Tag Archives: wedding

3 Steps to a Quick De-clutter before Christmas

Confidence, Life, , ,

Over the next few weeks we will all be changing our home decor from it’s Thanksgiving theme to all things merry and bright, but what about our closets?

I used to decorate my house for Christmas each year by simply adding a few festive pieces here and there. This year I am in a new home for Christmas and I find myself excited to do something new. My Christmas decor may not have changed, but the place they will bring their charm to has. This house was decorated for our summer guest with a beach theme that does not go well with the snowy theme of Christ’s birth. As I remove all the former decor and dust the shelves, I consider the Closet Clean-outs I have done over the years and thought it would be fun to share with you the most effective way to get organized, whether it’s in the closet or all throughout the house.

After all, it’s not fair to ask Santa for more clothing if your closet is stuffed tighter than your Christmas stockings.

1. First un-decorate

When I first started image-coaching, I was afraid of removing too many items from my client’s wardrobe, so I mostly put outfits together and moved things around. That’s also how I used to decorate my house for Christmas.

With a little experience I have learned that it is way less confusing, far more affective and so much more fun to “clear the slate” before re-creating anything.

Click for FREE Wardrobe Weeding checklist PDF Continue reading 3 Steps to a Quick De-clutter before Christmas →

3 Secrets to Avoiding Clothing Moths

Beauty, Confidence, Personal Style, ,

Some say the secret to storing your fine sweaters is to put them in a cedar closet or use cedar wood aromatic oils or the dreaded mothballs, the Bible says to:

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. -Mathew 6:20 

Is the Bible saying we should live in the moment and not stress out about holding onto treasures for ourselves? Maybe; but there are many clothing items that we put away for a season that we will be needing again. What then?

If we have been blessed with nice clothing like silks, cashmere or wool, then we should be good stewards of what we have, right? Last year I lost one of my most expensive cashmere sweaters to moths. Wardrobe Weeding may be my thing, and cedar closets may be my husband’s, but anyone can become immune to the cautions they frequently deal with. Lest you, too, think that moths will never happen to you, allow me to share the wisdom of ages:

1. Keep a clean, fresh closet.

Moths like to live and lay eggs in places where it’s dark and they’re undisturbed.  Frequently  vacuum the floors and drawers, wipe shelves down, move your clothes around, turn on lights, open windows.

Always clean any used clothing before bringing it into your closet. If one item  was in storage for long, there’s a good chance it may have moth eggs.

2. Keep your clothing clean.

When the eggs hatch, the larvae like to feed on organic fabrics. To avoid this wholey problem,  keep your clothing clean. A hot dryer (or freezer if you have a real problem) can fix this, but most of the fabrics that moths love need to be dry-cleaned, so be sure to have that done before you put your clothes in storage.

Always remove your dry-cleaned items from the plastic bags when you bring them home to allow the chemicals to leave the garment before it breaks down the fibers.

3. Check on your storage.

Adult moths live for about 75 to 80 days, and eggs hatch into larvae after 4-10 days, so you are wise to check for evidence of moths at least once after putting them away for the summer. It’s not uncommon for moth eggs to make their way into the storage undetected and  you may come back to ruined clothing months too late. Like I did.

Cedar wood, cinnamon, cloves, and lavender are all good options for keeping moths away without the harsh, dangerous fumes of mothballs.

All in all, yes, we should just get rid of the things that are going to sit in our closets undisturbed because we do not wear them. But when there are items which we will once again wear when the climate changes, we should take care in storing them so that nothing is wasted.

*****

If you found this blog helpful, would you share it with someone? Post it to your facebook wall, tweet about it, email a friend. We are all in this together and together we can conquer the secret little things that cause us Confidence Conflicts so that we can become women of Confident Beauty. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my Img.ID quiz to learn your personal style and then follow me on Facebook, Twitter,   Linked In, Goodreads and Pinterest, (where I have a board for each style). Also, consider having me give your friends a Supreme MakeOver at your next event. Visit https://catrinawelch.com for more information.

