Look Good, Feel Good

I got brave and trimmed my daughter's bangs tonight.  And I have to say, I think I did a pretty fantastic job.  Check out the cute little hairstyle she has going on here!

After I trimmed her bangs, I blow-dried her hair.  Afterward, she looked at herself in the mirror with a proud little grin and asked, "Mommy, can you fix my hair like this before school tomorrow, too?"  She's really been into wearing fancy dresses and "church shoes" to school lately, as well.  I think she just feels good when she knows she looks good.  Don't we all?

Her sweet way of admiring herself today inspired me to maybe try a bit harder tomorrow to make myself look good.  I do feel better about myself, more confident and put together, when I like the way I look. 

What about you?  Do you think your appearance has an affect on your mood?

What I Wore Last Week

Since I've found in my happiness project that, for me, "Look Good, Feel Good," is true, I thought it would be fun to take Lindsey (from the Pleated Poppy)'s challenge and document a week of what I wore. She calls it her "what I wore Wednesday" post.

It was a little embarrassing. But I think that knowing I was going to document what I wore at least made me put a little thought into what I was grabbing to put on each morning. Which is a good thing, in that when I feel more put together, I do feel a bit more confident and happy.

So, here goes:


Thursday: Blah!
Worked all day
Green Shirt: Target
Black Pants: Hand-me-downs from my mom
Black ballet flats: Target



Friday: a good day
Worked half a day, then played with my 3 year old daughter
Brown shirt: Hand-me-down from my sister
Floral Skirt: Old Navy
Brown FlipFlops - Target



Saturday: hilarious
Went to the lake with my daughter and her friend
Blue swimsuit: Kohl's
Blue swim shorts: Walmart
Flip flops: Target




Sunday, my daughter and I were sick, so I spent all day in pajamas. Sorry I didn't take a pic!

Monday: still sorta sick (and feeling frumpy)
Morning meeting at work, then stayed home with sick Flanna all day
Green & Brown embroidered shirt: Gift from my mom
Brown long skirt: Ross
Espadrille wedges: TJ Maxx



Tuesday: mostly better
Watched my sick daughter in the morning, then worked in the afternoon
Turquoise/brown shirt: Gift from my mom
Jeans: Ross
Wedges: TJ Maxx
turquoise choker: hand-me-down from my mom




Wednesday: rainy day
Worked in the morning, watched my daughter and her friend in the afternoon
Green summer dress: Target
Jean jacket: TJ Maxx
Flip flops: Target


So, there it is. One day my daughter can look back on this post and die of embarrassment. :)



What outfit do you feel best in? Do you wear it constantly or save it for special occasions?

Wear your Favorite Jeans

Today I wore my favorite jeans. They're just the right weight, not too heavy and not too thin. The pockets have a cute little pattern on them. They have a medium rise, so I'm not worried about flashing anyone while I sit on the floor with preschoolers all day. They're a tiny bit stretchy, so I don't have to break them in all day--they start out comfortable.

Just a little thing.

But it made me happy.

Plus, these jeans are probably my most flattering. So I felt good in them. Look good, feel good. Sometimes it's true for me.



What piece from your wardrobe makes you feel good? Or even an accessory? For instance, I have this long necklace with a turquoise stone in it that was my grandma's, and every time I wear it, I just feel so put together. It really does make me happy.

My Superpower: Red Ballet Flats

Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford.
--Cindy Crawford

Today I wore my cute red ballet flats to work. There’s something magical about those shoes. I feel so together when I wear them. Invincible even.


One of my coworkers today wore an amazing necklace with bright stones. When I complimented her on it, she said that she wore it today because she knew it was going to be a stressful day at work, so she wanted to wear a little comfort item that brings her joy. I really liked that way of thinking.

So maybe my adage of “look good, feel good,” is only partly true. Maybe it’s also that certain things you love to wear bring you cheer, or confidence, or comfort. My red shoes give me the feeling of being professional, confident, and still a bit fun.

Isn’t that why people keep mementos? They remind you of a happy time, or of someone you love, or bring back a feeling you once had. Maybe it should be that way with clothes, too.

I’ve been trying to declutter my closet, and I’ve been really strict with myself that I only keep clothes that I absolutely love. Knowing how the way I dress (and look) affects my happiness level has given me the courage to get rid of items that seem sensible but that I don’t really love like crazy. If I think to myself, “If I wear those pants that don’t fit just exactly right, it will make me feel less confident all day,” it helps me let the pants go to my goodwill bin without feeling guilty that I’m getting rid of perfectly good pants. My friend, Dianne, of the Clutter Free Journey, says we should only keep what we love, and “blow the rest away with a breath of kindness.”

I’m definitely keeping the red shoes.


What item in your wardrobe makes you feel more confident?

Smile More

If you're as old as I am, you probably remember Allie McBeal's dance therapy, where she "acted happy" to improve her mood. Well, I've been trying something similar for a while now (ever since I posted an interview about Smiling When You Wake Up). When I'm feeling blue, I make myself smile, and, really, it does seem to help me feel better.

Last week, though, my daughter accidentally head-butted me by jumping up while I was leaning down to pick her up. And then I was unable to smile for about 4 days. My bruised, busted, swollen lower lip wouldn't allow it. A grimace was about all I could muster.

And for those few smile-less days, I was pretty darn blue.

Now, maybe it was because I looked kinda scary and asymmetrical. I actually felt kinda hideous. And you know, with the whole, "look good, feel good" thing I know about myself, I could understand being blue when I wasn't looking my best.

Anyhow, my smile-less few days were not happy.

So, now that my lip has healed (well, almost), I am appreciating my smile-ability! Today, I tried to smile while driving, while talking on the phone, while ordering my burrito at Taco Bell. Yup, I'm living it up with smiling. And it's made for a happy day!


By the way, here's a neat article about how smiling children make for happy marriage partners. Interesting stuff!



What made you smile today?