“Just like it would be tragic if we thought we had to live our lives with our hair in a perfectly messy bun while wearing a wedding gown and a hurty pair of heels. It is hard to be creative in an office that can never look messy. That’s not its purpose. And its’ impossible to snuggle with your sick baby on the sofa in a wedding gown and hurty heels.” Myquillyn Smith
Have I mentioned how much I love Myquillyn Smith (AKA ‘The Nester) and her new book The Nesting Place: It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect to Be Beautiful? I have always been a fan of her blog and always find her inspiring. This book, is like a breath of fresh air. I have had so many conversations about it lately. I also accidentally purchased several copies of the book because I wanted to be sure I had a copy on hand. As it turns out, I now have 3.
Why am I mentioning this on What I Wore day? It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful (#idhtbptbb)speaks to me friends. I don’t do designer. I am probably not going anywhere special on any given day. Most likely if you bump into me at Target there will be something imperfect about what I’m wearing. I am notorious for spilling my morning coffee on my white clothing and my four year old likes to hug me after she has eaten a super sticky mess of a treat. Oh, and I rarely iron.
Also, what I wear on my hair lately.
Still, I’m trying to pull together a few clothing items for my wardrobe that feel like me and are wearable in every day life. I could give up and just live in graphic t’s (which I do like from time to time) or sweat pants because I can’t afford to buy all the style must haves each season. It is probable I’ll never be photographed for a magazine or asked to endorse my own line of cardigans (sigh).
Girls. We don’t have to be perfect. But we can love our style whether it is from Target, Goodwill, or a really good sale at the Mall. We can get up, get dressed, and be imperfectly beautiful in every way. We can have fun with what we wear and mix it up and be inspired by many things.
We can do that! Here is what I wore this week!
Left: Sweater (Loft), Top (Stitchfix), Jeans (CAbi) – for a meeting at church
Center: Top (Stitchfix), Shorts (Loft), Shoes (Target) – for shakes and burgers and a fun kids musical!
Right: Sweater (Banana Republic Factory Store), Tank (Loft), Jeans (Lucky Brand), Shoes (Target) – for a GNO with a new author friend
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Giveaway: So, because I LOVE this book and it has totally blessed me, I’m giving away one of my copies today! Just leave a comment and tell me what inspired you to be imperfectly beautiful. Also if you share on any social media channel leave an extra comment! Honor system of course. I’ll pick one winner on Sunday and notify by email! Please only US residents! Thanks loves!
xo,
Stacey
(Find the book *here)
*affiliate link = if you click and buy at no extra cost to you I get a small compensation.
With 3 small kids and a 4th on the way I rarely get my haircut. It had gotten so long and changed texture after all these kids. A while back I was going to get my hair permed because I thought it had lost its natural curl. Man am I glad I didn’t. I got a few inches off and some good layers and low and behold my curl was there all along just waiting for me to take a little weight off of it. For the first time in years I am loving my imperfect curls again, wearing my hair down and putting make up on occasionally. That is a big deal since I am 33 weeks pregnant with 3 kids under 6. I feel like a new woman. Now I just need the same inspiration for my life. 🙂 Sometimes small changes have the biggest impact.
LOVE the color of your Banana Republic sweater! And, your hair looks GREAT!!! Ok, let’s see, I have tried to be imperfectly beautiful MANY times-like when my hair color came out COPPER-like a
Oops! Like a penny-LOL! But, as I get older, I guess I would say my style has evolved into “functional” aka “comfortable”. I am really into orange and turquoise right now!
What inspires me to be imperfectly beautiful is the freedom that comes with not trying so hard to be “perfect” all the time :).
Love that you do these posts. You are inspiring! :).
After having 6 children I got bad varicose veins in my legs. Last year I had surgery because they were painful and unsightly. My legs hadn’t seen daylight in years. Unfortunately my legs scared badly and didn’t look much better than before the surgery. However, I’ve learned to embrace my imperfect but fully functioning legs that are marked with love from carrying babies and a surgery that really did ease a lot of discomfort. They don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. So this summer I added shorts and skirts (and a tan) to my wardrobe. 😉
First – you’re lovely. Second, what inspires me to be imperfectly beautiful would have to be my friends. Seeing them in their broken moments or hard moments is always beauty, too.. because they choose to allow others in and they still point to Jesus. We don’t have to have it all together to be beautiful. (:
Also, I tweeted about this. 🙂
I love that your wardrobe is mix and match. I think that is key to being “imperfectly beautiful.” Having pieces that go together easily make getting ready a cinch. Then you can switch up your accessories depending on if you’re running an errand or going on a date. My boys inspire me to be imperfectly beautiful. I do secretly love when they notice!
I never used to leave the house without makeup. After having kids, that all changed. I’m lucky if I get a swipe of tinted balm on my lips these days. However, spending that extra time with my kids is really worth it! But some days you’ve just gotta go with a whole face. Just not every day. Thanks!
I try to be imperfectly beautiful so my girls see that you don’t have to be “perfectly” beautiful. We joke about the time I colored my hair and it turned green. I am not allowed to color it anymore without the girls.
Real life reminds me that idhtbptbb 🙂 Life is never perfect, so I am learning to embrace the legos on the floor and half finished creative projects on the coffee table, knowing that in a few years my boys will have moved on to other interests. I’m also (slowly!) learning that fussing about perfection in my home (or in me!) does take attention away from far more important things. Signed, a Recovering Perfectionist
Love that – a recovering perfectionist!
Man having a 4th child has forced to embrace the imperfectly beautiful. I am learning to let go of clean bedrooms, perfect outfits, and so many more things. I am learning that my value isn’t based on being perfect. So hard but so good!
I retweeted your post on Twitter.
HI Stacey! Oh I just cannot WAIT to read this book!
I enjoyed your post– I have found a new freedom in being confident in what I’m wearing, knowing #idhtbptbb and also having so much fun experimenting with colors, jewelry, and other fun stuff.
Thanks for sharing with us!
Cynthia I have found just adding a bracelet or a fun necklace can really add so much to a simple outfit. I mean don’t get me started about scarves either. I wrote a post on them – right here.
Also I tweeted about your giveaway!
Hey Stacey! This book is on my list of things to read this summer. I’ve heard so many awesome things about it. I’d love to win a copy! xo
Jeannie it is quickly becoming one of my favorite books! I love how it sneaks in truth about all things – while still talking about our homes. It really applies to our hearts as well! Plus – a super fun book to give!
This sounds like a lovely book to read. I would love to win it . We all need to know that we can be imperfectly beautiful. Thank you.
I love this post…it is empowering to accept who you are and go with it. You can never go wrong with being your own self…perfect or not. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your adorable styles!!!
I’m inspired by my mom to be imperfectly beautiful. Her home is a welcoming haven, and it’s thanks to her presence and love.