As a human, we are fragile. I am fragile. Unfortunately, those of us that have experienced more bad things than others, tend to be the more fragile party. Our experiences have made us stronger overall, but we all have our triggers...those triggers, no matter how hard we try, don't seem to go away completely.

Our triggers are all custom, you know..since none of us are exactly the same. While my triggers may relate to infidelity or not being enough (in relation to literally anything...suddenly being a perfectionist makes sense). Your triggers could lie with a place or action - something that even slightly reminds you of those bad things that have stuck with you all this time.

A Woman's Guide to Football: Vocabulary

It is football season, and for a solid handful of women, that means you get to say goodbye to your husband/boyfriend for a solid 6 months...at least on Thursday nights, Sundays, and Monday Nights. If you are anything like me, you aren't going to be as OK with that as some other women might. The way I saw it, when my husband and I first started dating, I could either learn the game and love it, or let him do his thing and deal with the fact that I understood (and cared about) 0% of his favorite sport. - I am aware that not all men are as passionate about football as my husband, but I'm not exaggerating when I say football is his FAVORITE thing! -

I quickly decided that, even if I didn't develop a passion for it, I was going to learn everything I could about football - and become 1000% more attractive to my hubby by doing so. Lets face it, having a shared love for something makes a relationship so much more wonderful.

If you are curious about the sport that has taken over the brain of your significant other, I have put together a Woman's Guide to Football. This article is the first part of my guide, and maybe one of the most important parts: VOCABULARY!

Don't Die to be Thin

I was recently (mindlessly) Pinterest-ing and came across a sketch by Arthlete that said "Don't Die to be Thin". This random pin slapped me across the face and reminded me why I started blogging in the first place. Because there was a time in my life that I was willing to risk my health, integrity, and passion, to be thin.

Why the World Needs Wonder Women

I recently saw a meme that says, "Wonder Woman is not a person, she is a mindset". I read that and was instantly thinking Hell Yes...I can become Wonder Woman! Before you judge me, hear me out. Yes, I am a total geek when it comes to Wonder Woman...I guess I'm somewhat obsessed (you should see my Amazon wishlist). But its because the first time I saw the Wonder Woman movie - the Gal Gadot version...I was completely oblivious to everything prior - I felt my soul light up! Here is this woman who encompasses, literally, everything I aspire to be.

There is Light in the Dark

Hey Babes! I have been a little AWOL for the last couple weeks, but this girl is back! I have been toying with multiple post ideas for my first Chaos and Concealer post since returning to the normal me! I feel like the best way to return to my beloved blog-life, is to just talk about finding light in the darkness. Which, with anxiety, can sometimes seem impossible! (Trust me, I was just there)

Basic Girl Fit: A Not-So-Basic Company

** I have not been paid to promote this company, and all thoughts are my own...that's how fantastic this is ;) **

I created this blog as a place for me to discuss topics that light a fire in my heart. Topics that I could speak about for hours, at a pace any normal non-caffeinated human being would not understand. Just picture a 5'3" woman who runs on caffeine, getting so excited about a subject that she begins to look like a three year old that just ate a bulk box of Pixie Sticks. No shame here. But rather than concerning people with the rate at which I can speak without skipping a beat, I figured out I can write about it and avoid the whole "I lost you about three paragraphs back because I couldn't figure out how you were breathing" interaction.

Why I LOVE FabFitFun

This year, my resolution was to really focus on self-care and self-love. Part of that is being willing to explore new things and really focus on products that make me feel good. Trust me, it wasn't the easiest transition! I like to make sure everyone else feels good and loved through simple gestures, quality time, just-because gifts, etc., not typically concerned about what I'm doing for me. But about a month ago, I made a decision to spoil myself without going hog-wild on spending mass amounts of money.

I recently discovered a subscription box called FabFitFun. Its a box that is all about offering you products that really hone in on self-care and a little bit of a "treat yo self because you're worth it" vibe. Because who wouldn't love that?! 

Women Inspiring Women: 30 of my Favorite Quotes

I've just started watching an INCREDIBLE show on Amazon called Good Girls Revolt, and it is - in a word - inspiring. It is a show based on women rising above the "women are not meant to be bosses" norm in the late 60's - early 70's. This show is an excellent example of just how far women have come; using historic figures like Nora Ephron, and a monumental legal case that changed the course of history, how can a woman not LOVE this series?

When you watch, even just one episode, you feel like you need to go out and do something amazing because those women did. So, as a lover of quotes and inspirational memes, I have compiled a series of quotes by women, inspiring women. I hope that they will inspire you as much as they have inspired me!

Finding My "HOW?!"

I, like a lot of the lovely ladies I know, have a problem actually getting up the courage to begin working out. - I use the word courage because once you start, you must meet the level of dedication that you set for yourself. Once you start, you can't stop without letting yourself down. And that is some scary shit! - But, on Sunday night I decided it was time. Time to stop watching movies with bad ass women, like Gal Gadot, and thinking "I could be that bad ass...ya know, if I worked out and took better care of myself".

*If I'm being really honest, I have been doing that ^^ for the last 5 years...over and over again! It just happened to be bad ass Wonder Woman that made me realize its not okay anymore. *

Wanting a Change? Ask Yourself This Question!

The other day, I was thinking out loud...that's when I do my best work! I was discussing [with myself] the massive issue of people wanting to change their bodies and their appearances for all the wrong reasons. Be it that they want to attract the eye of more men or women, that they have been body shamed into believing they aren't good enough, or they've just developed a negative image of themselves.

