Grief & Loss

The time between Thanksgiving and December 7th continues to be an emotional rollercoaster for me. It is between that time that a series of events happened that lead to my grandmother’s passing. It has been 11 years since she has left us and December 7th still remains a sucky day.

Her story

My grandmother was my best friend and in many ways my whole world. I always admired her. I know I have mentioned how important she was to me but I don’t think I ever shared her story with you. She was born in Poland in 1929 and was about 10 years old when World War 2 began. She did not speak much about her life during the war but she shared some stories. I know she had to leave school early due to the war but she never confirmed which grade she finished. My guess is about the 4th or 5th grade.

After the war she was sent to Warsaw to work as a seamstress. She eventually found herself in Lodz, Poland where she met and married my grandfather. They would have two daughters during a time where Poland was rebuilding after the war. They struggled with jobs, money, and resources. They did not move into a building with an indoor bathroom for 16 years.

Eventually they moved into a bigger place and things were ok. However, things changed when my grandfather was diasgnosed with throat cancer and there was limited access to medical care. She had to take care of him at home. She was a widow by her mid forties.

A year after his passing, she moved to the United States to join my mother and her family members who lived here. Her mother, sister, and brother had been living here for some time. At 46 she moved to a new country and rebuilt her life. She would go on to own a home, have a job she loved working in housekeeping at the Marriott (she worked until she was 75!), and raised us. This included being the first person we save before and after school, trips to Florida, and enjoying her life with her siblings.

My inspiration

I know she did not share every detail of her life with me and I am missing major parts of her story. I will probably never know everything but from what I do know she inspired me.

She inspired me because of her resilience after the war. She lost family members, her home, and her opportunity at an education. This taught me early on that not everyone has the same opportunities. This made me want to go as far as I possibly could and then dedicate my career to advocating for more individuals to have access to opportunities.

She inspired me because she always figured it out. She was raising children during a time where there was little access to resources including formula, medication, or clothing. She sewed her children’s clothing. She found ways to get resources. She had to make something out of nothing. It was a challenge but she did it.

She inspired me because she started over. I know her decision to move to a new country was not an easy one so soon after losing her spouse. She had one daughter in America and a daughter and granddaughter in Poland. How to choose? Which decision is best? All at a time where our reach across the ocean was not as quick as it is today. There was no Facetime, internet, or text messaging. She taught me it is never too late to start again.

She taught me to keep going no matter what.

Grief

Initially my grief was about the physical loss. Not being able to hold, talk, or hug her ever again. In the last 11 years I have come to accept that she is physically no longer with us but I do not think I dealt with what happened to my life since that time.

After her passing, I quickly lost everything. I lost a job, security, support, and was living alone.

2010 was a horrific year for me.

I lost everything. I had nothing and no where to even begin.

Rebuild

This year, the grief was focused on how I rebuilt my life. I had to deal with and grieve all that I lost at that time. I lost myself and I never gave myself an opportunity to mourn the loss of who I was. I just threw myself into work to numb the pain and emptiness. What I did not realize is I was slowly rebuilding my life.

The last few weeks I have been thinking about how different my life is now that it was on December 7th, 2009. Very little has remained the same. I sometimes think if I had the opportunity to meet my grandmother now she would not recognize who I am today.

I am writing this post during a global pandemic, in a year filled with so much loss. For some individuals, they are ready to rebuild and start their new chapter. For others, they are still mourning and not sure what direction to take. Wherever you are, it is ok. It took me 11 years to realize that rebuilding is a step by step, day by day process.

Love,

Lisa

The FODMAP Update

In this together 🙂

It has been a few months since we started a low FODMAP diet.  If you have been following me along on social media you have seen my posts about the diet.  We began this diet because of my concerns about my stomach issues.  It was a nutritional answer to alleviate some of my issues. 

 We began the elimination phase at the end of August.  That part lasted for 4 weeks.  Since that time, we have been reintroducing foods to figure out my triggers.  My list is growing and I am able to navigate my food choices.  I can tell you I have learned a lot!

A new way

            A low FODMAP diet has now become our lifestyle in our household.  While we first tried this to help my stomach issues, we have both seen positive results.  Not only have my stomach issues been helped, Peter has also felt better than ever. 

