Stepping Into Spring, Outfit 2
I am stepping into spring with outfit number 2. It is still quite cold here in Virginia, and they are even calling for possible snow on Wednesday. This is not exactly what I had hoped for when I decided to dress for spring. I had hoped for sunny skies, calm winds, and temperatures in the high 50’s, maybe even 60’s. I guess it doesn’t hurt to hope. Haha
There has been a couple of people come into the lumber company, and say they have heard frogs. That is one of the first signs of spring. Listening to frogs, daffodils blooming, and the forsythia bush turning bright yellow are some of the things I think of when I think of spring. I must have frogs on the brain, this is the second posts this week I have mentioned them. Haha
On a completely different subject, because that is how my mind works, have any of you got a fitbit? They are a watch looking device that you wear on your arm and it measures the steps you take. There are several different models, and each one has a few different features. I bought my fitbit with the intention of walking more. You can log in to a website and it shows you the steps you’ve taken that day. You can also add friends and do challenges to see which one can walk the most. If you have been reading my blog very long, you know I work in a lumber company. I take care of the bookkeeping matters, so I am sitting at my desk most of the day. I think my friends only invited me to their challenges so they would have someone they could beat. I always was coming in last. These challenges were not very much fun for me. One day I was complaining to one of my co-workers, and he decided to put on my fitbit and let it trace his steps. He does A LOT of running around in the store. The next day I told him he still was in last place. I think he took it as a challenge. He disappeared for a while. When he came back he wanted me to log onto the website and see how he was doing now. There was still no change. So, off he goes again. About thirty minutes later he came back and had me log on again. When I told him there was still no change, he said, “How can that be? I put in on the paint shaker. That should have got thousands of steps.” LOL!!! Apparently the fibit is smarter than we are and figured out no person could walk that fast. Hahaha Anyway, the one I have can also measure your sleep pattern. That is the only time I wear mine, when I sleep, or should I save, when I don’t sleep. My sleep pattern is stripped. Dark blue stripes indicate sleep, and the green stripes indicates restlessness. According to my fitbit, I am restless about 180 minutes in the night. So, I have been on a hunt for natural sleep aids. (I don’t want to take sleep medicine) Here are some of my findings:
Relax
The last 20 minutes before bed, you need to relax. Take off your makeup, brush your teeth, comb your hair, whatever your nightly routine is needs to be done at least 20 minutes before you go to sleep. Spend the last 20 minutes just being chill.
No Television
Make sure you do not have on the television in your bedroom. This will just stimulate you brain and keep it going.
Exercise
You should not exercise before going to bed. You should however do some stretches. This will help relax you. Yoga or deep breathing is great for helping you relax. Deep breaths in to the count of 4, hold your breath, and then release the breath to the count of 4.
White Noise
Some people can only sleep in the quite, while others require some white noise. I like a fan running, and Joe hates the fan. We compromise by running the fan, but on low.
Foods
Don’t consume any caffeinated beverages before bedtime. I have recently started drinking a sleepytime decaf tea. Also, dark cherry juice is supposed to be helpful for getting a good nights sleep. I am not drinking he juice, but I am eating a small handful of dried cherries before bed. I am hoping these two things help with some much needed sleep.
Use Brain Power
We have all heard to count sheep if you can’t sleep. However, your brain has the capability to count, and still worry in order to keep you awake. So you need to have a harder task than just plain 1,2,3. Instead count backwards by 3. Start at 300, then go to 297, 294, 291, you get the idea. It is a little harder, and your brain will have to think about this instead of worrying. It is also boring, so hopefully you will fall asleep.
Essentials Oil
Some swear by Lavender essential oil. I had a small rollerball of lavender that I would rub on the bottom of my husbands feet, and he loved it. I couldn’t tell much difference, but what do I know.
I have tried all these methods, and some might help, some not so much. I hate not sleeping, it is funny how when we were young, this was never a topic of conversation. I would love to hear any tips you might have, I need them.
