Strike A Power Pose

I have a pretty simple point to make today, and I promise to try to get to it as objectively as possible. The idea is simple: improve your posture.

A few days ago I was listening to Happier with Gretchen Rubin, a podcast that talks about building good habits to improve our lives and therefore make us all happier. On episode 25 they brought in A.J Jacobs, a brilliant author also known as The Human Guinea Pig, to give his suggestions for their “try this at home” section of the show. His first suggestion: stand up straight for a week. Why? Because it increases your confidence and decisiveness.

While working on an article about the Founding Fathers, A.J. came across George Washington’s 110 rules of life, and discovered  he was well known for having the absolute best posture ever. Being the human guinea pig that he is, he decided to try it. It turns out that George Washington was correct in associating good posture and confidence; it’s actually scientifically proven. During the podcast they mentioned Amy Cuddy and the Ted Talk she gave as an example, then moved on to the his next suggestion.

Being a bit of a self-confidence material junkie, I looked up Amy and her Ted Talk. (By the way, it's amazing, you have to see it!) In a nutshell, she explains how a change in our bodies can result in a change of our minds. Holding what are called “power poses” for 2 minutes before facing a challenging situation can significantly increase your feeling of power and reduce your levels of stress. Her research showed that people who engaged in power poses before a stressful scenario not only felt more confident, but were also perceived as confident by others.

Examples of Power Poses

 

Which brings me to my point: if making a small change (like holding a pose for two minutes) can have a positive impact on how you feel about yourself, wouldn’t you want to try it? 

I am not only going to try it, I'm ready to begin the Strike a Power Pose Movement! I say let’s all hold that power pose every time we’re about to go out in public in our swimsuits, trying on that piece we feel might not look so flattering, or before we go out shopping for new swimwear. With science and George Washington on our side, there’s no stopping us! Who's with me? :)

Where There Are Pinups...

I absolutely love vintage stuff. Garage sales, thrift shops, consignment stores… that’s music to my ears! When I was little, our family’s Saturday morning thing was to drive around for a few hours and hit every garage sale in our path. I loved it! Going over all the random knick-knacks for sale was like taking a trip through time. A lot of times, the owners would tell you the story of every item you laid your eyes on. Can’t say I remember them all, but the most interesting stories are still talked about when my family gets together. And yes, I still carry a coin purse that I bought when I was 8 years old… so busted!! 

My lamb and coin purse. Bought in 1989 for 25 cents.

Anyway, I guess after all that my passion for vintage comes as no surprise to you all, correct?

So, if you’re like me and enjoy an old school look, then Scout Boutique on 8^th and Main Street is the place for you! This cute Mount Pleasant neighborhood shop features some incredible pinup style clothing, in a mix of new and vintage. Even if this is not exactly your style, I doubt you’ll go in there and not find something you like; it’s pretty close to impossible!!

And last but not least: where there are pinups, there are swimsuits! And gorgeous ones, may I say. Let’s take a look:

Vintage 2 piece swimsuit - $125.00

This white bikini is an exclusive vintage piece. It's a real gem, considering how hard it is to find vintage swimwear in good condition. The larger bottoms give it a really comfortable feel, while its 60's style just adds to this flattering look. End of summer is a perfect time to wear a suit like this; we've been outdoors for a while now, and our skins are nice and tanned. That will contrast perfectly with the white fabric. Unfortunately this is an only piece, so if you'd like a change at having it in your closet, you may want to hurry up! 

If you'd like to mix and match, the white top will go perfectly with these high waist bottoms. Actually, these bottoms will go well with several other colors, so use your imagination!! 

Mellons and Sweetcheeks high waist bottoms - $90.00

This next one has two similar versions. I loved these suits so much, I had to try it on! Unfortunately it was not my size, but had it been I would have bought this in a heartbeat! This is a locally handmade piece by Melons and Sweetcheeks. 

Remember ladies, all their swimwear is now 20% off. These are just a few of the lovely items they have there waiting for you! 

Happy Swimsuit Hunting!

We've Got a Lace To Embrace

So, you all know how much I like to explore the shops in my hood. It was during one of my walks while looking for a birthday present for a friend that I first went into Lace Embrace Atelier. What an awesome shop! They have antique inspired hand made corsets, lingerie and vintage style swimwear. Have any of you all ever tried a corset on before? If you haven't, put that on your to-do list. I gotta tell you, one look in the mirror and you feel like you can take on the world!

There are a lot of things I could share with you about this cute shop, but I've selected the 3 most important for today. First of all: you have to come see this store for yourself. It doesn't matter if the style is not your thing, just being in there and browsing around is a great experience. 

Second: their swimsuits are now 20% off, and they're gorgeous! Need I say more? Probably not, but I'm not done just yet.

Last but no least: later today they will be participating in the show Raw: Paramount here in Vancouver, where  they'll be doing their Absinthe Fashion Show inspired by artists of the left bank and bohemian glamour. The event will also feature several other artists, so if you're in town and would like to check out some new talent, this event could be just the opportunity you're looking for. If you're not in Van tonight, don't worry. Lace Embrace has an online store! And, Raw has these events in several different cities so you can look at their schedule and find the one closest to you. 

In case you're wondering, RAW: natural born artists is an organization created by artists, and for artists. The fact that these ladies are participating in their event is a testament to their talent and uniqueness. Don't miss the chance of getting to know more about their work.

Before I go, I thought I'd leave you with a few more pictures of the shop, and of the swimsuits that are currently on sale. Enjoy!!

 

All You Gotta Do Is Ask

Have any of you all ever asked yourselves why sometimes we don’t get what we want? It could get really frustrating sometimes! But, it sure feels good when the Gods smile at us, and we experience getting that YES we've been patiently waiting for.

Remember back in the day how I wrote about wanting models for the blog, how I took several pictures of different people and beaches, but in most of those, no one was actually posing for me. Truth is that I’d never really gone up to complete strangers and said: “Hey! I write a blog about swimwear. Would you like to be featured in it?”

I know, right? Here I am telling you all to embrace change, take risks, accept challenges and step outside your comfort zones, yet I found myself not practicing what I preach. OK, I am only human and therefore face the same fears as a lot of you, but if I want you all to walk the walk, I’m the one who needs to take the first step. So I did.

Last week at my beach volleyball game, there was a girl on the opposite team wearing a beautiful bikini top. It seemed to be giving her a lot of support too, so of course I wanted to take a picture of her. At the end of the game, I took a deep breath, walked up to her and asked. Not only did she say yes, but she smiled, happily posed for the camera, and wanted to know more about the blog! And all of this only happened because I decided to get out of my comfort zone and asked her. Pretty cool, right?

I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes, in order to get what we want, all we have to do is ask. We may not get a yes on the first or second try, but I heard something on a podcast that to me made perfect sense: every no you get takes you closer to a yes. Think about that next time you’re afraid to ask for what you want.

Special thanks to the gorgeous vball player for participating in the blog. “Spykeaholics Anonymous” definitely scored fun points because of you!

Just FYI, this swimsuit was bought in Spain, so unfortunately I can’t give you all more info on it, but I’ll keep my eyes opened for similar ones in stores close by.