 

The Secret to Simplifying your Closet

Confidence, Personal Style, , ,

Spring is such an exciting time of year, isn’t it? As the trees begin to bloom and new buds break through the gardens, they call us out of our homes and into the yards to prepare for the season to come. Fun in the sun is just around the corner, but for now there is a lot of work to be done.

WEEDING

The long winter brought down to the ground what once was colorful foliage. The dead, dry leaves must now be raked and removed to make way for that which is to come. This cycle is simply a fact of life. If we want beautiful gardens, we must clean them out or else, no matter how lovely the new flowers, their beauty will be hindered by all the old clutter around them.

Your closet is the same way. Yes, it’s time to pull out the bright colors and light fabrics again. It may even be time to do some serious shopping, but first, let’s make room for that which is to come. Continue reading The Secret to Simplifying your Closet →

7 Ways to Save Money on Clothing

Confidence, Personal Style, , , , , ,

Autumn is officially upon us and once again we New Englanders find ourselves pulling out last year’s sweaters and boots and squeezing them into our closet full of summer clothing, which we are not yet ready to put away. (After all, this dreadful weather is going to calm and Sunday will be beautiful again!)

Crowded closets cause stress

When clothing is stuffed into small spaces, we are apt to complain that we can’t find anything to wear. For some reason we think that mean we don’t have enough, but in most situations, less would be more. Too many options can overwhelm us; it is far easier to choose from five outfits then from twenty. Continue reading 7 Ways to Save Money on Clothing →

9 Steps to a Complete Closet Clean Out

Beauty, Life, Personal Style, , , ,

Has your clothing closet become a junk room? When you look for an outfit for the day, is it easy? Or is your wardrobe crowded with clutter and chaos cause that cause your daily ritual to become a stressful decision? Let’s be honest, most mornings we do not wear the first outfit we pick. Not all of us can throw on any old jeans and T-shirt and be fine with how it looks. Natural Beauties may get away with that if their lifestyle allows for such simplicity, but they also have a tendency to hold onto things and are still susceptible to the Confidence Conflict that a crowded closet creates.

Less is more

It doesn’t really matter what size or shape your closet is, you can create an organized, inspiring sanctuary where you can start your day with simple decisions. The key is to be sure you have complete outfits, with nothing “unwearable” confusing your choices. In last week’s blog, we considered how sometimes simple Wardrobe Weeding is enough to keep your closet from clutter.

Join my email list and I will send you my FREE WARDROBE WEEDING CHEATSHEET, Click here to get FREE PDF.

When Wardrobe Weeding is not enough, and you need to start all over, it’s time to do a Complete Closet Clean Out. This doesn’t mean that you cannot keep anything you already have, but it may be time to step back and take a whole new perspective on your wardrobe.

If you are like me, when you feel overwhelmed, you may need a nudge. Completely changing up your closet may seem like too much work, but I assure you that once you get started, you will feel inspired. I did my closet this week (thanks for the nudge!) and I feel so empowered by the simplicity of having less to wear. In truth, I don’t have any less, because most of the things I removed I couldn’t really wear–or  felt uncomfortable or self-conscious in– anyway, and now I am free from their temptation to rob my confidence!

I want you to experience this wonderful feeling, so I am sharing the nine-step process:

