
3. I always leave my heart at the beach
4. Robert and I went mini-golfing one random weekend. I won both courses.
5. Robert surprised me one morning during my morning run with a dozen roses.
6. My closet
7. Grocery shopping at Sprouts
8. So lucky to have had bare-legged days in February
9. I'll always be obsessed with power lines
10. I miss the beach.

February was such a busy month for me that I don't remember too much of it. It sort of just flew by, which I guess makes sense since it's the shortest month. Despite all the craziness, I still managed to have a few moments of bliss and fun. With less than a week left of my fieldwork, I'm relieved to see it over. Here's to a more relaxed March.

Outfit post to come tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Until next post,
Jasmine

Feels So Close

It's been a while since I've done an outfit post. I'm so thankful to have such understanding readers. Only a little more than a week left of my fieldwork left and I'll be back to regularly stressing out about outfits and photos (just kidding, but sorta not really). The weather has been pretty bipolar this week, but yesterday was such a perfect day that I had to bust out some shorts while I could on my morning off of fieldwork. I love watching Spring creep in with green showing in the trees and little flowers starting to bud in gardens. I'm so happy that it's March now because Spring is coming in a few weeks, and all my graduate school applications are now behind me.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Until next post,
Jasmine

cardigan - gap
t-shirt - urban outfitters
shorts - forever 21
loafers - charlotte russe
belt - gap

Spring 2012 Inspiration

It's hard not to associate Spring with florals, bright colors, and pastels, but I think this season I'm dreaming more of slouchy and relaxed blouses and cropped pants (even though I don't really wear pants, I kind of want to now). I've been really digging polka dots lately too. I feel like my style is on the verge of an evolution because I'm just not feeling my closet or the places that I usually shop at (except for Gap) anymore. Unfortunately, I begrudgingly just paid a $400+ speeding ticket (though I don't think I deserved it...ugh), so I can't do too much shopping at the moment. In any case, I've been too busy to have time for it anyway. I'm so excited for Spring! Spring is my favorite season for many reasons: 1) it means you have survived Winter--you can take that in the literal or metaphorical sense; 2) I adore flowers and seeing the world bloom; 3) Spring weather is filled with my favorite 75-degree days here in SoCal; and 4) romance and bliss just seem to fill the air.

PS. Happy Leap Year!

Until next post,
Jasmine

photo sources:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10