Many times, I think that social media can be an amazing space. You can stay connected with friends and family you don't always see, you can build a personal brand through what you share and you can make new connections with individuals you may have never met otherwise. 

With that being said, I also believe that there can be some negatives to social media and that sometimes it is hard to be in the right head space when approaching it. Putting aside online bullying and that annoying uncle who always posts Facebook rants, social media does affect us whether we like it or not. 

Sometimes I find myself seeing posts done by other bloggers with extravagant backgrounds and expensive clothing that was sent to them for free and I think that I'm not good enough at blogging, otherwise I would get to do what they're doing. Or I see a perfectly furnished home and come to the conclusion  that I'm behind on life because a 17 year old is a homeowner and I am not. Or it could be something as simple as seeing a post of two of your friends doing something fun and finding yourself feeling left out or lonely. 

I find that all of those feelings are very common, so instead of falling deeper into those feelings, I've created ways to have a healthy "relationship" with social media without have to fully delete your profile and become a hermit:

1. Put down the phone.

Crazy right? Why put my phone down and walk away rather than fall deeper into the pit of despair I've already created looking at other peoples profiles? It sounds simple, but too often I don't do this and I desperately need to in an effort to remind myself that there is a world outside of my phone that is much better than I make it out to be. 

2. Have a quiet time.

This could be anything from reading a book to doing a craft/art project or having a traditional quiet time where you read the Bible and journal for a particular amount of time. With so much going on around us 24/7 (and having an online world instantly available), it is necessary to slow down and help get back on track with our priorities and grow in discipline. Also, as a believer, I find that my quiet time is the most refreshing part of my day. It reminds me of who I am and gives me hope on where God is leading me next. 

3. Get up and get moving.

I recently saw an article that talked about how beneficial it is for corporations with lots of technology to have spaces for physical movement. Many tech companies like Facebook and Google have already adopted this and have human sized chess boards or swings within their lobbies. Other companies simply have standing desks. The body and mind are connected, so it makes sense that you are more clear headed and can overcome mental roadblocks easier when you move. 

4. Kill comparison. 

As a blogger, the greatest killer of creativity is comparison. When I compare my pictures or ideas to someone else's, two things occur: 1) I start to believe that I am not as skilled as they are and 2) I never come up with original ideas. Basing everything you do off of what other people do is a great disservice to yourself. Going hand in hand with the quiet time point, something I do when I find myself making comparisons is sit in silence (which I know is uncomfortable for many people but is actually REALLY healthy to do) and I will focus on what I can do that I have not done before. I may also brainstorm on what topics I want to cover next - which is how this post came about. 

5. Take a break. 

Even if I am not feeling overwhelmed by social media or feeling like I am comparing myself to others, it is beneficial to take a day or two away from the online world. It isn't as permanent as fully deleting all your profiles and apps, but it has the same effects in the long run. 

I hope these five points are helpful for you in the future. Remember to take some time away from social media and grow the friendships and relationships in your everyday life.  Let me know what you do to conquer the pull towards social media anxiety by leaving a comment below!

All images taken by the incredibly talented Angi Klepnev. 
If you're looking for a photographer for your blog shoots, senior pictures, family pictures or wedding, I would highly recommend her. She is very detail oriented and can always find breathtaking locations.

While picking out pieces to use in my blog shoots for my collaboration with Poppy Smooches Boutique, I called on my friend, Pachia, to help style me.

I obviously still like my style, as I try to share it with all of you daily, but sometimes it is fun to let someone else put together an outfit for you. They have different perspectives on how to use pieces and may create an outfit that you never would have thought of!

What I love about this look that Pachia put together is how it can be buttoned up and look very put together for work, or be unbuttoned and untied and have an unstructured street wear element to it.


Thank you, Pachia, for sharing your cool girl, street style vibe with me!

A big thank you to Poppy Smooches Boutique for collaborating with me on this look!  They just opened up in the Eagan Outlet Mall for all my MN local readers. Their products are super trendy and they are ethically made in the USA! To shop my black skinny jeans, click here. Button-up/Tie Top sold in-store only.

Follow my Instagram @theswelteringsweater

Happy Fri-yay everyone!

I don't know about you, but I love taking one night of the weekend and planning something to look forward to; it just gets me through the work week and keeps me excited. 

Although I do have some eccentric pieces that I like to wear to a night out in the city, nine times out of ten I just want a little black dress that I can pair with colorful pieces that will look good season after season. 

While at Poppy Smooches Boutique recently, I was drawn to this LBD. Maybe it was the fun neckline or the lacy shoulders, but something about this black dress popped out to me in a way the others didn't. 

I wanted to keep it simple (as has been the request of some of my newer readers who are trying to learn the basics of styling) and paired the dress with bright floral heels that I purchased a few seasons ago and some wild artistic earrings I bought from a local vendor in the Twin Cities (I would recommend doing earrings or a bracelet for jewelry, because it may be overpowering at the neckline/to accessorize with a necklace). 

I would highly recommend buying this dress. You can easily move around (if you wear it to a wedding and want to dance), it doesn't cling to the body or add extra "visual weight" to the hips and it can be easily taken from summer to fall.

  With its classic fit and flare style along with its lacy details on the shoulders, you'll look like a million bucks without having to go out of budget!

A big thank you to Poppy Smooches Boutique for collaborating with me on this look. This LBD can only be purchased in store, but I found some similar ones online here, here and here.

New York Fashion Week and Minnesota Fashion Week have come to a close! Just as I was inspired by this year's runway looks, I wanted to make a list of my favorite fall fashion trends emerging this year and link blog posts from the past that can inspire you.

Ruffles
What does a 16th century Spanish soldier, 18th century revolutionist and Karl Lagerfeld have in common? Ruffles, my dudes. They are extremely versatile. You can incorporate them into your jewelry, bags, sleeves or necklines. 
For my favorite ruffle looks, click here and here.

Shades of Wine 
Elle Woods had it right when she said "whoever said orange was the new [wine] was seriously disturbed." Although I love pumpkin-flavored EVERYTHING, wine is the cool girls color right now. Everywhere I look, I see wine...and I'm not just talking about my kitchen pantry! Shades of cranberry, oxblood and burgundy have been popping up on runway after runway. 
My favorite past wine-centric outfits here, here and here.

Red-To-Toe
Women empowerment is having a moment, and that doesn't end in the fashion world. Nothing signifies power like a head-to-toe red look, especially when it is paired with a scarlet colored lip. 
To see my favorite "power red" looks, click here, here and here.

Mid-length Skirts
After years of girls on Rock of Love wearing itty bitty denim skirts and Snooki rocking a barely there cheetah print dress, the tea-length skirt is back and trendier than ever (except for their debut at the end of the 40's).
For my favorite mid-length looks, click here, here and here.


Florals
Lana Del Rey rocks them and so does your couch. Although not as drab as the couch in your grandma's basement, the aesthetics of this years florals do have some similarities like muted colors and small floral repetitions. 
For my favorite floral numbers, click here, here and here.


Slogan T-Shirts
Speaking person to person is a thing of the past, so much so that now our clothing speaks for us. Whether it's political statements or "namastay in bed," plain white tees are covered in text. 
For my favorite word shirts, click here and here.


A big thank you to Poppy Smooches Boutique for collaborating with me on this post! They just opened up in the Eagan Outlet Mall for all my MN local readers. Their products are super trendy and they are ethically made in the USA! To shop my mock neck top, click here. To shop my black skinny jeans, click here. Duster/vest sold in-store only.