brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

The Importance of Being Vulnerable & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #209

brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

This post is going to be humorous and a little bit sad. But I really want you to focus on the humor more than the sad ridiculousness of the way my mind works.

I shared a post this past weekend, 4 Steps to Feeling Good in Your Own Skin & Living Your Best Life, which touched a little bit on the negative self talk that many of us fall prey to. I wanted to elaborate more on that specific topic in an effort to illustrate just how silly we can be in the way we speak to and about ourselves.

Do not be afraid to laugh right out loud as I attempt to describe the images that often take control of my mind. There is one image that perpetuates in my brain literally every single day and I am so embarrassed to share it. But I am going to anyway because it is important to share our vulnerabilities for many different reasons.

I cannot even believe I am about to type these words in a public online forum. In fact, I only just admitted this to Jeff over the weekend and as soon as the words started coming out of my mouth, out loud, I realized how completely insane they sounded and we were laughing so hard before I could even finish my thought. A thought that has tormented me for decades! And really all it took was saying it aloud to strip the image of its power. As you fall into fits of laughter at your own absurdity, clarity tends to make its way to the surface and then real change can begin.

So here it is…

brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

At least once a day as I am just floating around my house doing the things I do, I pause for a moment and imagine what I look like to outside viewers. I don’t know why I do this, it is just something I have done for as long as I can remember. To be clear, I am not wondering about any specific person’s perception of my outward appearance nor do I really care all that much what people think of me. However, this is still where my mind tends to wander.

As I pause trying to picture what others might see if they were to glance at me, the only image that has ever come to mind is Jabba the Hutt. Yes, this is what I believe I look like to the outside world. Not even joking even though it is freaking hilarious. So please, let your laughter roar.

And now that you have started laughing out loud at my imagery, brace yourself, because it gets even more ridiculous.

Not only do I imagine that I bear a striking resemblance to Jabba the Hutt, I periodically find myself absentmindedly heading to a mirror to check. When I look at my reflection in the mirror, I am always surprised that Jabba the Hutt is not looking back at me! Seriously. It is so insanely ridiculous and this has been going on for years! Not just like two years, like most of my life amount of years! And I only just confessed it to another person a few days ago.

Since I am on a mission toward living my best life in every possible way, I suppose it is high time to start addressing the way I view myself. Perhaps step one is acknowledging that I do not look like Jabba the Hutt, which I realize now in the aftermath of this crazy disclosure!

Please keep in mind that I am not looking for compliments in any way. Compliments make me extraordinarily uncomfortable so I definitely never seek them. I also do not really need them at this juncture as I can certainly see from the images in this post that I do not in any way resemble Jabba the Hutt. First of all, my hair is way better. And secondly, I think my smile is a bit more vibrant.

brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

But you know what? Had I not shared any of this with Jeff or anyone else, I would still be wandering around my house thinking I look like Jabba the Hutt. It is not the reassurance from my husband or anyone else that has effectively busted this Jabba myth in my head, it is the mere act of openly sharing the vulnerability itself that made me realize just how incredibly silly it all is.

So if you are fighting a battle against your own negative self talk, I am going to recommend that you confess the craziest things you tell yourself to a trusted partner, friend, loved one, or counselor. The act of saying it out loud might be just the thing you need to be rid of it for good.

brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
brocade blazer, thrifted style, ripped jeans, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

I still imagine Jabba the Hutt and I am still surprised that he does not greet me in the mirror, but I only just had this epiphany like three days ago. As I continue my pursuit to rewiring my brain, I am also hoping that sharing my vulnerabilities can help someone else reframe their own self talk.

And now I’m curious, if you take pause for a moment to consider what you look like to outside observers, what do you see?

Featured Favorites

Reader Favorite (Most Clicked)

Jaymie of Everyday Style with Jaymie Ashcraft shared her post, Prime Purchases, featuring this wonderful black sweater that I have been eyeing up for months on Amazon! Maybe it’s time I take the plunge! Stop by Jaymie’s post to check out her reviews of some other wonderful Amazon Prime purchases as well.