All the spices that I had to stop using in my cooking

            I initially lost 7 pounds, through just a change of diet.  I have not weighed myself since this time because the goal is not weight loss rather eating the foods that are better for my body.  Checking my weight is just one measure to see if this nutritional plan is right for me.  I have also noticed that some of the inflammation in my body has decreased.  I also have more energy.  Prior to this I was sluggish and had little energy left at the end of the day.

            We have also noticed that we are saving money on groceries each week.  We are eating certain meals on a rotation.  We purchase fewer things and have less waste.  I think those are also great results.

More information

            If you are interested in learning more about my journey on a low FODMAP diet you can check out my free webinar at The Millennial Academy.  In this webinar, I cover what FODMAP is, why I started it, and more about my results.  I have also partnered with the meal delivery service that I used in the elimination phase, Modify Health.  If you are interested in trying the meals visit their website and use code DRLISA to get a discount on your meals.

            I am also happy to answer any questions about the low FODMAP diet.  I realize it can be a difficult decision to make because it is very restrictive.  I can promise you it will be worth it.

Love,

Lisa

3 keys in dealing with Imposter Syndrome

Impostor Syndrome feels like wearing a mask in fear of others finding out that your accomplishments happened only because of luck or chance. In other words, you don’t deserve your success. This affects people across all ages, races, and gender identities. Social media can play a huge role in Imposter Syndrome. Often, individuals will see how well everyone else SEEMS to be doing and begin to compare themselves. This comparison game can be the main culprit to feeling like a phony. There are three key steps that I like to use when dealing with imposter syndrome: Naming it, reframing context, and reclaiming self-worth.

The first step to address an issue is to name it. When people can give their feelings of unworthiness a name, it normalizes them. They may feel they are not alone, which also helps to make the situation feel common.

Cowley’s (2016) study among over 1700 adults (aged 19-32) suggests that individuals with the greatest use of social media, had the most symptoms resembling depression.  There was no evidence that there was a correlation to the specific content viewed online and depression, but by knowing there is a possible link between time spent online and depression can be very helpful to address the impact of social media. The facts show that this group spends ample time on social media. It is helpful to be reminded to use critical thinking to evaluate what you are reading online. Although people may only share the good things happening in their lives on social media, remember that what you see is not always the whole picture.

Chrissy Kyles is a higher education professional focused on career services. She is pursuing her Master’s in Counseling. She also runs the popular podcast and social media account titled Bliss with Chriss
@blisswithchriss

Perhaps the most important step in dealing with imposter syndrome is to learn how to reclaim self-worth. One way to do this is by setting reasonable goals and documenting your progress to be able to look back on in moments you feel invaluable or worthless.

It may feel easy to feel alone when dealing with Imposter Syndrome, but I hope you learn to take a step back and reflect on these three steps when you start to feel this way. Name the Imposter Syndrome, Reframe the situation on FACTS not opinion, and reclaim your self-worth through setting goals that are meaningful to YOU and check in regularly on your progress. You will be amazed at how far you have come and have concrete evidence that you are NOT a fraud.

Reference

Cowley, D, (2016). Social-Media use and depression: What is the connection NEJM Journal Watch. Psychiatry. Retrieved from   http://search.proquest.com.vortex3.uco.edu/docview/1764860975?rfr_id =info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo

The answer I needed

I have just completed the elimination phase of the low FODMAP diet.  I am so grateful I found this plan.  It was truly the answer I was looking for.  My pain is gone.  My belly bloat is gone.  I feel more energized.  I see a difference in my body.

The elimination phase

In the elimination phase, I only ate foods that were on the low FODMAP list.  The goal here is to remove any food that may trigger symptoms so that you can later introduce them and see which high FODMAP foods trigger your symptoms.  The foods on the high FODMAP list are known to cause symptoms but it does not mean every food on this list is a trigger for me.  The goal here is to identify which foods are a trigger. 

Photos provided by Modify Health

I was in this phase for 4 weeks and I am now reintroducing some high FODMAP foods.  I can say that when I reintroduce a particular food, the symptoms are almost immediate.  I can tell which food is bad for me based on how I feel after eating it.  The goal here is create my list of what my body tolerates and what it does not tolerate.  That way I know how to prep my meals in the future and what foods to decrease consumption or eliminate from my diet entirely. 