  1. Remove the misfits. Anything in your closet that does not help you get dressed for the day. If “wardrobe” does not define it; find it another place for it to belong. The ironing board can stay, but only if you have room for it; the broom and Christmas decor can not!
  2. Remove all the clothes. Yes, that’s right every stitch of clothing in your drawers, on the shelves or hanging up; take them out of the closet and put them somewhere that you can sort through them, piece by piece. I recommend pulling them out by “likes” and stacking/hanging them together in groups of slacks, jeans, skirts, etc.
  3. Clean. Vacuum, dust, wipe down every nook and cranny of your closet and dressers. Make it smell and feel inviting and inspiring. Ahh, now you can say, “look, honey, I have NOTHING to wear!” …or do you?
  4. Get dressed. Look at all the clothes you have piled on your bed, what’s there that you really love to wear? Pull one outfit out and put it on. Does it still fit well? Is it in good repair? If not, go back to your Wardrobe Weeding Cheatsheet (Click here to get FREE PDF)  and follow the check list for what to do next. If it does fit, is in good condition and makes you feel confident, then  go to the next step:
  5. Complete the outfit. That’s right, whether you are going out tonight or not (and you’ve got a lot to do, so I’d recommend clearing the calendar for the day) get dressed up–jewelry, shoes, purse and everything. Then take a selfie. When you are done with your Closet Clean Out you will have a whole album of selfies to remind you of #What2Wear next time you feel you have nothing.
  6. Purposefully put it away. With your first (and favorite) outfit, think carefully. As you undress, consider where each item should go. Place your shoes and jewels where they are visible. Carefully fold, roll or hang each clothing item so that they take as little space as the fabric allows without causing wrinkles. Place them in areas that make logical sense to you. You may want to keep the outfit all together or organize the items by size, sleeve or color. Note: For ideas and tips on how to organize your closet, please follow my social medias as I will be focusing on this all week.Follow me on FacebookFollow me on TwitterFollow me on LinkedInFollow me on PinterestFollow me on RSS
  7. Repeat. Pick out another outfit and complete it with only clothing/accessories you have not yet put away. Take another pic and purposefully put away each item in that outfit. There will come a time when you need to re-use certain items to complete another outfit; that is fine, but try to create as many unique outfits as you can before mixing and matching. Continue doing this until you have created as many outfits as you need for your current lifestyle (in the current season). If you cannot complete enough outfits, make a shopping list of specific items you need. It’s a good idea to take a pic of anything you hope to match so that you can refer to it when shopping. Note: If you would like my Closet Audit Cheatsheet to help you with this, please comment or contact me and I will email you a great PDF chart that simplifies this.
  8. Eliminate the excess. Any clothes that are still laying on your bed that you simply do not want to put on, wether it is because they are uncomfortable, misfits, or make you feel self-conscious, get rid of (again, refer to your Wardrobe Weeding Cheatsheet Click here to get FREE PDF). Do not leave clothes out to disturb the peace in your bedroom. It would be silly to put in all this effort to create a Confident Closet only to make other areas of the house chaos and confusion, right? Cross the finish line.
  9. Decorate. Now, step back into/up to your closet and take a good look around. Chances are your heart is jumping for joy… and wanting to do the same thing for your husband’s side… (another day). Without all the extra clutter, what can you do to make this space more beautiful? Something that brings you peace and joy, like a picture from your honeymoon,  a framed scripture, bouquet of flowers or simply the placement of your pretty purses?Note: I’ll be posting ideas this week on my social medias, so remember to check in. Follow me on FacebookFollow me on TwitterFollow me on LinkedInFollow me on PinterestFollow me on RSS

You did it! Now there’s only one more thing to do. Go, enjoy the fruit of your labor!

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For more on Confidence Beauty Image- and Life-Coaching, or to learn about Catrina's Supreme MakeOver Image Assessment Parties, be sure to visit www.CatrinaWelch.com

4 Criteria for Keeping your Clothes

Beauty, Confidence, Personal Style, , , ,

“I’ve got nothing to wear!” his wife whined while she starred down the full racks of clothes in her closet. “Where what you have on… or one of the many you just tried on that are laying on that chair.”

Is there a woman in this world who has not faced this dilemma?

We may have a closet full of great clothes, but if they don’t work together or fit well, then we still have “nothing to wear.” I suppose it’s not as big of a problem for men because their bodies (and their fashions!) don’t change as quickly as our’s do. Perhaps that’s why they just don’t get it.

They have a valid point, though, when they question us on why we hold onto things we cannot wear.

I have helped a lot of women de-clutter their closet. It’s what I do.

Once you know your personal image identity, you want to rid your closet of any style that doesn’t compliment your authentic beauty. If you are a Bold Beauty and you wear lace, for example, you will not only feel awkward and frustrated, others will hesitate to trust you because the gentle impression that lace gives competes with your strong personality. This is the very reason you may put on a beautiful outfit that you love on the hanger (and your husband thinks “it’s fine, just wear that”) yet you cannot bring yourself to wear it out the door.

But why do you hang it back up in the closet? This is the question that we attempted to unravel in my last blog. Today I want to share with you the greatest trick I have learned in helping women let go of that which they don’t want to get rid of.