Fashion Favorite

Gail of Is This Mutton? shared her post, Working from Home? Dress to Impress. Gail is a master at combining vibrant and bold pieces for a striking ensemble suitable for any day of the week. Working from home or not, I absolutely love Gail’s style especially when she incorporates beautiful shades of green. Go check out the post for much more wonderful working from home style inspiration.

Non Fashion Favorite

Dee of Grammy’s Grid shared her post, Why Do Jeans Have Rivets? Dee, like myself, has a tendency to go researching all sorts of random things as they pop into her head and then she shares her findings on her blog, just like I do. I love discovering new information about the common things in life that we usually take for granted…like rivets on our jeans! This was a super fun history lesson!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Outfit Details: Brocade Blazer and Cold Shoulder Top-Thrifted / Lace Top-Torrid / Jeans-American Eagle / Velvet Socks-DSW / Boots-Charlotte Russe / Belt-Bed Stu / Gloves-Isotoner / Earrings and Headband-Old

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

68 Comments

  • Jill

    It’s funny how our brains work and just by saying something out loud to someone can change our perspective and make things better. You are beautiful inside and out! Love this entire outfit! The fringe detail on your top is so fun!

    Jill – Doused in Pink

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Jill! It is funny how ridiculous our inner voices can sound when we speak them out loud! I am learning to do this more often so I can more effectively clear all the junk out of my head. I hope your week is going well!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Kathrine Eldridge

    Thank you for your bravery on sharing what was going on in your head. I will take your advice and confess some of my negative talk to someone I trust. I know your post will help many people. I will say that you look nothing like Jabba. Maybe you didn’t realize that you were thinking of Leia who was chained to Jabba instead. Lol! Love this winter look and thanks for the link up!

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Oh my goodness, Kathrine, I just laughed out loud over the Jabba vs Leia reference! My husband said the same exact thing when I made my ridiculous confession! I would love to know how it goes for you when you share your negative self talk with a trusted person…I am hoping that you will have a similar result…where just the speaking it out loud makes you realize how silly those internal voices can be! Hopefully, we can both eventually shut it down and replace all the negative with positive affirmations about ourselves. You are beautiful inside and out as well! I think we all need to be reminded of that sometimes.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Jennifer, thank you so much for sharing that vulnerability of yours. You are a beautiful woman, both inside and out. I definitely find kindness and authenticity to be the most powerful things that reflect in our outward appearances. And you, my friend, have both of those in abundance, making you even more attractive! The rewiring process is a tedious one…now I need to get to the place where you are…lots of positive affirmations are in order for me.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Nancy

    Okay…….. stop smoking pot darling…. lol. Gerben actually is a Jabba the Hutt fan. And has it always been Jabba, or other uh…. creaties too….haaha. I’m actually serious…..NOT. LOL.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Oh my goodness, Nancy, you always have a way of making me laugh right out loud! Thanks for that! I don’t think it’s the pot though that makes me think these things! Haha. Jeff told me if I really look like Jabba the Hutt, then he is a fan and thinks Jabba is sexy! And nope, it has always just been Jabba in my head!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Tatiana

    You are amazing, Shelbee! Talking about a problem out loud – half solving it (I hope you understand what I am trying to say. I am still working on my English). You brought such an important topic and I am sure your post will be very helpful for many of us. Thank you so much for your bravery! I was thinking about your question and I found that I don’t any other images of me, I see only myself. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t have anything to hide from others…

    Tatiana

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Tatiana, thank you so very much for this wonderful comment. I do hope that I can inspire and help others simply by sharing my most vulnerable thoughts. I was actually a little hesitant to ask that final question in the post, what do you see when you imagine what you look like to others, because I was certain that I am the only weirdo who sees Jabba the Hutt! Haha. But then I thought maybe it was an important question to ask after all. It makes you pause and think for a moment. And I am so glad that the image you hold is one of seeing only yourself! And I guess we all have little bits that we prefer to hide from others and that’s not a bad thing at all. Thanks for being an awesome human! Keep shining bright, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom

    You are crazy, girl! Seriously, I don’t know where you got this from… did you first think it the first time that Star Wars movie came out (ages ago!) or just recently? I really hope you haven’t been thinking this since that movie first came out!! And, I swear when I was a little kid and it was my birthday… my dad would always let me pick what I wanted to do and I’d say go to a movie (which was a real treat back then). My dad would ALWAYS pick the movie and it’d be something Star Wars!!! Seriously! So, let’s just get that Jabba the Hutt OUT of our minds forever!!! My husband LOVES Star Wars and I’m all like… I just want to see something else! Ha!! I love that fringe on the front of your black shirt and that warm brown of that blazer.