Sample meals on a Low FODMAP diet (Photos provided by Modify Health)

What helped me during the elimination phase was using a meal delivery service.  I was worried about doing something wrong if I prepared my own food and I wanted to make sure I completed this phase correctly.  I chose to order from Modify Health because of their approval from Monash University (where the original research on the FODMAP diet is from).  I decided on the meal plan where I would receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the entire elimination period.  This was a great way to transition into this new nutrition plan.  The food was easy to prepare (just heat in the microwave or stovetop) and was super convenient for my busy schedule.

The results

While the main goal is not weight loss, I ended up losing 7 pounds in 3 weeks!  This was the first time that I went to a doctor’s appointment and my weight went down!  Over the last few years, every time I had a doctor’s appointment, my weight kept going up.  Each year it was a few pounds where it has now led up to 50 pounds over what my weight should be.  This was another area I was concerned with (for overall health) because no doctor could figure out the cause of weight gain.

This plan is going to be incorporated into my daily routine moving forward.  I feel great and the results are what I was looking for.  I even plan on doing a webinar about my experiences as a patient and it will be available on The Millennial Academy. 

Modify Health

I have also partnered with Modify Health because I am a big fan.  Visit modifyhealth.com and enter the code DRLISA at checkout.  You will receive $20 off each of your first 3 orders ($60 total).  The meals are easy to reheat, come in easy to store containers, and are portion controlled.  All you have to do it reheat and enjoy 

Love,

Lisa

The Omelet Recipe

Omelet is one of the egg breakfast staples. You can improvise with any stuffing or topping ingredients you truly desire – and yes, I have seen some weird combinations.

This recipe will give you some standard ideas for a delicious omelet – whatever you desire to add after is totally up to you.

This particular recipe will be for an omelet, with bacon, sauteed peppers, tomatoes, jalapeno, and some delicious cheese.

You want to start by gathering the ingredients:

**this recipe will yield one full omelet**

• 3 eggs – makes a hearty omelet without the need for toast – if you are using toast – use 2 eggs

• 2 -3 slices of bacon

• Extra virgin olive oil

• 1 small pepper (red, yellow or green)– or ½ of a big one

• 1 small tomato

• 1 small jalapeno (I remove the seeds to soften the spice but you can skip it altogether if you don’t need or want the heat)

• ¼ cup of cheese (more or less)

• Salt/Pepper to taste

*****To make multiple omelets just multiply the ingredients by the amount of omelet*****

Utensils Necessary:

• Nonstick Frying pan (stainless steel or other pans are ok just make sure you know how to use them with the heat which is CRUCIAL)– You can also use more than one pan if you want the food quicker but one is enough. You will just need to clean it more in between.

• Plastic or wooden spatula – wooden withstands more heat but plastic is more versatile and easier to clean.

• 2 or more bowls – prepping and cutting things in advance saves a ton of time during the cooking and helps avoid overcooking, burning and other incidents.

• Plate for a finished product.

Steps:

Prep all the ingredients:

Dice tomatoes, peppers and jalapenos and set them aside

Shred cheese (if you need to) or prepare your portion in a side dish

Get out the bacon slices out

Crack the eggs into a small bowl (use later)

Dice tomatoes, peppers and jalapenos and set them aside

Start cooking:

If you are cooking with one pan start with Bacon, it takes the longest, and you can use the bacon fat to cook the peppers and tomatoes if you like.

To cook the bacon, set the pan on a burner at about 4-5 (medium heat), wait for the pan to heat up and throw the bacon in so it starts to sizzle.

From here you can leave it on that temperature, rotating it on a pan to get an even fry. Cook to the way you like it. (**crispy bacon requires more time**)

Remove the bacon onto a plate (use a paper towel to remove excess fat)

Use the rest of fat to either cook the veggies – or clean the pan off to use other oils.

Sautee the peppers, and tomatoes

Heat the pan again (medium heat or 4-5)– wait until its warm to add the oil.

Add 2 Tbsp oil, it should now be easy to move around on the pan

Add the Peppers (and Jalapeno peppers if you chose to go with them) first – let them cook for about 3-5 minutes on a medium heat (4-5)

Add the tomatoes

Cook another 3-5 minutes

Take off the heat and pour in another container or bowl

Cook the omelet

Heat the pan on about low medium heat – (about 2-4) then add the oil – 2 tbsp

Beat the eggs that you prepared in a bowl with a fork for a few seconds to make the whites and yolks blend– you can salt/pepper them now if you would like or wait until finished

Pour the mixture into the pan and let sit on low medium heat – cooking them slower allows for even cooking and you won’t have to flip the omelet! Woo hoo

As the omelet cooks, rotate the pan and sometimes use the flat spatula to get underneath to make sure the omelet doesn’t stick to the pan and cooks freely and evenly

Once the mixture solidifies on the top of the omelet, add the other ingredients on ONE HALF only (Bacon, peppers/tomatoes, and cheese) and them flip the other side to close it up. Let heat for a few moments.