Onward to the fashion portion of the post…..I am loving me some Marilyn. I went to Wal-Mart on Sunday to pick up some medicine, and as I was leaving this t-shirt was on the clearance rack. I grabbed it before they changed their minds. $3.00, that is crazy!!! One of the fastest ways to look cool and hip, is to put on a graphic t-shirt. Marilyn is the queen when it comes to graphic t’s. Get one of her, and maybe one of a rock bank (think ramones or beetles) and you instantly have street cred. Hahaha Here is a white Marilyn shirt, here is a black one, and here is one in pink with her blowing a bubble with gum, it is super cute. The blue-jean jacket is from Old Navy and should be a staple in everyone’s closet. You can throw this on with anything. Even with the dressiest outfit, somehow a jean jacket just works. 
I am still carrying my Aimee Kestenberg Soho satchel. I was afraid it would be too small, I usually like the big totes, but it is working out great. That link gives you several colors to choose from. I really like the ivory, it would be great for the spring and summer months. My jeans are from Old Navy that I bought last fall. They are no longer on their site, but here is a black curvy skinny pair, and they are on sale. My shoes were a gift, actually they were a gift for someone else who couldn’t wear them, then the person they gave them to couldn’t wear them, so now they are mine. Did you follow that? Anyway, they are probably the highest priced item I have in my entire wardrobe. Here is a link to an ivory pair. Can you believe how much these things are? I need to put them in the safe-deposit box. Lol!
Here is a better look at the t-shirt. How cute is this? I finished the look with silver jewelry, even though the hardware on the purse in gold, I guess that makes me a rebel. Haha I stacked three By The Book bracelets on one arm, and on the other, I have a silver boyfriend watch (similar and similar)and two silver bracelets. (Similar and Same)
Of course the look would not be complete without the red lipstick. I recently read where candy apple red is one of the spring looks for makeup this year. I conjure up Snow White when I think of that color red.
I hope you enjoyed my Stepping Into Spring, outfit 2.
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I would love for you to do a tutorial on how you style your hair. It always looks great!
I got a Fitbit yesterday from Kohls. I am hoping it will motivate me to do more walking. Being technically challenged it has taken me 24 hours to get it going. I am anxious to see how it records my sleep or lack of tonight. I have taken everything to help me sleep….Ambien, Lunesta, Melatonin, Benadryl, Unisom, the list goes on and on. I now alternate between Benadryl and Unisom and some nights I sleep and some I don’t. Oh, for those days when I just put my head on the pillow and was out. Enjoy your blog so much!!!
I take Benadryl to help me sleep. It is not addictive. And I sleep like a baby!
I love my Fitbit because I’m a stats geek even if I don’t meet my daily goals. That outfit is perfect and you look fabulous.
http://finewhateverblog.com
Looking absolutely gorgeous in your spring outfit and totally inspiring to another 50 ish follower.
Got it! Thanks
I’ve tried most of the sleep tricks, but the problem is STAYING asleep! The Fitbit really shows us how restless we are! Sure motivates to get those 10,000 steps, I go out of my way just to reach the goal!! Love those shoes… If you ever want to pass them on!
I have tried to subscribe to get your daily post but it will not send me an confirmation email. Am I doing something wrong? I am subscribing at the top like you said but no emails as of yet.
I am sorry you are having issues, Terrie. Look in your trash, junk, etc. files to see if it might have sent it there.
Hi Tania! So happy to see spring – and your spring outfits! Those shoes are super duper cute! For a better night’s sleep, I take calcium, vitamin D, and chelated magnesium about and hour before bed. I did an experiment to see if there was any difference in the quality of my sleep with and without them before bedtime and I can truly say that there was a noticeable difference! Hope this helps!
I love this outfit!!! I have a similar Marilyn shirt from Wal-Mart and love it, but never could make it work with anything? Guess what I’m gonna be wearing today?
Happy Wednesday! Spring is in the air!
