Condense, Reduce, Simplify

By Nichole Giles

For the past year and a half, I’ve overwhelmed myself with blogs. First, I was a regular blogger over at LDS Writer’s Blogck—and I’ve been blogging with those people for more than three years. Then, Your LDS Neighborhood hired me to write their clothing and jewelry blogs—sweet deal, by the way—so I started this blog. But then I thought I should probably keep this blog to a theme, so I started a more personal blog where I could post certain articles and blogs about my life, my goals, and other random things.

Then, my coauthor Cindy Beck and I signed the deal for our upcoming humor book, “Mormon Mishaps and Mischief: Hilarious Stories for Saints,” so we started a humor blog with the idea of promoting our book and keeping our contributors and interested readers updated.

You’d think I’d have stopped at four, wouldn’t you?

But no. At some point during all this, I got it in my head that we should have a private family blog where we could journal all the fun things we do as a family, and keep all our family members updated about our life and the goings on at our house. Yeah—that one hasn’t been updated since April.

And now, a few months ago, I was asked to participate in a blog with other authors whose work is being published by Cedar Fort Inc.

That’s six blogs in which I regularly participate, and most of which I try hard to keep updated. Unfortunately, doing so requires time and lots of writing. While I love writing, and don’t mind spending the time, it tends to take away from other important writing projects—like books, short stories, and magazine articles for which I can actually get paid.

In April when Your LDS Neighborhood cancelled most of their paid blogs (including mine), I decided to keep on blogging here for a few reasons. For one thing, I have followers who read what I write here. And I love writing about clothes and jewelry. Plus, I had a birthstone series going, and felt a strong need to finish out the year of information. But that year is now officially over, my series is finished, and I’m pretty well exhausted. I find myself getting up in the morning, wondering which blogs need to be updated, and what I need to accomplish before I dive into my other writing projects. (I know, how backwards is that?)

The solution, I’m afraid, is simple. I need to cut back in the blogging area in order to keep up with some of my more lucrative and more important writing projects. Unfortunately, this blog is one that has to go. For now.

I know that makes you sad (at least, it makes me sad) but never fear! I’m not actually leaving the blogosphere. If you need a fix of Nichole Giles writing, head on over to my personal blog, where I’ll continue posting regularly and hopefully will occasionally throw in a post on clothes, jewelry, and fashion.

Or come visit one of the other blogs in which I participate. I’m still going strong at LDS Writer’s Blogck (though I keep trying to quit, I just love it too much to let go), LDS Humor (because, it’s my new fun pet project), and Writing Fortress.

Happy summer, y’all. And remember, it’s not what you wear that’s important, but how you wear it.

Signing off for now,

Nichole

Winner of the Summer Rocks Contest

by Nichole Giles

Today is the day I promised to announce the results of the drawing for the silver Roxy bracelet. The winner was picked using a random generator, and though I wish I had more than one bracelet to give away, I could only pick one lucky person for this particular contest.

And the winner of the bracelet is Ali Cross. (Cheer, clap, clap, clap, clap, cheer, hooray, and the crowd goes wild.)

Oh, but I couldn’t stand just picking one name! I have so many awesome followers and wanted everyone to win, so I had an extra name drawn as a runner up. In the event that I’m unable to locate Ali, this person gets the bracelet. But since I’m pretty sure that won’t be the case, the runner up will be getting a delicious chocolate stash in the form of either a Symphony bar or Hershey’s—her choice.

So the runner up is Cindy Beck. (Dancing, clap, clap, clap, cheer, clap. The crowd goes wild again.)

Congratulations, Ladies! Please contact me privately with your snail mail address information so I can get your prizes delivered this week.

Thank you so much for playing, and stay tuned this next few weeks for another fun drawing! (All you followers will automatically be entered—but watch for ways to increase your chances of winning.)

Have a happy, rockin’ summer! (And happy birthday to all my fellow July babies.)

A Few Things About July and a Fabulous Prize

By Nichole Giles

1. The colors of the month are red, white, and blue. Wear them with pride. If you see someone wearing official military khaki or camo, they deserve our applause and appreciation. Tell them thanks.