YOU ARE DONE – ENJOY YOUR OMELET

The FODMAP diet

It has been about two weeks on the FODMAP elimination diet at this point.  I have to say that I saw results very quickly and felt much better even after a few days on it.  This blog chronicles some of my journey in FODMAP.

What is FODMAP?

Low FODMAP fruits and veggies. Provided by Modify Health

 It is a three step diet aimed to identify foods that may irritate your gut.  The first phase is sticking to a low FODMAP diet.  The next is to reintroduce high FODMAP foods to identify which ones cause discomfort.  The final stage is the long term planning.  Here individuals should eat a mix between the two lists and avoid the foods that trigger their symptoms.

In the elimination phase, it removes a group of short-chain carbohydrate foods from your diet that may not be properly absorbed in the gut.  The purpose of removing these foods is to later reintroduce them to identify which trigger symptoms. 

My Journey

For the last few weeks I have been in the elimination phase and focusing on eating foods that are low FODMAP.  It has certainly been an interesting experience.  I will say the transition to eating a low FODMAP diet was relatively easy.  I was able to move into the diet without significant cravings for the foods I could not have.  I will admit there were some moments where it was a bit hard and I wanted a food I couldn’t have but it was not very significant.

Low FODMAP foods from Modify Health

It was also an easy transition because I chose to work with a meal delivery service for the elimination phase. I chose Modify Health for my meals during this time. All of the meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are yummy and easy to make. It also took all of the guess work out of meal prep and adjusting to a low FODMAP diet.

I was surprised to see results as quickly as I did.  By results I mean less inflammation in my body.  I almost did not trust the results right away.  I was assured that this is common to see a change in your body so quickly.  Most indviduals see results within the first two weeks. For me, the results were less inflammation and significantly less symptoms.  I feel lighter and less tummy issues.

 I am not yet sure if I lost any weight on this diet.  I know what my beginning weight was but I need to find a scale now to measure myself!  One thing I wish I did was take my measurements before.  This would have probably been the best indicator of any changes in my body.

What’s Next?

I have a few more weeks on the elimination phase.  Even through this phase I am getting an idea of what foods are triggering my symptoms but will know for sure once I begin the reintroduction phase.  This will be a long term nutrition plan that I follow.

Love,

Lisa

One size fits all

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my story where I mentioned I would be starting a new diet based on my health care providers recommendations.  Well here are the details….

Tummy Troubles

            I have always had tummy issues.  It started when I was a kid and I have had multiple flare ups in my life.  They typically occur during periods of high stress.  My previous medical providers have informed me of my options which basically included limit stress and exercise.  So essentially not much help.  Given few areas of help, I often forget about my tummy troubles and have gotten used to feeling uncomfortable.  

            To say it in the most practical way-I feel bloated nearly every minute of my life. 

            I worked out.  No matter how much I worked out my tummy never changed.  I tried different diets (keto, intermittent fasting).  They did not work well for me. 

            So, I got used to it.

            I recently switched my primary care physician.  My tummy has been bugging me a lot more during COVID but with many years of experience of minimal answers, I almost did not bring it up to him.  Managing stress has been especially unique during the many unknowns of COVID and teaching many distance education classes.  I figured what would he tell me that I didn’t hear before?  I am glad I mentioned something.

Provided by Modify Health

            During the appointments, I made enough comments about my tummy where he continued to circle back to asking me about it.  I realized he would not let it go.  He was very thorough and did a great job.  He reminded me of my diagnosis earlier in my life and it made me realize I have been in a flare up for the last 5 years.  I realized the late nights of graduate school.  I realized how teaching night classes and eating dinner late early in my career.  I realized all the travel.  I realized my body was telling me something for 5 years and I was ignoring it. 

            This doctor’s appointment led to new answers.  After my visit, I did some research and found there is a new diet for individuals experiencing my symptoms.  I made an appointment with a dietician and we agreed this was the route to go in.  

FODMAP

            The diet I will be following is the Low-FODMAP diet.  FODMAP stands for fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.  These are big words I will have to figure out but essentially these are short-chain carbohydrates that some individuals have trouble digesting.