An Open Letter to Those who Love Someone with Anxiety

An Open Letter to Those who Love Someone with Anxiety:

We know it's not easy. We know its disconcerting, to see us so distraught for reasons unknown to you. We know it is hard to know what to do while we are sitting on the bathroom floor, our bed, or in our cars panicking for what seems like no reason. We know it can be scary to witness a breakdown, to see us uncontrollably crying, our hearts racing, struggling to breathe because of the panicked state we are in; witnessing it all get so much worse before it gets better.

Workouts Without the Gym

As a former dancer, I have found that doing regular workouts doesn't get me excited like dancing did. And, if I didn't live in the small town that  I do, you better believe I would have a membership to one of the many barre studios that have been popping up all over highly populated areas! But, that isn't the case...don't get me wrong, I LOVE where I live and the life I have started out here with my incredible husband and perfect puppers.

Since making our big move and waiting for our dream house to be built, I have fallen into complacency...wake up, get ready, go to work, go home, decompress, go to sleep, repeat. As wonderful as my in-laws are for allowing us to live in their basement, - free of charge, I might add - moving from a regular sized house to a basement that is half the size of a single floor of our old house, has come with its challenges.

Finding My "WHY?"

Sometimes it takes finding out that someone close to you is having health problems before you to realize just how important eating healthy and staying fit is. As strange as it is, I have known my family's history of health/heart problems, but I somehow didn't catch on to the fact that I might not be invincible....shocker, right?

Real Love...Not the Fake-y Crap

This might just be the article you need to read to find the love of your life: 

I have noticed, by being that observant person that constantly convinces people to talk about their feelings, that there is one general problem we all have when trying to find The One. Believe me, I am just as guilty as the next person for having this train of thought...but as soon as it is changed, it seems that we all seem to stumble into our One.

Anxiety Combat - Be a Warrior not a Worrier

I don't know about you, but I have been under the impression that "we all have our days"...if not, then my friends must just be trying to make me feel better when I temporarily lose my mind. This isn't me being insensitive, but me trying to shed some sort of humourous light on my diagnosed anxiety disorder. You might notice - in other blog posts - I have a tendency to refer to myself as crazy, as I have accepted the fact that I have a chemical imbalance that may make me seem that way to others.

I was terrified of my, now, husband finding out I am a little far from "normal". The idea of him being around to witness one of my unforgettable panic attacks, was one I dreaded. And when it happened....it was terrible! The poor guy had no idea how to calm me down... It has been five years, and quite a few sleepless nights since he witnessed one of my panic attacks for the first time. And let me tell you, he has become unbelievably helpful when my anxiety becomes too much for my brain to handle.

Move Mountains W/ Random Acts of Kindness

WARNING - Rant with a good purpose below:

Since when is simply doing something nice for someone else supposed to be based on whether or not they have done something just as nice for you? It seems like I have recently heard the most bull**** reason not to give someone a gift, or just do something nice to remind people they are loved...the reason: "Well they didn't do [whatever it is] for me".

I am sorry, but what the H E Double Hockey Sticks?! The thought is just to be kind...so just because the person in question never randomly thought to bring you a coffee, means you shouldn't do it for them? Just because one of your friends never offered to watch your kids for a night, you aren't going to offer to watch theirs? Since when did the whole world become so damn cynical?! I have actually heard people turn down other people's offers because they don't want to be expected to do the same thing for them in the future.

Who are you Trying to Impress?

Who are you trying to impress? A question I am constantly hearing...not necessarily geared toward me, but anyone who puts an effort into getting ready to run some standard errands. This is a turn of phrase that is, in my opinion, constantly overused.

What if the answer is "myself"? What if I am simply trying to impress myself? What if I want to spend time getting ready so that when I walk by a mirror or see my reflection in the supermarket cooler doors (sounds incredibly vain, I know) I can stand up a little straighter. Here's the deal, I don't know a single person that will not look at themselves in a mirror, in passing. We are human, we were literally created to be flawed. Some would say needing to feel a sense of confidence is a flaw, but we all need it! Self confidence is an incredibly important attribute that we humans need to succeed and thrive in this life.

TimesUp - My Take on Feminism

I am a feminist. Not the type of feminist that comes to most peoples minds. I do not move to extreme measures of making my message heard in ways that only make people question me more. Don't get me wrong, I am all for feminism and working to make the world see women and men as equals. However, I am not someone who believes that in order to make my point, I need to stand outside the state capital bare-breasted, burning my bra, and spitting at men. I will, however, talk to you all day about women's rights throughout history (with a heavy focus on the women's suffrage movement...because its my favorite), and how I believe we can continue to work together to make women heard.

Stomp Your Inner Mean Girl...You are ENOUGH!

You are enough.

I am constantly battling my inner mean girl. The girl who tells me I am not enough. I've been battling this mean girl for a very long time. When I was in high school, I let her take control of me. I let her convince me that the only way for me to be enough was to stop eating. She convinced me that would solve all of my problems.

What's In Your Cup?

I recently discovered an amazing Facebook groups for Boss Babes in Colorado. Since being accepted to the group, I have found some amazing inspiration shared among the group. I came across a post, that sounds like it has been circulating throughout Facebook, and it really resonated with me.
This has been copied from a member of The Denver Boss Babe Collective: 

"You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere. 

Why did you spill the coffee? 

'Well because someone bumped into me, of course!'

Wrong answer. 

New Year, New Modest, Yet Sexy Wardrobe

For those of you that don't know, I am a young married woman. I have a love for all things beautiful, and am currently in the middle of trying to update my wardrobe. Since getting married, there has been this weird desire of mine to completely transform my closet. I have this urge to own my body in a modest way. Pre-wedding I was all about wanting to look sexy and own my body, I loved the idea of trying to find sexy, low cut pieces that are typically owned by young 20 somethings. ~My friend Kelsey is a boss at doing just this~. The idea of owning sexy pieces and showing myself off was empowering to me. Since getting married though, I still want to feel empowered without showing too much skin.