1: OPT FOR VERTICAL STRIPES

Photo by Artem Beliaikin @belart84 from Pexels

If you’re like me and you are plus size and short, you should opt for vertical stripes on your clothing. Horizontal stripes can make you look wider and can accentuate lumps and bumps that you might want to keep hidden. However, vertical stripes give a lengthening effect, making you look taller and drawing the eyes to the top and bottom of your body, rather than from side to side.

2: THINK BIG WITH ACCESSORIES (FOR THE MOST PART)

When it comes to accessories, the experts agree that larger statement jewelry and other accessories look great.  Since I got some contacts, I have been loving accessories like sunglasses. I bought this pair for a special baseball game a few weeks ago. However, I've loved them since.  I myself noticed that my face seemed a lot smaller when I wore sunglasses with larger frames. This is because the attention is moved on to your glasses, giving your face the appearance that it’s shapelier.   I personally like aviator sunglasses! I've also really loved statement jewelry. Experts say that smaller pieces can sometimes seem super tiny on us larger ladies (no offense intended from these experts). You could also try a head accessory like a bow or ear/head wrap in colder months (like the one below made by my awesome mama)!

View this post on Instagram Don’t settle for basic, baby □□ Extraordinary is where it’s at!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Feeling so confident in myself today. It’s amazing what recognizing your own talents, abilities, and greatness can do for you. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Take today by the horns and give em heck! Happy Friday, everyone! Also, tell me in the comments which you like better: picture one or two?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #plussizeblogger #prettyandplussize #plussizebloggers #bodyconfidence #confident #whatswrongwithbringconfident #extraordinary #beautiful #lifestyleblogger #youtuber #happyfriday #freshfriday #friday #cheerstothefreakinweekend #photoshoot #nature #pretty #ladylike A post shared by Gabbie (@gemusiclover) on Jun 21, 2019 at 4:35am PDT

3: PLAY WITH PRINTS

Again, if you’re wanting to look slimmer in particular, you should try to play with different patterns. Patterns can distract from lumps and bumps as well. I really love floral patterns as well as tie-dye. The photo to the left is one of Jonathan and I's engagement photos (we're married now)! This dress has a floral print. I also love skull prints. My college graduation dress was black with neon skulls on it. I loved it and still have it!

4: DRESS FOR YOUR BODY SHAPE

Within the plus-size community, there are different body types. The key to feeling and looking great in your outfits is dressing for your body type. There are five main body types: hourglass, pear/triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle, and oval.   Each body type can style themselves specifically to cater to the curves in a fashionable way.

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1. MAKE YOUR OWN SLUSHY

Nothing says summer like slushys or shaved ice! But slushys can either be expensive or really unhealthy. Instead of putting your slushy into the hands of a stranger, you can make them easily at home all on your own! I have two ways: 1. Take a bottle of soda of your choice, shake it while it is still sealed, and place it in your freezer for 3 hours and 15 minutes. Remove it from the freezer, loosen the cap, and turn the bottle upside down. The soda will instantly turn into a slushy! 2. Simply use your blender (I use a Magic Bullet) to grind up ice. But the ice shavings into a cup and pour your flavoring over the ice. Add a spoon and you have a simply homemade slushy!

2. BEACH HACKS FOR THE BEST SUMMER EVER

If you're going to the beach this summer, make sure to follow one of these hacks so that you have the best day ever: 1. Place your phone in a zip-lock bag so you can still use it while protecting it from the sand.  2. Swap your beach towel for a fitted sheet. Add heavier items like bags or coolers to the corners.

3. KEEP YOUR CAMPFIRE BUG-FREE

If you're anything like me, your blood is attractive to bugs! I swear that I can't take one step outside in the summer without encountering something that wants to sting or bite me. Word has it that you can add sage to your campfire to keep the bugs away so you can roast hotdogs and tell ghost stories without fear of being bitten or stung!

4. STAY PROTECTED FROM THE SUN AND SMELL GREAT

Sunscreen is a must, but a lot of people avoid it because it seems like an inconvenience. Others choose not to wear it because sunscreen has a strong smell that might not be appealing. But, you can mix in some of your favorite essential oils (for skin) to lighten the smell. So, if you're going on a beachfront date and you don't want to smell like sunscreen, try this hack!

5. COOL YOUR DRINKS IN MINUTES

When we used to go to the beach, we often rented a beach house and had to stop by at the store to get some drinks and food. But, most of us would want to go out for some fun in the sun before the day ended. Wet a paper towel and wrap it around your drinks. But them in the freezer for a few minutes, and it will be icy cold and ready to enjoy!

