maxi dress – A Double Dose

Tuesday Thoughts .1: The Universe’s Three Answers

July 30, 2019

fashion and lifestyle blogger alexis belbel of a double dose wearing an off shoulder black maxi dress with tory burch miller sandals

If you all have been reading some of my more personal posts, you probably know this has been a period of growth and really learning to trust in the universe and the timing of everything. I have been reading all sorts of books and quotes, and came across one that really moved me. It went something like:

The universe has three answers: Yes, not yet, and I’ve got something better for you.”

Universe always has three answers: yes not yet i've got something better for you

To be quite honest, this “season” has been hard on me. The days I don’t break down and cry are few and far between. I don’t know if is my hormones, the roller coaster of dating and putting yourself out there, being stressed with work/overworked, or a combination of all of those, but it has been rougher on me.

I am definitely so grateful for this time for me to really focus on myself and what I want in my life in general.

Reading this quote brought tears to my eyes (of course, ha!) because I am such a planner. I want to basically map out my whole life plan: make this much money, get married by this age, have kids by this age, etc. As we all know it, life doesn’t work that way. I have really had to come to terms that some things, whether it is a job, relationship, etc, aren’t meant to be, or at least not in this current time.

What I love about this quote is that it isn’t negative, and an outright “NO”. It is more like, it is happening, or it will in the right time, and you just have to be patient. If it doesn’t happen, then something better is coming your way. I think the last two choices are what I struggle with. It is hard for me trust that it is going to happen, just not right now, or something even better that I couldn’t have imagined is coming.

The reason I wanted to share this is because I know so many of you may be going through something, or maybe just a period of growth, so I hope that this helps you out, and makes you realize you are not alone. If you don’t have a support system, know that I am thinking of you and you will get through it. As my mom says, “This too shall pass.”

On a lighter note, this black maxi dress from Walmart is an AMAZING steal. I was seriously SO surprised at how well it fit, and how pretty it was on. It’s the perfect amount of flow, and great for summer trips or date night! I have the smallest size in it for reference.

I love that Walmart has so many great pieces for any body type and all at a great price point. I am all about finding affordable pieces that make you feel your best without breaking the bank! They also offer free two-day delivery on a lot of their pieces, and in-store pickup!

{ Black Maxi Dress | Thong Sandals Similar | Sunglasses | Curling Iron | Name Necklace }

In partnership with Walmart.

Fashion

Eating Healthier On A Budget

May 10, 2019

Happy Friday and weekend! We are so excited to share today’s post with you all for several reasons! One, this maxi dress from White House Black Market actually fits the perfect length (YAY!), AND, we are sharing some tips on eating healthier on a budget!

Before we get into the tips, we wanted to talk about this great spring/summer look! This maxi dress we are so pumped about because it comes in petite sizing, so it fits us PERFECTLY! We are wearing size xxs petite in this one for reference.

We love the print for this time of year because it has a tropical/aztec vibe, and a great slit on the sides, so it is revealing enough, but also conservative enough for any age!

This print is so flattering, and really elongates the body! Yes to all of that!!

We paired the maxi dress with these gorgeous gold pave hoop earrings and these black strappy heels. These are great for any dress or summer look and they also come in tan!

Shop more spring and summer pieces we love below:

Since we got such a GREAT response to our stories of what we ate on Wednesday, we wanted to share some tips on how you can live healthier on a budget, even if it is just a few things you change up! We know eating healthier can be overwhelming (and expensive), but it doesn’t have to be!

BUY FRESH FRUITS AND VEGGIES WHOLE VS PRECUT:

Seems annoying to not have it pre-cut or prepped, but it saves money! If you are short on time, it may be easier, though.

We love having TONS of fruits and veggies on hand to snack on and on-the-go.

WHOLE GRAINS AND BEANS ARE A GREAT BUY:

Whole grains, like brown rice and oats, are less expensive per serving than most processed cereals (and much healthier!). You can use oats for so many things like cereal, homemade granola, baking, and more!

BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH:

When we worked our corporate jobs, we always would bring our own lunch with us. Not only did we save money, but we knew exactly what was in our food!

CHECK FOR COUPONS/DEALS:

You don’t have to be a coupon clipper, but there are great sites and apps that you can use to track deals on your favorite groceries. Also stores like Thrive Market, Lucky Vitamin, Amazon, and Iherb are great places to order stuff online!

BUY FROZEN VEGGIES/FRUITS OR FREEZE YOUR OWN:

Usually buying frozen foods can be more expensive, but if you’re looking for something that usually goes to waste in your house, or expires quickly, this is a great option! You can also buy the foods fresh, and then freeze them on your own!

BUY GENERIC BRAND:

We do this all of the time! As long as the ingredients are the same, who needs name brand?!

STOCK UP ON SALE:

Another great way to save! If your favorite foods or supplements go on sale, buy a bunch and store for later!

BUY IN BULK:

We are Sam’s Club and Costco queens! We buy almost all of our groceries there each week and they actually have a ton of organic options!

MAKE YOUR OWN DRESSINGS AND SAUCES:

Again, this is about convenience, so if you don’t want to make time to make your own, that is totally fine. If you do have time, or want to, making your own dressings and sauces saves so much money, and you know what is actually going into it!

ORGANIZE YOUR FOOD AND PANTRY SO YOU DON’T WASTE ANYTHING:

We love being organized, and more important than it looking “nice”, you can actually see what you have, and what you don’t, so you don’t waste money on stuff you already have in your kitchen, or risk it going bad!

COOK AT HOME AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE:

Of course, when you cook at home, you save SO much money! You don’t have to be a gourmet chef and whip up crazy meals. Even if it is just a salad, or something easy, you’re saving so much. Also, you can control your portions and what is going in your dishes.

Meal prepping is a great way to prep for the week, too!

DON’T SHOP WHEN HUNGRY:

We have all done this before! Shopping while you’re hungry can lead to impulsive buying, and wanting everything in the store! If you’re hungry, have a snack before you head out.

{ Maxi Dress | Black Strappy Sandal | Pave Hoop Earrings }

In collaboration with White House Black Market.