FODMAP by Modify Health

This diet is based on research out of Monash University.  The research identified two lists of food: low and high FODMAP foods.  The foods on the high FODMAP list may trigger symptoms.  The low FODMAP list includes foods that are easier to digest.

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?

            For one month, I will be only eating foods on the low FODMAP list.  After the month is over, I will begin the reintroduction process.  I can begin to eat foods from the high FODMAP list to see how my body reacts.  If my tummy is upset, I have to go back to low FODMAP foods for two weeks.  If my tummy is ok, I can reintroduce another food from the high FODMAP list in three days.

            The goal of this plan is to identify the foods that may be causing my tummy issues.  Eventually through this process I will have a list of foods that are triggers to my body.  It does not mean that I can never eat them, I will just have to be prepared.

WHY SHARE THIS?

            I am sharing this information with you for a few reasons:

1. Self-Care: going to my doctor was an act of self-care.  He provided some resources that I needed and hopefully I see some results soon.  It is also important to attend annual exams and be proactive about health. 
2. Start a conversation: since my Instagram story, a lot of people have reached out to me and mentioned that they would like to understand their gut health.  This seems to be a common issue that is not often discussed.  I wanted to share the resources here that could start a conversation about your health.  
3. Nutrition is not one size fits all: I got a lot of bad information over the last few years.  I was told the “good” things to eat or not eat.  Funny enough many of those items are on the high FODMAP list and are potentially my triggers.  Nutrition needs to be focused on in the individual level.

WHAT’S NEXT

            I will share parts of my FODMAP journey on the blog and Instagram.  If you have any questions, I am happy to have a conversation about it.  In the meantime, I am in the elimination phase.  I am excited for this because I am grateful for the answers. 

            For now, I say goodbye to some of my favorites-avocado, garlic, and everything bagel spice.

Love,

Lisa

For more information on FODMAP I am including this great resources from Modify Health:

What-is-FODMAP-1-1Download

35

I have never thought about an age as much as I have thought about 35.  It is not because I worry about getting older, it is because it feels like a deadline.

It feels like a deadline to have children.  A deadline I could not meet. 

I have always heard about having children before 35.  I have had many conversations with my doctors.  We have spoken about freezing my eggs for the last 5 years.  Honestly, I have never really known how to emotionally handle that conversation but I am grateful my doctor has given me all of my options and left the decision to me. 

As a women who has wanted children since her twenties, this birthday brings a variety of emotions.  My 34th year has been good to me both personally and professionally.  I will always look back at this year with fond memories but something is missing in my life.  The opportunity to be a mother. 

While my reasonings for delaying having children have always been thoughtful I can not say that it was not emotional.  So emotional I could not even talk about it with anyone outside of my husband.  We have had many long conversations about having children and have always made the decision together. That part of our life together is still on hold for several reasons. So even if situations seem as though they are ideal for this, you may not realize what individuals/couples are going through. 

I share this with you as part of my personal experience but also because we don’t often have these conversations. Too many times these conversations happen behind closed doors with tears in our eyes. 

So…

To all of you who are waiting for the opportunity to be parents I hear you. I get it and I am here for you. If you ever want to talk I am a safe place and am ready to listen. You are not alone. I will just listen to your story. We are all having different experiences but the hurt is still there. 

In my young life I have already taken on many roles. I begin my 35th year as a doctor, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, professor, mentor, author, business owner, podcaster, and one day I will hopefully add mother to that list.  

Love,

Lisa

The best thing I did for my professional life…….

Was to take a break

1,000 miles a minute

If you have been following along on my Instagram stories it is no secret it has been a busy summer. In addition to teaching full time throughout the summer I have also been working on making my dreams come true. I am happy to say we have officially launched:

The Millennial Academy: online database of webinars for personal and professional development. All are taught by experts in their field!

Belle’s Notebook Store: our new collection of inspirational shirts, mugs, and tumblers. The first collection is Progress not Perfection!

While I am really proud of these accomplishments in a few short months, I am not going to lie. It wasn’t easy. Balancing all of this included many 12 hour days, time away from Peter and Leo, and in some cases sleepless nights (from excitement and ideas).

Road trip!

The opportunity

In the middle of all the work I received an unexpected call from my colleague. He called to invite Peter and I to the Cape for a few days. Without hesitation we gladly accepted and made our way to Cape Cod a few weeks later. It was our first trip and we were just glad to be at the beach!