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HONOR A FATHER FIGURE

​While we may not have an actual father or contact with our actual father, there is usually some person in our lives who holds a father figure position in our lives. Sometimes, that could be a close family friend, a person from church, or another family figure who has been there for you in place of your father or grandfather.

CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF FATHERS/GRANDFATHERS YOU HAVE LOST

This year may be particularly hard for me, but I’ve been kind of putting it out of my mind. My grandfather passed only a short time ago. Usually, we would spend the day with him. I can think of no better way to participate in the loving nature of Father’s Day than to remember someone who was a father to you. This could be as simple as a tribute to them on social media, a family dinner, or spending time with members of your family who were also close with the person you lost.

ENGAGE YOUR SPIRITUAL SIDE

I grew up without my dad in the home. However, because of my grandpa and my church ties, I didn’t feel that different. I don’t remember feeling like something was missing. Growing up and now, I have strong spirituality. ​I personally believe there is a God who knows me and loves me and is watching over me always.

INTERVIEW YOUR PARTNER IF YOU ARE CHILDLESS

Obviously, you would celebrate Father’s Day pretty normally if you have children and your husband or the father of your child is around. There’s someone to celebrate right there! But, I don’t actually have kids.  ​Both Jonathan and I would love to have children one day. If you know that you both want children, but you’re not sure when that is going to happen, you can always talk about your future children.

GO SEE A MOVIE

Movies are great, and I can say pretty confidently that I don’t remember seeing any Father’s Day advertising in the theatre. Not saying that it won’t happen, but it is better than being stuck in front of the TV all day with a ton of Father’s Day ads running. On top of getting out of the house, you can see a ton of new movies that are out that look amazing.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SALES

DON'T USE SHOPPING AS THERAPY! But, if you have self-control, you can catch up on shopping if you don't have anywhere to be this weekend! ​A lot of stores have special Father’s Day prices. Amazon, for example, has sales running for clothing, shoes, watches, jewelry, accessories, luggage, electronic gifts, famine, backyard items, tools, and auto.

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MY NEW GLASSES! | $69.95/2 PAIRS

I haven't gotten new glasses and contact for years. When Jonathan and I learned what we'd get back from our tax refund, we decided we would use the money on some much-needed new glasses. We go to America's Best because you don't have to pay a fortune if you don't have insurance. You can also get two pairs of glasses for $69.95 and up. They were also able to squeeze me in after a scheduling mishap, so that was awesome. The left pair is black, and the other pair is purple and black!

PEEL-OFF FACE MAS HEMP SEED OIL | ~$5

So, for Mother's Day, my mom and Nana decided to surprise me with a few gifts, all of which are featured in today's favorites post.  Mom found this peel-off mask on sale and decided to get one for each of us to try. I really like peel-off face masks, but they don't always like me. I say that because liquid-to-dry face masks don't usually like to dry on parts of my skin. However, this one did dry down and peeled off easily. I still always try to take a shower right after I use these because I always tend to miss one or two patches and I look like I'm peeling from a sunburn when I do.

NEW RUE 21 OUTFITS | $UNKNOWN

One of the outfits my mom picked out for me was this orange dress with blue and white flowers. You can wear this off the shoulder, but I pulled mine up on my shoulders. It has fake buttons down the middle and is actually higher in the front and lower in the back and the bottom. I have always like high-low dresses. The fabric of this dress is made of really breathable fabric, making it comfortable and great for hotter months. The second outfit that my mom picked out was this white shirt and, I swear, the most comfortable pants in the world.

The blue and white pants have a vertical pattern, which makes you look taller if you're vertically challenged like I am. The pants are so comfortable that it will feel like you're wearing pajamas.  The shirt is also very cute. It has a kind of overlay that drapes over the bus and arms. I really like the whole outfit. ​It is really comfortable and stylist. I got a lot of compliments on both of these outfits. The best thing about these is that they can be found at Rue 21, which is a relatively affordable shop. You just have to find one that has a plus-size section.

THIS HAIRSTYLE

It was less than $8 at Walmart and you can use it in damp or dry hair to help reduce frizz. It also smells great, which is a plus!

I really like braiding my hair, but it can start to look boring after a while. I decided that I would brain a ponytail one day and I freaking LOVE the look!  The only thing that could make the look better is if my hair didn't get too frizzy after wearing it this way all day. However, the next product is pretty good at helping reduce frizz.