I second the melatonin advice – But start with a 1 mg dose if possible. 3 mg leaves me a bit groggy the next morning.
I find my fitbit is very accurate. You know it will link to a smartphone app, right? Much easier than logging onto the website. I made it my goal to walk five miles every day in February and March. So far, so good – and I’ve lost a few pounds! I find it very motivating.
What a fun outfit!! You rock that Marilyn tee! I agree with Ali…Melatonin has been an amazing sleep aid for my 18 year old son, who is a very restless sleeper. He takes 3 mg on most nights and 6 mg if he really needs to get super-deep sleep. It’s natural (my brother-in-law is a health nut 🙂 and if he recommends it, I know it’s safe!) It’s readily available at discount stores in the vitamins/supplements section.
This is SO cute!!!! LOVE that tee.
Love it! Awesome mix of “high/low” end (chanel and wally world clearance, can you be on any further ends of spectrum?) and it looks FAB!
I wish I could help with the insomnia, but I’m in the same boat for several years now (going through ‘the change’). I did give in and have the doctor prescribe some Ambien, which led to 2 episodes of ‘going to bed’ only to be told that I was up, eating and having full blown conversations that I had absolutely NO recollection of it the next day- umm yep those pills went down the toilet by day 3……
Jules, Ibe glad it was only eating with no recollection. I have a friend who takes Ambien, and they have to take away her laptop after she takes them. She goes online and orders LOTS of things. She once got in over 300.00 worth of mirrors. LOL!!!
Love this!❤️
Good morning! Love your look. I am new to your site and am enjoying your great attitude. I will be turning “the big 5-0” in a few weeks and am in need of a fashion intervention. Do you buy the majority of your jeans in a curvy skinny style? They look great on you!
No, Shelley, I don’t usually buy the curvy, but I bought one or two and they fit great. I am build more like a stick, so curvy is not a description that is ever used for me. Haha But I thought maybe they wouldn’t be as tight on my legs as some skinny jeans. I don’t know that is correct, however. You would probably need to just try on a pair and see how they work for you.
My Fitbit is just the opposite, it records more steps than I take. It counts hand/arm motions as steps. Once I was at a basketball game and just sat/stood there, clapping my hands some, and it counted as another couple hundred steps. I don’t know what I am doing differently because my friend with a Fitbit always asks me why I have so many more steps than she does. Your outfit really looks great! I had kind of bought into the idea that I was too old for graphic tees, but I may have to rethink that!
I was at Walmart last night and a cute pink Marilyn light weight sweatshirt and I thought Wow I need that but it was short and I don’t need any help showing off my belly rolls.
My Mom is 80 years young and all of my life if I wore something that she thought was too short, too tight, too lowcut or too revealing she would say, “isn’t that a little sudden” I guess that was her polite way of saying go take that off. Now that I’m 52 years old I say that to my daughters and occasionally to my friends or they ask me if their outfit is sudden. So next time you wonder if its too tight, too short, too lowcut or too revealing, just ask yourself, “Am I sudden.” And by the way at our age its ok to be sudden every know and then.
Have a Great Day. Hope I made you smile.
Hi Tania! Love the graphic tee! My mother hates tee shirts with writing on them, but I think they are cute! My mother is 79 yo and still loves fashion. She is one of the best dressers I know. Her and my Dad go dancing several times a week, and are leaving on on cruise for A cruise soon. I think she goes just to have a place to wear all her outfits! She is something! We meet once a week for lunch and shopping. I like clothes too, but don’t seem to have as many places to go. Anyway, really enjoy your blog! You are so fun!
Hi Tania – great blog today! Love the shirt. I want to try to implement a few graphic tees in my wardrobe too. In regards to natural sleep aids, try Melatonin, it is a natural supplement.
Cute look, your red lips look great to match Marilyn’s!
Wow this shirt is great. You look soooooo amazing! Love the espadrilles. I can’t imagine that somebody couldnt wear them 🙂 . So you have luck. Sorry about my english.
Wish a nice day, Tina