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Carrie, thank you so much! I literally just started cracking up out loud at your comment! I think this image of me as Jabba manifested maybe 15 or 20 years ago. So I have definitely not carried this image around with me since I was a young girl. But my years as a young girl who was insanely dedicated to my sport of swimming caused all sorts of body image issues, for sure. I have grown comfortable in my body as I have aged and had children and gained and lost weight a million times over, but I still have this image of a giant slimy slothy slinky slouchy creature sliding through my house doing chores! It is so ridiculous, I know! But I am working on it! That is why I share it. LOL

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Christina Morley

    I’m glad you shared that. I’m sure it’s going to help lots of people to see how silly we can be. My favorite pic today is the close-up! Such a beautiful photo. And, I think that black shirt with the shoulder cut-outs looks really good. Thanks for hosting!

  • Helen

    We all have our demons to deal with, my friend.
    One of my biggest challenges as a blogger is dealing with negative comments and being so self-conscious. I’ve been blogging for such a long time that I should really have outgrown this over-sensitivity by now. I know full well that people aren’t going to chant praises all the time.
    Still I’m really nervous every time I post a video or pictures of myself, wearing my makes. Over the years my skin has grown a little bit thicker, but not thick enough I guess.
    Thank you for being such a brave and awesome human and for sharing your thoughts with us!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Helen, thank you so much for sharing your vulnerability with me. Blogging definitely can feed into our insecurities in such a huge way. And while I think I have pretty thick skin as well when it comes to negative feedback and comments, it still hurts like heck when your ego takes a blow. For me, the best therapy is sharing all the crazy in my head because somehow, some way, no matter how insane my thoughts may be, there is always at least one person who relates and is positively effected because I shared. You are amazing human, beautiful inside and out, incredibly talented and very inspiring! Keep that light of yours shining bright, my friend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Oh my, Mireille, I just laughed right out loud! And I agree, saying these things aloud really makes a huge difference in our ability to conquer them. We begin to defeat the negative self talk as soon as we speak it out loud and hear how ridiculous we sound!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Ratnamurti, my friend, thank you so very much! I kind of figured I was not alone. So why not share it to help others combat their own negative self talk and vulnerabilities! Plus I do not mind ever using myself an example to illustrate even negative things. It is all in the name of helping and inspiring others. And if I can’t laugh at myself, then what do I have really?

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Ashley

    You know what, your vulnerability is so refreshing! It’s tough for me to be vulnerable, so I admire you for it. And I think you are SO NORMAL– we all have a version of this negative self-talk loop in one way, shape, or form. It’s tough to address but I’m glad you did! Because you are no Jabba, my friend! 🙂

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Ashley! I just laughed out loud that I am no Jabba! Vulnerability is really freaking hard, isn’t it? But I feel like there is so much strength and power in sharing it. And when we speak out against our own negative self talk, that is when we can begin to defeat it! If we keep it secret, we give it too much power to wreak havoc on my psyche! Cheers to sharing all the vulnerable shit in an effort towards defeating it!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Ashley

    I’m so happy that you shared this, Shelbee! It inspires me to voice those negative thoughts inside my head, and I know it will help inspire so many others as well. I’ve always believed the saying ‘what consumes your mind controls your life’ and this really reminds me of that. Isn’t it strange how our brains work that we think these crazy things about ourselves that are literally the farthest from the truth? I’m glad that you told Jeff and stripped the power away from your thought. I know you said you don’t want compliments, but I just have to tell you that you are beautiful and as you already know, there is absolutely no resemblance to Jabba! 🙂