"KILL THIS LOVE" BY BLACKPINK

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1: PHOTO BACKDROPS ARE A MUST!

You can't go wrong with a photo backdrop to give a place for people to take pictures at your party. For this photo backdrop, we bought two pegboards from a hardware store. The board is covered with paper flowers. This was a painstakingly difficult job, but it looked so good in the end and we got a ton of compliments.

2: THROW OUT THE TRADITIONAL GUEST BOOK!

When Jonathan and I got married, we knew we wanted to do something different for our guest book. After all, do you really flip through the guest book from your wedding or party that often? Instead, we made a heart out of our thumbprints and added it to a mounted poster board. People signed the board and this now hangs over our couch in the living room! ​If you're having a summer party, you can paint over a used surfboard and have guests sign it, or you can have people add their hand prints to a board. Do something unique to make your party stand out!

3: BUY CHEAP, SPRAYPAINT'S YOUR BEST FRIEND!

There are so many cute finds at the dollar store. And, if you're decorating on your own, chances are that you're on a budget.  We found candle holders and small bird cages at discount or dollar stores, but they were not in the right color of gold. We decided on a certain spray paint color and sprayed everything that didn't match closely enough to that color. This gives a look of uniformity and the idea that the decor was designed for the party. I love this hack because it can work for pretty much any project!

4: DON'T BE AFRAID TO DIY

We got a lot of compliments on the fabric and tulle hearts that we made and displayed at our wedding. The DIY is super simple. You just need a wreath frame, which you can find at a department or dollar store, and the fabric you want. All this project involves is cutting strips and looping!

5: USE ODDS AND ENDS TO MAKE CENTERPIECES

A lot of people are convinced that they need to have real flowers at their wedding or party for it to look remotely nice. However, we got a lot of compliments on our reception centerpieces.  We found blue-tinted milk jars at a craft store for less than $1 each. Inside, we added dollar store finds like the blue pinwheel, two or three fake flowers, and a yellow butterfly clip. ​As you can see, the table also included tea-light candles and a strip of lace down the center! Using smaller pieces still results in a great look without spending a ton of money!

6: MAKE A TABLE POP WITH FABRIC

For weddings and special parties in particular, the host usually has a special table. Instead of spending a ton of money to differentiate, we simply added cloth over our plastic table cover to give it a different look than the others. I really loved our wedding table!

7: ADD GREENERY FOR A FRESH LOOK

DIY TO SAVE MONEY FOR THESE THINGS:

1. THE CAKE: Unless you know someone who is a cake decorator (like the amazing lady who made our wedding cakes), you should save up for a cake. We actually got this one from Lowe's Foods. ​You can always get a smaller cake and cupcakes to save on your budget.

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STEP 1: BLEACH THE SHIRT

STEP 2: ADD YOUR DYES

STEP 3: WASH AND WEAR!

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STRAWBERRY PICKING TIPS

Look for RIPE, red strawberries. Strawberries actually don't ripen more after they pick. If you pick a green or white one, you won't have an awesome red one later. Keep an eye out for rotting spots. This farm was AMAZING and I didn't find one strawberry with rotten spots. However, if you find yourself around a lot of strawberries like this, you can always cut the spots out later. Make sure you prepare before heading out to pick your strawberries.

THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL PRODUCE

1: SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY

First and foremost, you're supporting the local economy when you choose to shop local. This means that you're helping that family who works hard to run their family farm full time.  In addition, shopping locally means that local companies buy from other local companies more. This keeps more of the money right here in my community rather than dispersing it to larger corporations that won't have a great financial impact on my community!

2: SOME LOCAL FOODS CAN HELP WITH ALLERGIES

I know Spring has Sprung, but seasonal allergies don't always stop at the end of spring. Eating locally raised foods can help you control your allergies, specifically local honey. If you're having local allergy issues, you can try adding honey from your area into your routine to help with your summertime sniffles!

3: HELPING THE PLANET

We all know that our planet is in a bit of trouble right now. However, shopping locally can really reduce impact on our globe when it comes to fuel use, plastic waste, and more. Obviously, if you shop local, you aren't having strawberries flown in from across the country. At Gillis Farm Produce, we were given a plastic bucket that we will reuse instead of manufactured plastic packaging. You see where I'm going!