FullSizeRender 22I have never once completely succeeded at weeding another woman’s closet. Every single client I have ever had has had trouble letting go of at least one item that was not a good fit for her. She doesn’t want to throw away the item because it still has worth in her eyes. She doesn’t want to give away the item because it has an emotional attachment.  She doesn’t want to store away the item because she thinks her body will change again and doesn’t want to forget about it when she regains her figure.

I tend to be non-confrontational. I quince when I watch how Stacy London and Clinton Kelly handle this in What Not to Wear. I know what it’s like to be on a tight budget and I don’t offer the credit card to go shopping with when I do a Wardrobe Weeding, so I have had to come up with another method of helping women transform their image by creating a Confident Closet.

As promised (to introduce my new blog day) I am going to share this tip with you. Drum roll please…

WEAR IT

Yup. If you are having trouble getting rid of something in your closet for any reason, simply wear it for a day. This works for a number of reasons:

  1. It has to fit. If you cannot put it on and feel good about how it covers your body and you refuse to put it the Give Away, Throw Away or Store Away piles (which we do during a weeding) then hang it up in an annoying spot until you can–or until you are ready to pick your pile.
  2. It has to be in good repair. If it puckers or pulls; is ripped, stained or missing buttons; if it rides, falls or splits in anyway that will make you feel self-conscious, then leave it out until you can fix it. Do not put it away until you do, and once it is in good condition, wear it. If you feel confident, keep it. If not, pick your pile.
  3. You have to complete the outfit. If you do not have anything to go with it, put it out somewhere annoying and do not put it back until you either find something to go with it, or you decide it’s time to let it go.
  4. You have to feel confident. If this item you love meets all the requirements above, then leave it in your closet, but wear it on the first opportunity you get. Make a commitment to yourself to decide by the end of the day if you are keeping that item or not.

These are the questions you should ask yourself throughout the day:

Am I comfortable? Or am I fidgeting with the fit? 
When I catch a glimpse of myself do I pull my shoulders back or drop them? 
How is my energy level? Do I feel empowered and aware of those around me or do I feel awkward and self-conscious?
Is this “me” or do I feel like my mother?

What you wear is an explanation of who you are. It’s your brand. Even if you do not know your Img.ID, try this trick with each item in your closet. Systematically go through your entire wardrobe. With each outfit you wear, ask yourself the questions above. At the end of the day, divide your laundry into four piles: Throw Away, Give Away, Store Away and Put Away. Before you know it, your closet may be scares, but everything in it will be a good option and your husband will no longer laugh at you for having “nothing to wear.”

To help you declutter your closet, I created this FREE checklist for you. Click Here to get FREE PDF

*****

Catrina Welch is an inspirational author and speaker whose passion is empowering women and girls to BE and LET BE. Her expertise as a cosmetologist, image consultant and Biblical life-coach, as well as her personal experiences with abandonment and grief make her message relatable to anyone dealing with rejection, betrayal or loss.

CoversSidebar280x150-1Her latest book, CONFIDENT BEAUTY: Reflecting the One Who Made You, with the Images in your Mirror and in your Soul, will soon be available as an audiobook. Autographed copies of all her books are available on her website at www.CatrinaWelch.com

Is your Clothes Closet like your Kitchen?

Beauty, Confidence, Personal Style, ,

It’s part of every woman’s innate nature to desire beauty. Creating beauty, on the other hand, is not necessarily every woman’s forte.

Every woman likes eating, too, but not all of us like to cook!

Personally, I could go either way on when it comes to cooking. I like creating a meal for my family to enjoy, as long as I’m not too hungry to think and I have all the ingredients on hand to cook with. I love to go out to eat, too. It’s wonderful to have someone else create a scrumptious meal and place it right in front of me all prepared. At a restaurant they even do the clean up!

Creating an outfit is a lot like cooking.

Just as Continue reading Is your Clothes Closet like your Kitchen? →

What Makes a Bride Beautiful?

Beauty, Confidence, Faith, Life, ,

Bride_with_bouquetShe takes her father’s arm and enters the sanctuary as the entire congregation stands to their feet in awe. Her beauty captivates them, but their gaze does not distract her. Her heart is set on reaching the altar to stand beside the man she loves as they commit their lives to one another. It’s a beautiful moment, one that leaves an impression on the minds of each who witness it.