    Make Life Marvelous

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Ashley, thanks so much for this wonderful comment. In just a few short sentences, you have managed to inspire me, make me smile, make me laugh, and validate the work that I do and the mission that I am trying to accomplish! I really like the way you have phrased the part about stripping the power away from our thoughts. We can get so consumed by the negativity that we feed ourselves and then shame sets in keeping us silent. It is the speaking out loud that really does strip the power away. Just like any other kind of abuse we may suffer, when we speak out about it, we start to make positive changes. But yet, we struggle with speaking out against our abusers…even more so when the abuser is yourself. It really is great food for thought and hopefully by sharing our stories we can empower others to do the same. Thanks for being an awesome human!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Dee | Grammy's Grid

    First of all, I get it but you DO NOT look like Jabba the Hutt in any way at all!! I understand what you’re saying though because I do the same thing. I need to lose about 50 lbs but I see myself as looking like the heaviest girl on the TV show 1000-lb Sisters and in reality I know I don’t look like that nor am I that heavy but my mirror deceives me. You know some skinny people have the same issue. A doctor of mine is the perfect weight but she starves herself because she thinks she’s fat!!

    Thanks so much for featuring my post – WHY DO JEANS HAVE RIVETS? And, thanks again for hosting! I’m linking up with my first RVers Linkup. Looking for blog posts about adventures, tips, and experiences RVing through the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Dee, thank you so much! I am so glad that you can relate to the crazy things we tend to tell ourselves. I once had a friend tell me that I use my mirrors incorrectly because I do not look at all the way I think I do! It was a humorous yet practical perspective for me. And now sometimes when the negative self talk gets out of control, I can just blame my mirror as being dysfunctional and broken! For me, it is not all about my weight either, the negative talk includes every aspect of my physical and intellectual being. But I am working on it! And just as you are sure that I do not resemble Jabba the Hutt, I am certain that you do not look like a cast member of 1000 Pound Sisters! And I know that this business of negative self talk is not exclusive to people with a few extra pounds. It really can get all of us! And so I will keep sharing my vulnerable bits if it can help to empower even just one person!

      I am definitely coming over to check out this RV link up! I have never been RV’ing, but have recently proposed it as a family trip idea this spring or summer. I am sure I will find some wonderful ideas in your link party!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

      • Dee | Grammy's Grid

        Maybe the word isn’t out yet about that RV linkup, only one linked up so far. We want to learn all we can about it so we’ll be ready for when hubby retires.

        Anyway, you’re correct, it’s not all about weight. My daughter is slim and trim but she is OBSESSED with her face! She finds things wrong with it that no one else can see. She’s constantly trying new cleansers, toners, moisturizers, face gadgets, etc. She goes for facials and peels and you know the dermatology specialist isn’t going to tell her that her face looks fine then they’d lose her business. You can tell her that her face looks fine but she doesn’t believe you. She compliments me on my face considering my age and doesn’t believe me when I tell her all I do is gently clean with a spinning brush then apply regular ole Oil of Olay.

        • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

          Well then, we need to get the word out about the RV link party! I did some collaborative work a few years ago with RV Share which is a really cool peer RV rental site. I will have to find the post and add it to your party.

          As for your daughter, my heart just broke a little bit that she always thinks there is trouble with her face. And you are right, no dermatologist will send away good business! I am the same as you, I just wash my face in the shower, use a makeup cleansing wipe at bedtime, and occasionally apply regular old Pond’s cream! I do hope that your daughter can start to see her own natural beauty soon! She clearly has an amazing mom who will continue to remind her!

          xoxo
          Shelbee

          • Dee | Grammy's Grid

            Yeah we’re trying to learn all we can about RVing so thought maybe a link party would be good. Have joined a few groups at Facebook, lots of interesting and helpful posts!! Well, the one and only good thing, if you can call it that, about my daughter’s obsession is that it hasn’t rubbed off on my teen granddaughter (her daughter), thank the Lord!!

          • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

            You are making me so ready for warmer weather with all the RV talk! I need some sunshine and a vacation! And that is wonderful that your granddaughter has not fallen prey to the negative self talk! I feel like teenagers today are so much more confident than when I was a teen! It is very inspiring to me to watch young people thrive in this crazy world.