STRAWBERRY JAM RECIPE

5 cups of mashed strawberries 7 cups of sugar 1 pack of Suregel Fruit Pectin Mason jars 1 tsp of butter or margarine We picked about a gallon of strawberries and used maybe half of that for one batch of strawberry jam. This gave us about 12 really small mason jars and this container of strawberry jam, which is pretty large, for ourselves! I used to make strawberry jam with my mom every year, and we always used local strawberries.

You're going to start my capping your strawberries, or cutting off the leafy bit at the top. After that, thoroughly wash your strawberries with water! Your strawberries should look like the photo to the right at this point. Now it is time for the fun part -- mashing the strawberries! This is an awesome time to get the kids involved.

While you could throw the strawberries into a food processor or into the blender, I find this way to be much more fun and a great sensory experience for your kids. Add some strawberries to a gallon bag and let your kids squish the strawberries. This is perfect because you don't want the strawberry goo to be too finely crushed, because you'll want some pieces of strawberry in your jam. You'll need to make five cups of this strawberry goo! I think I filled up the bottom of three bags and that ended up being enough for my jam!

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

This no-bake strawberry cheesecake was one of Jonathan's favorites that I've made! You can find the recipe I used on JustSoTasty.com. However, I did change some things, so I wanted to let you know what those were.  First of all, I totally used a pre-made graham cracker crust! Secondly, I didn't whip up my own cream, I just used whipped cream. Lastly, beacuse we don't really care (and I didn't have a way to do it) we left the seeds in the pureed strawberry mixture!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!

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​1: NEUTROGENA’S HYDRO BOOST CLEANSING GEL | $10

I’ve raved about this product in my skincare post, but I really love it and want to brag on it. The Hydro Boost face wash is a wiz at removing makeup, but it does what the name implies: increases moisture in the skin.   The product is $10 on Neutrogena’s website, but can also be found in retail stores like Target or Walmart.

2: MORPHE 35M BOSS PALETTE | $24

​I have never had a big-name brand palette until this one, so it makes sense that I would be in love with it. I just love how pigmented the colors are. ​One thing that drew me to this palette was the lack of blue colors because I have blue eyes and I don’t think blue looks good on my already blue eyes!   There are tons of colors to choose from, and you can find this palette anywhere Morphe is sold. I purchased mine at Ulta!

​3: BATH AND BODY WORKS STRESS RELIEF LOTION | $13.50

​Bath and Body Works products are very hit and miss for me. Generally, I love all of the scents that the company offers, but I find that some of the body washes dry out my skin and the body sprays don’t tend to last very long.   But, I absolutely love the company’s Aromatherapy Stress Relief lotion. It includes eucalyptus and spearmint essential oil. ​According to the Bath and Body Works website, eucalyptus clears the mind, and spearmint soothes and uplifts. The best thing is that this particular lotion collection is super hydrating in my experience. I love it! ​ And, not only does it hydrate, I think it does a lot toward reducing stress as well. I always feel much calmer and relaxed after using this!

4: JOHN FRIEDA FRIZZ EASE TOUCH-UP CRÈME | $7.50

​Summer has really taken a toll on my hair. I got a lot of it chopped off last weekend, and I was really hoping that would help. While it helped a little bit, my frizz problem wasn’t completely solved. So, I decided I would reach for a new product to help calm my frizzies. Frizz can be caused by a number of things including excessive hair washing, genetics, hair chemicals, your brush, or even your blowdryer. ​But the good news is that there are several products out there that are specifically used to clear up frizz. I'm glad I got my hands on this one because I really needed it.   This product can be used on dry or wet hair. It adds shine to dull hair and protects hair from UV damage! I love this product, and it smells amazing!

​5: JEFFREE STAR’S VELOUR LIQUID LIPSTICK | $18

​OK, so if you know me, you know that I love pink/red lipsticks that matte down (for the most part)! I got this lipstick on sale and absolutely love it. It’s made an appearance in a lot of IG posts. ​I would say a relatively good dupe would be Ulta’s Matte Liquid Lipstick in the shade Super Charged. I particularly love the doe-foot applicator on that one. But this is about Jeffree’s product.   I love the way the lipstick feels and I’m always happy to add it to my daily makeup routine.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOLY GRAIL PRODUCTS?

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YOUR THEME

To begin, you need to pick a theme for your decor. LOL at my head in the left corner of this picture! I decided to stick with the school spirit theme. As some of you know, I work at a college that I happened to attend. I chose to use Gold and Green as my color palette. You should choose a color palette that you're not going to get tired of! Also, avoid bright reds and oranges. Studies show that these colors enhance stress in a space.