2. The birthstone of the month is a ruby, and the flower is larkspur or delphinium. Astrological signs:


Cancer, June 22-July 22 = emotional and loving, intuitive and imaginative, shrewd and cautious, protective and sympathetic


Leo, July 23-Aug 23= generous and warmhearted, creative and enthusiastic, broad-minded and expansive, faithful and loving

3. Life jackets are always in style. If you’re out boating or participating in other water sports in or around a lake, ocean, or other large body of water, always wear one. Safety is the latest fashion trend.

4. Snow cones are best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the bottom.

5. Those awesome glowsticks they sell for three or four dollars apiece at parades and fireworks displays can be purchased in packages of two or more at your local dollar store for, well, a dollar. (Buy them in advance, though.)

6. Sunscreen is a beauty must have, and after sun moisturizer rocks, too.

7. It’s a proven fact that hot dogs taste better when cooked over an open flame—just don’t start a forest or house fire while you’re at it.

8. Cutting fresh flowers and bringing them inside the house brings cheer to everyone who lives there—especially women.

9. Monthly observances for July: National Baked Beans Month, Blueberry Month, Hitchhiking Month, Hot Dog Month, Ice Cream Month, Read an Almanac Month.

10. My birthday is in July! Which brings me to the part where I give away a fabulous prize. Next week is the big day (and no, I’m not telling you how old I am). When you’re a kid, people ask what you want for your birthday, but since I’m not a kid anymore, I’ve decided to give a gift away to one of my fabulous followers.

Check this out:

Pretty, huh?

Quicksilver / Roxy brand stainless steel charm bracelet. Retail value: $18.00.

Come on, you know you want it! To win this fabulous bracelet, all you have to do is one of these things:

1. Become a follower of this blog you’re reading or my other blog. (Or both.) Then, leave a comment on this post telling me you’ve become a fan. In your comment, tell me at least one thing you love about summer—or something special that reminds you of summer. If you’re already a follower, you’re one step ahead—but still leave me a comment and tell me why summer rocks.

2. Go have a good laugh at the LDS Humor blog, and sign up to be a follower there, then come back here and tell me you signed up, and share a funny joke of your own. (Because everyone needs a good laugh, right? Oh, and then watch for your joke—and your name—to show up on the humor blog later this month.)

3. Listen to my playlist (check out the sidebar) and tell me which summer song is your favorite. If your favorite isn’t on there, tell me what awesome summer songs I don’t have but should add. (As long as they’re appropriate, I will.)

Sometime on or around July 13th (that’s a Monday) I’ll have my trusty computer generator choose a random name from the list, and announce it here and on my other blog. The winner will then have to send me a private email with their snail mail information so I can send them the gorgeous prize. (Guys, I know this isn’t so much a prize you want, but it makes a great gift for an important female in your life. And if you follow me anyway, you’ll be automatically entered in the next awesome giveaway, which is coming up soon and is not jewelry.)

Who Cares What the Neighbors Think?

By Nichole Giles

I have a dear friend, who tells the story of a mother who got up hours before her children would wake in order to shower, dress, and do her makeup and hair. This was not because it was the only time she could do it, but so her children never saw her looking anything less than her best.

More recently, I know of people who won’t put on a bathing suit while they wash their car or run through the sprinklers with their kids—opting instead to soak their nicer clothing, thus causing it to become misshapen and worn—simply because they’re worried about what the neighbors would think.

Another woman I know refuses to ride in a car with the windows down, absolutely frantic about the state of her helmet-hair. Not that she can see what she looks like afterward, but she’s very concerned about how she looks in the eyes of others.

This is a disturbing state of mind to me. If we can’t take our children to school with our hair in disarray and no makeup, how do we ever see—or allow our kids to see—our natural beauty? (And I won’t even get into the whole wear-your-polka-dotted-pajamas-to-take-your-kids-to-practice argument.) Are we really so concerned with what others think of us that we can’t let the wind blow through our hair for a few minutes? Can we not enjoy getting wet at the pool or standing outside in the rain? Is it really necessary to apologize to others when you walk into a room full of people and realize you forgot to put on lipstick that morning?