  • Laura Bambrick

    I completely hear you with the negative self talk. And I think during extra stressful times like this I hear my crabby inner voice even more. It’s about everything I do or every aspect of how I look. I think it’s important that you are bringing it out in the open and talking about it. Knowing other people experience it helps us all feel not alone!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Laura, thanks so much for sharing your experience with negative self talk. We really can brutalize ourselves, can’t we? It is exhausting sometimes trying to live up to my own expectations! I feel it is super important to talk about these things as well otherwise we just suffer thinking we are all alone. Knowing that we are not really just makes the struggle so much easier.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Michelle

    Oh dear, yes our self-talk can certainly be ridiculous! And yet, I’m often surprised at what our emotions inflict upon us when our logic isn’t looking. Not the same thing at all, and yet I am reminded of my silliness from almost 180 degrees. When my dad died it was sudden and a shock (heart attack). And yet he went quickly with no long term suffering, just as he wanted. We were all on good terms, no unresolved issues between us. Logic told me this was as good death as anyone has a right to expect. I should be able to recover from his death quickly. Logic said so! So I was surprised when the grief went on and on and on. My emotions had their own ideas and own timeline. And when I dared to actually look at them, I discovered I was angry at him. He had always been very cavalier about the idea of his own death, and it was no different when he was actually dying. At one point he demanded that we cancel the ambulance when my mom was in the phone with 911. So we did. I really believe in self-determination, and if this is what he wanted, then it should be respected. We did call after he was unable to demand otherwise, but he was dead before they arrived. Despite respecting his wishes as I believed we should, I was still mad. It took me a couple of years before I was able to face the fact that I was angry.

    The thing I learned from this is that logic is one way of knowing yourself, and emotions are another way of knowing yourself and they are both valid. But emotions often communicate in weird ways – such as your feeling that people perceived you as Jabba the Hut.

    And by the way, I love all the elements of this outfit – the crocheted cap, the earrings, the fringe, the gold heels on your booties.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Michelle, thank you so very much for sharing this perspective and how you came upon it. I don’t think I have ever considered it in the way that you have framed it, but I agree completely. We are governed by both logic and emotions and I suppose they serve to keep each balanced and in check. But sometimes they break off from one another and run rampant as they try to inflict the most damage on us before the opposition catches on and brings us back to a healthy balance.

      I really appreciated you sharing the story of your father’s death as well. My father died when I was just 20 years old and my response was probably a bit childlike because I was really still just a child, a junior in college, still reliant on my parents for many things. By the time my mother passed away eleven years later, you would think I would have evolved a bit in my grieving process. But her death inflicted upon me so much anger, it is embarrassing! I was able to recognize my anger immediately and I won’t go into all the things that angered me right now because that’s a whole story of its own. At first I felt guilty for being angry and then finally I was able to sit in that emotion for a bit and process it. It took six long years before I could let the anger go and celebrate the positive things about my mother. Death and grief certainly teach us a lot about ourselves!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Michelle

    I’m not sure I explained that right. When you felt insecure about how you appear to others, your emotional side showed you Jabba. It’s so extreme that it doesn’t make any kind of sense. But the message of emotions are often cryptic. In this case, I believe the picture in your head was so off base in order to bring to your attention that you have issues which need your attention. In this case, I think you’ve already dealt with most of your body distortion issues, but not the message itself. I’m glad you’ll be able to work to banish the Jabba message from this point forward.

    I hope this makes sense.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Yes, that does make much more sense now! I was a little confused but thought I was following along! Thank you for clarifying. Sadly, now as I think about banishing Jabba forever, I am afraid I might miss his presence, too. But I guess that is a totally normal feeling. We become very attached to our demons and their residual effects continue on long after we have defeated them.