DIY 1: DYED CURTAINS & CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMES

So, I couldn't find curtains in the right color green when I was working on this project, so I ended up dying the curtains that I had. The main thing you need to remember is that you have to buy fabric dye that works with your curtain material. I didn't buy the right kind the first time, and the second dye produced a blotchy look, but I kind of liked it. As for the picture frames and the curtain rod, I spray painted them to all match in color. I got both the curtain rod and the frames at a discount store, so I didn't spend a fortune. Next, I added mostly photos of my family and my husband, my award from the local paper, and some random photos like the green bird, green paint stripes, and the lion (which I took) into the mix!

DIY 2: WINDOW TASSELS

This DIY is super simple. All you have to do is cut long strips of whatever yarn you'd like to use. You then tie another piece of yarn in the center and fold the yarn over. Join them at the fold with some ribbon. I then added five tassels. I wanted to keep the decor primarily on my wall in case someone else took up the second spot in this area. So, I decided on the window. I really like that it adds something extra to the bland window shade!

DIY 3: CORK BOARD PIN STATION

As someone who loves pictures and is blessed to receive cards and other smaller paper items from coworkers, I wanted to add a cork board area to my office. But, I didn't have a lot of space. I found these hexagon-shaped corks at a craft store and decided to cover them in a green felt and add on the ribbon stripes for decoration. I did have to attach two corks together because these were kind of thin and would have just gone through the wall. All you have to do is glue the felt or other fabric to the cork board. Then glue the ends and center of your ribbon to the board and you have yourself a cute, DIY cork board that matches your decor!

DIY 4: CUSTOM-PAINTED SUPPLY JARS

I was so excited when I found some Gold office supplies (tacks and paperclips) at the store, but the tops of them were cork. I decided I would do a simple DIY and paint the tops of the cork lids green. I then used one of the tacks on the top of each of the lids to act as a handle so I could easily remove the top. Lastly, I had a ribbon that had the name of my university on it. I added that around the one that I keep in the center. Now, I have functional and cute decor that just called for a quick paint job!

FUNCTIONAL DECOR 1: BUSINESS CARD/NAME PLATE

I decided that I really needed a place to set out my business cards, so I was given this business card holder by my job. I have it set up with my business card, our social media card, and business cards for my blog! I paired it with a gold name plate with marble and pink details that says "girl boss." My mom found this for me at Hobby Lobby and I was in love.  Lastly, I have a vase which I hope to try and keep filled with flowers this year. I was gifted some flowers by some coworkers, but they unfortunately died before I wrote this post!

FUNCTIONAL DECOR 2: PINEAPPLE OIL DEFUSER

This is a major tip for you! If you work in a high-stress environment, you need to invest in an oil diffuser. I know it may seem silly to some, but aromatherapy really is a real thing, and I use it almost every day. All you need is water and a few drops of essential oil. I love to use lavender scents. Not only does this little pineapple guy bring some decor to my desk, it also functions as a stress reliever and keeps the office smelling great! You can find oil diffusers at pretty much any department store. I highly recommend doing this if you want to stay stress-free at work!

FUNCTIONAL DECOR 3: COFFEE/TEA STATION

The coffee is out at the moment, but I wanted to show you that you can make a nice coffee area for your coworkers without spending a ton of money. I already had the Keurig cup organizer to the left. I had a Keurig, but it died after two days on the job. I bought this replacement knock-off for less than $20 at Walmart! I bought the silver tray, gray and white mat,  and most of our coffee cups from the dollar store.  Everything else is just sugar, creamer, and honey!

OTHER TIPS

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​Dear special lady,   I know how much it hurts when well-meaning friends and family ask you when you’ll have kids with your partner. It’s a sinking feeling. Like a dirty secret.   You’ve been trying to add a bundle of joy to your life, but it just isn’t happening.

​I want you to know that I know about you. I pray for you. I cry for you. For all I know, I am one of you. I’ve spent time with you, learned the deepest parts of you, heard your candid feelings, and learned about your phantom pregnancy symptoms. I know that Sunday will be difficult for you. Any regulated person can have a child, but it truly takes a special person to be a mom.

​But I have a prayer for you. I pray that God grants your prayer for a child, in whatever way that fits the best. Maybe you will adopt. Maybe he will get you through a special surgery. Maybe he will give you a miracle. Maybe things will change.  Happy Mother’s Day to the childless mothers.

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