The beach and my laptop

Lewis Bay in Cape Cod

So I will admit I was not fully in vacation mode as I still had to work but I slowed down my pace. My afternoon walk was by a beach. It was amazing.

I woke up earlier than usual. I took walks on the beach. I felt like I reset my mind because I allowed myself to rest. The change of scenery and ocean air were just what this doctor needed.

Dinner at Portside Tavern

Peter and I also got to talk. Just talk. Not about work. Not about the tasks we needed to get accomplished. Not about the lack of time we spent together. We talked about our relationship, our goals, and plans for our future. This break not only helped me professionally but also personally as well.

My new favorite places

We also had the opportunity to explore some new places. This is one of our favorite things to do together. If you are ever in the Yarmouth or Hyannis area of Cape Cod we highly recommend these local businesses:

Smoked salmon omelet at Sea Street Cafe 🙂

Portside Tavern: super friendly staff and the food is AMAZING. We went there twice for dinner and loved everything we tried (especially the pizza, try any pizza).

Sea Street Cafe: a new cafe with the best breakfast! The staff was super nice and the breakfasts were super yummy. We ended up going there three times during our stay. (Omelets were our favorite!)

Key lessons

The break helped us to do some of our favorite things and take a break. It helped me to get some clarity in the direction of my own goals. This also helped me to focus on the appropriate next steps. Perhaps the most important lesson-TAKE A BREAK!

Love,

Lisa

My favorite places to shop

If you have not heard already the Belle’s Notebook shop opened in July!  We are so excited for this next step.  If you have not had the chance to check it out yet click here: Belle’s Notebook Shop.

Some inside scoop-we will be launching a t-shirt line very soon.  Join our mailing list for the most up to date information!

What I wear

            In honor of our new shop I wanted to write a blog about some of my favorite places where I shop.  When I was younger, I was guilty of heading to Westfarms mall and spending hours just browsing in many stores.  Now my choices have downsized to a few brands that I frequently purchase from.  I tend to search for brands that carry long pant sizes (trust me this is not easy!).  That is typically one of the biggest reasons a brand catches my attention. 

            My style has also evolved over the years.  In recent years I have mostly lived in professional work wear.  I spent a lot of hours on campus and typically teach for 3 hours at a time.  My clothes needed to be professional and comfy at the same time.  I have also expanded some of what I call my fun part of my closet in recent weeks. 

            So now that you know a bit about my style and the evolution of it, I wanted to share a few of the places that I find my clothes. 

*Note: These are not affiliate links or ads.  I am just sharing information about my favorite brands because I love them.

My favorite brands

Olive French Original Design “Authentic” Graphic Tee

1. Olive French: this local boutique has quickly become a favorite of mine.  Brittany has unique and beautiful pieces that I cannot find anywhere else.  She is amazing to work with and will answer any of your questions about the items.  Her store is filled with fun and casual clothes.  Her selection includes leisure wear, dresses, denim, tops, and now jewelry.  Free shipping and returns are included so you cannot lose on trying her boutique.  By the way-if she ever has the brand Hidden jeans in stock by them.  I mean buy 3 pairs.  They are the best jeans I have ever purchased and I do not think I will ever go back to any brand.  Check out her store here: Olive French
2. Loft: one of my favorites for work wear.  The pieces are modern, comfortable, and professional.  This is a must have for my work life.  My favorite part is how comfortable the clothes are especially when I am in the classroom for 3-hour periods.  They have Tall section which makes me very happy (I can not stand short pants!).  Their pieces are also feminine and have little details that make them stand out.  You also can not go wrong when they have a sale 🙂 Check out Loft here: LOFT
3. Target: I have to admit Target became my thing during quarantine.  It was easy to shop from my app and I was able to stock up on some pieces of my comfortable wardrobe.  Before the quarantine I did not have a lot of comfy clothes as I was always in my work wear.  I used this time to expand my closet.  I have always been a fan of t-shirts and Target did not disappoint.  I picked up some cute t-shirts for working from home.  I was able to get all of my favorites including The Golden Girls, Mickey Mouse, and Queen!  Specifically, in Target I have three favorite brands which include A New Day, Joy Lab, and All in Motion.  To check them out click here: Target

When our t-shirt line debuts I will be pairing them with some of my favorites from these stores 🙂

Love,

Lisa