  • Cheryl Shops

    I will join the chorus of commenters telling you that you look absolutely nothing like Jabba the Hut at all, but also thank you for sharing this, for both the humor and humanity of it. If it makes you feel any better, I think I always look like when I flip my phone camera to front-facing by accident, and I have like 3 chins and a furrowed brow 😉 We all need to be kinder on ourselves!
    Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Oh my goodness, Cheryl, I just burst out laughing by the end of your comment! We are so very unkind to ourselves, aren’t we?! This relationship with myself is the strangest relationship I have ever been in! And I am familiar with those accidental glances of yourself at the most unflattering angles! Oh we must stop doing this to ourselves. But that is why I write these things…Keep shining bright, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Darlene

    SUCH good advice to share our innermost insecurities OUT LOUD with someone we trust. Sometimes when we hear ourselves, we self-correct and turn our thinking around, which is the whole point, right? You did make me laugh as of all the things I would compare you to, Jabba the Hutt, would NOT even occur to me! Instead, you remind me of a very pretty, very self-reflective friend of mine who is also a hoot! So there! Lol!

    Thanks for sharing your inner thoughts.
    xx Darlene

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Oh my goodness, Darlene, you just made me blush and even tear up a little. You are so very kind. And you make me laugh, too! My mind definitely comes up with some really bizarre things. But, like you said, sharing it is so helpful for ridding ourselves of it. Jabba will now be my forever reminder to keep that negative self talk in check! Keep being awesome, my friend! I, and everyone else in this world, needs amazing friends like you on our side!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Shauna, thanks so much! Ever since I said it out loud to Jeff the other day, I cannot stop laughing at Jabba the Hutt either! And I will forever laugh every time I see or hear his name! It will remind me to keep my negative self talk in check!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Jessica A Jannenga

    Yes, it was funny as you don’t resemble Jabba in any way! I joke with my hubby and say I look like a Picasso painting as I have a sharp jawline …. I am sure we all have that type of self-talk! I love the kimono and you look so cute in hats, love this one too! The snow pictures are very pretty. We have some frost, that is about it. Yesterday was 63!
    jess xx
    Have a great week!
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Jess! Oh my goodness, one of my favorite paintings ever is a Picasso from his cubist period so I imagine you are referring to his cubist paintings. But I can assure you, that just as I do not resemble Jabba, you do not resemble Picasso’s big block headed cubist people! I am a bit jealous of your 63 degrees, by the way. We have negative negative temperatures for the rest of this week with the highs only reaching about 12.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Lucy Bertoldi

    Ok…No compliments. Just facts. You are gorgeous- that Jabba thing is not. LIke we say in French: Point final.
    ONto more facts; I want that sheer fringy top, that coat and, that hat. Love ya!xx!

  • Maureen

    I can relate Shelbee! I don’t know if it’s just human nature to see ourselves as someone or something else but isn’t it just liberating to have that freedom to laugh about it? Cute outfit btw! I love the kimono. I hope your week is going well so far and happy Friday!

    Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thank you, Maureen! Yes, it is super liberating to voice some of the crazy things I say to myself and then laughing about it is absolutely the best cure for any of it! I hope you have a wonderful weekend also, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Sheila (of Ephemera)

    Oh, Shelbee, you are so far from Jabba – bantha poodoo on that, ha ha! You’re much more of a Princess Leia. I used to have a similar view of myself, and I actually got past it from doing my blog. All those pictures of me – I was able to distance myself from what I pictured in my head and look at the pictures objectively. I think I look pretty good – and for years, I could not even conceive of being considered attractive.

    My husband knows 99% of my brain, hell, he’s reading my teenage journal – he’s in my 17 year old brain!

    Happy weekend to you!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Sheila, thank you so much! So Jabba has very quickly become a joke in my house already! Haha. And it will forever remind me to keep a proper perspective about myself! I never could even conceive of being considered attractive either. Blogging has definitely helped me a lot. But when I look at photos of myself, I generally don’t even consider them photos of me. I view them as some detached subject and just attempt to make the images look as pretty as possible. But regardless of all that, I will always have my sense of humor to keep laughing at everything including my own ridiculous self! I love that your husband is reading your teenage journal! How fun is that. My husband has explicit instructions that my journals cannot ever be read by anyone until he has read them first and censored things that I would prefer my children never know! Hahaha.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Rena, thanks so much for reading! Talking about the weird stuff that comes into my head definitely helps to silence a lot of the nonsense. It also helps me to sort out the difference between what is nonsense and what thoughts are valuable ones, too.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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Shelbee on the Edge