Photo cred: Jathan Campbell
Dress: Similar, similar, similar / Necklace: Macy's / Shoes: Qupid
Oh hey there friends! Today is a different kind of post for Sweet & Sauer - I wanted to share a personal story with you all. And the story involves this dress. I can't find this dress online to save my life (and I know, how mean of me to post about a dress that you can't even buy), but I've found some similar options (linked above). I wanted to shoot this dress and share the pics because 1. It's pretty (and looked cool in this parking garage we found to shoot in), and 2. I wanted to share a personal story with you all. Keep reading if you're interested :)
This past September I traveled Europe for two weeks all by myself. And it was the most exciting and terrifying thing I've ever done. Being alone on the trip obviously made me cautious but on the last leg of my trip, Barcelona, I realized I was almost being too cautious and didn't let go enough. And that realization came at a mojito bar (isn't that where all life-altering revelations happen?). I was watching everyone dance, and salsa line dance (yes, that's really a thing), and laugh, and chat, and just genuinely have a good time, and I was too scared to do any of that. I was scared of what could happen or what could go wrong. So I went home upset feeling like I hadn't let go enough on my trip.
After a tearful phone call with a friend, I snapped myself out of my wallowing and decided to make the last day of my trip the absolute best. So I did. And I had one of the best days I've ever had. I went to the beach, I rode a motorized bicycle along the boardwalk, I ate the most delicious tapas, explored a new neighborhood, poked around in the cutest little boutiques and ended my night on the 26th floor of the W Hotel in the coolest bar enjoying drinks overlooking the ocean and the city. I let go, and ended up having truly one of the most memorable days I've ever had.
I found this dress in one of the hole in the wall boutiques I shopped at, and will always associate it with that day, not only because it was a really great day, but because it was a day where I really got in touch with Mal.
Moral of this story is this; doing new things (like going to Europe on your own) is scary, but it's truly letting go (especially in said scary situations) that takes guts. You'd be amazed at the things you can do and how much better you can feel once you finally dig deep, break out of your comfort zone and just be. It's important to be connected to yourself, to be your own best friend, and to be comfortable in your own skin. I'll wrap up this novel with one of my favorite quotes from Diane von Furstenberg, "When a woman becomes her own best friend, life is easier." So go on, get out of your comfort zone and be your own best friend.