Every bride should hear the sweet sound of her guests’ gasp when the doors open and she enters the room. It’s something most girls dream about. It’s also something many girls fear won’t happen. But it does. And it has little to do with the physical attributes of the bride. In fact, no stylist or fashion designer should ever take the credit for making a bride beautiful.

Her groom should.

The thing that makes a bride glow more than her form-fitted gown, her exquisite updo or flawless makeup is the knowledge that she is loved.

A woman who feels loved feels confident and free.

Confident that dreams come true. Confident that, with him by her side, she can face the world.

Free to be herself because she is accepted, chosen, and wanted.

It’s this poise that makes her stand up tall and float down the aisle in front of a congregation of people watching her. Confidence makes a woman beautiful.

I can almost hear the thoughts of those of you who lost that poise after the honeymoon wore off. I know the lonely feeling of being married but not feeling loved. It made me ugly. Eighteen years ago I was given a second chance, and this time I realize that marriage requires maintenance just as my body does. If I stop exercising I get weak. If I don’t exercise love, my marriage gets weak. True love doesn’t just die; we let it. Love is a choice more than it is an emotion. Sometimes the best motivation to a good workout is to be in the gym with someone strong. If you want a strong marriage, get around another couple who is truly in love. Feelings follow actions.

I’d blog more about that, but I have a wedding to get to.

1 Peter 4:8 NLT

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

*****

Catrina Welch is an inspirational author and speaker whose personal experience with overcoming rejection, betrayal and loss–as well as her expertise as a cosmetologist, image consultant and Biblical life-coach–is empowering women to BE and LET BE.

Her latest book, CONFIDENT BEAUTY: Reflecting the One Who Made You, with the Images in your Mirror and in your Soul, is now available in your favorite bookstores. Autographed copies of all her books are available on her website at www.CatrinaWelch.com

Overcoming Bridesmaid Blues with Confidence

Beauty, Confidence, Personal Style, ,
This beautiful bridal party each held a flower that complimented their Img.ID
This beautiful bridal party each picked their own dress and held a flower that complimented their Img.ID

What a great time of year for a wedding on Cape Cod! I’m excited to be part of a multinational one this weekend. Working with a German bride has been so much fun! I don’t know if it’s her culture, her strong Christian faith or her beautiful temperament, but preparing a bride for her most photographed day is not always this peaceful and pleasant.

Weddings can be extremely stressful for women of any nationality–and not just for the bride. In some ways its even harder for the bridesmaids who will also be photographed all day. At least the bride pick’s her own gown. Well usually. Women who don’t get a say in their attire face some serious Confidence Conflicts.

Formal events only intensify the image issues in a woman’s heart. At a wedding, the guest will gaze upon the bride’s beauty and she certainly feels that pressure, but her bridesmaids also have to walk down that isle with all eyes on them! This is especially hard when she doesn’t like the dress the bride picked out.

So why do these girls give in to wearing what they don’t like? In my experience, there are three reasons:

  1. The bride has a strong opinion of what she likes (and even compliant girls will speak up since it is her day.)
  2. The bridesmaid doesn’t really know (or know how to appropriately say) what she likes.
  3. It is culturally expected and accepted for the bridesmaids to give up their will for the bride’s.

Personally, I feel bad about putting my Romantic girlfriends in Dramatic gowns, but honestly, I (like most young brides) didn’t know how to BE or LET BE when I got married. If I had, I would have followed the now popular tradition of allowing the girls to choose any dress in the bride’s chosen color. I love this tradition; it shows unity yet gives room for individuality.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t solve the problem completely–unless the bride chooses a color that all her friends love. Which can be done if she chooses a neutral color that compliments all skin tones, but that’s a blog for another day.

If you are getting ready to walk down the aisle in a wedding ceremony, I commend you for supporting your friend on her important day. If you don’t love your dress, remember that your confidence is what’s most beautiful and don’t let self-consciousness rob your joy. Focus on serving the bride well and enjoying the celebration.

John 15:13 (NKJV)

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.