Granted, the bathing suit thing has a tendency to be a body-confidence issue. There aren’t a lot of people who are comfortable running around in bathing suits in the front yard. But again, I argue—who cares what you look like? So what if you’re not a cover model? So what if you have bulges, and cellulite and weigh more than you did when you were younger? Seriously, who are we really trying to impress?

That isn’t to say that we should necessarily run around in our underwear screaming, “Look at me, look at me, everyone look and see.” Um, no. But when you put on an article of clothing, ask yourself why you’re wearing it. And when you get up to take your kids to early morning soccer practice—ask yourself why you think it’s important to get up an hour early so you can shower and dress before driving two blocks to drop them off.

Are you wearing that top because you love it and it makes you happy or because you think the neighbors will think it’s the kind of thing you should wear? Did you get up so early because you have a lot to do that day and won’t have any other time to get ready, or because you’re terrified that someone you know might actually see you with curlers in your hair?

Do yourself a favor this month. Choose a day—any day—and go without makeup for a few hours. Let your skin breathe—soak in your inner beauty—and allow your family members to see you in your natural state. It will do you all some good. Just remember that this is the way you were made in creation. This is the face and body you were born with and that has grown more naturally beautiful over time.

On this day, wear something you wouldn’t normally wear—just because you’ve secretly dreamed about it for years. Go outside, wash your car or run through the sprinklers or even just sit on your front porch. Wave at the neighbors and whisper to yourself, “What they think doesn’t matter—only what God and I think is important.”

Then repeat that phrase every time you feel the need to do something because of what someone else will see or think. Because the truth is, IT DOESN’T MATTER! The only person whose opinion truly matters is God’s—and He thinks you’re pretty special, just the way you are. No matter the clothes you wear, how you do your makeup, or what style you choose for your hair.

Choose to be just the way you are, because it’s truly the best way to be.

*Stay tuned next week. I'm giving away a fabulous prize for my birthday! (Hint: It's jewelry.)

Corndog Hat Style

By Nichole Giles

Last week I talked about creating an image for yourself—or building your own brand of style. Ironically, this past week my son pointed out that while branding is way of making a memorable impression—that impression isn’t always good.

The example he used is of the corndog sales people in the mall. Sure, they’re easily recognizable—how could you miss them with those multi-striped stovepipe hats? But is that something you’d actually want to be remembered for? In the words of my fifteen-year-old, “You’ll never find me selling mall corndogs.” (Side note: This is the point at which the conversation changed from style to the reason it’s important to stay open-minded when it comes to job-hunting.)

But I have to be honest. He made me think. While it’s important to be memorable, do we really want to be remembered as the worst dressed person at the Oscars? Magazines do entire issues on this type of thing and I have to say, I certainly hope I’m never on that particular list—as if I’d ever be a person of interest anyway.

So, what can we do to make sure we end up as a good memorable, rather than bad? For one thing, I strongly suggest you not choose to wear a striped stovepipe hat to an important function or gathering. But aside from that, do your best to choose your clothing and accessories wisely. Color is a wonderful thing as long as you are careful to choose colors that work well on you. Accessories can make or break your outfit as long as they match your clothing in style, color, and theme. And while it’s wonderful to be unique and eclectic, whenever there’s a question between classy and outrageous, err on the side of caution and make the classy choice.

A few select people who read this will be saying, “What? Classy rather than unique?” But that’s not what I mean. There’s a difference between unique and outrageous. Outrageous style might be fun in magazines, and it almost definitely makes a lasting impression on people. But unless you’re a teenager or a supermodel (or, you know, a teenage supermodel) make the more professional, grown up choice. To be unique, all you need is a look that is memorably you.

That said, never be afraid to change, update, and shake things up. Modernize your hair, buy a new piece of jewelry, or test out a bright colored handbag. Keep an open mind, but use a tasteful eye.

And whatever you do, stay away from tall, pipey hats and hot-shorts.