Motherhood around the world

"As a new mom I feel compelled to read every piece baby literature I can get my hands on, in order to try (emphasis on try) better understand what's going on with the newest resident of my household: my three months and a half Levi. I guess this is a new fear present in my head around the clock nowadays: what if I miss doing something my little one would need in order to evolve into the best version of himself? And what if years and years from now he'll come back to me asking "Why? But why..?!". Insert big gulp from my part and smell of brain on fire while ...nothing eloquent comes out of my mouth. Nightmarish scenario, I'm telling you. I know I pulled this one out with my folks...so I kinda feel I have it coming. :)

As you can probably guess from the introduction, I'm following (maybe even virtual stalking a little bit) a lot of people more in-the-know than I am for information. One of these people I very much like to read from is Joanna Goddard&team aka cupofjo.com. I follow her posts via bloglovin.com (think of it as blog heaven for the lazy - where you can read all the new stuff from your fav blogs).

She posted a most wonderful series called "Motherhood around the world" where mothers from everywhere share their experience on how it is to live, give birth, raise a child, etc in the country they currently live in. I found it very fascinating and refreshing. And even more than that, I found it comforting, which was exactly what I needed. While reading post after post after post I had some "A-haa!" moments from time to time seeing that there is no unique right way to care for kids - people do it so differently starting from education to food, to play time, to... well everything actually.

Of course all those fears I have will never ever be completely brought to silence (and someday maybe I'll come to better terms with that) but, on the bright side of things (which was about time to make an appearance) I think spending time getting informed and reading such materials help me keep them more in control, which is a totally awesome thing for me to accomplish.

Back to the motherhood series I was just telling you about, some of the opinions were in line with my own beliefs, other less so - I am still a product of the way I was raised to see things, but some items are definitely keepers. I've posted below some parts that I'd like to revisit in the future.

Enjoy!

Note: The excerpts and pictures below have been taken from cupofjo.com

EXCERPT FROM 14 SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT PARENTING IN SWEDEN

"On napping outdoors: Even in the thick of winter when temperatures are below zero, many Swedish parents put their kids, bundled up in their strollers, outside to nap. They say children sleep longer and better this way and believe the cold and that fresh air is good for a child’s immune system. And here, if you’re sick your doctor will say, open the window when you go to bed at night, fresh air cures all! When I first moved here, I went to meet a friend for coffee in the pouring rain. She told me her baby was asleep outside in the stroller, like it was the most natural thing in the world. His stroller had a waterproof cover, and she could see his stroller outside the window. I realized that it was not actually that crazy when I compared that approach to bringing a wet stroller with a sleeping baby, all bundled up in winter gear, inside a crowded, stuffy cafe, full of germs, trying to find a place to park the stroller, then risking waking him by undressing him so he doesn’t overheat. All of a sudden, leaving him outside seemed like a pretty great option!"

EXCERPT FROM 20 SURPRISING THING ABOUT PARENTING IN GERMANY

"On teaching self-reliance: Hugo is two, and we recently had a parent/teacher conference with his daycare. The teacher said, “I’m concerned about his coming into the group of older kids.” I asked why, and she said, “He needs to learn to stand up for himself more. When other kids come up and take toys away from him, he just lets it happen.” I was like, well, isn’t that just sharing? And she said, “He needs to either take the toy back or fight. We teachers can’t fight all his battles for him!” I was laughing inside, because it was SO different from how we were socialized as children. In the U.S., we were taught that you have to share, you have to compromise. In Germany, it’s all about self-sufficiency and standing up for your rights. When German friends come over, and Hugo wants to play with something the other kids are playing with, my German friends will say to their kids, “Come on, take it back! Did you not want him to play with it? Go take it back.” It’s not meant to be confrontational or mean in any way. But their emphasis is teaching the child to stand up for himself."

"On non-helicopter parenting: Childhood is a time of freedom and happiness. I see little kids walking or biking to or from school alone all the time. Sometimes on weekends, I’ll see kids in the neighborhood all alone, buying breakfast rolls for their families. Once a kid is around seven or eight years old, parents really encourage more autonomous behavior (that is controlled, obviously). Germans prize independence in children, which can feel a little strange to someone brought up in an American-Italian home (I think my parents would still like to hold my hand while crossing the street and I’m 36). The non-helicopter parenting totally extends into teenagerhood. I remember all my German friends having co-ed sleepovers. When you have a boyfriend or girlfriend, from basically fourteen on, you sleep over at their house in their room, unsupervised. Parents are so much more permissive and trusting—there’s a whole groundwork being laid of self-sufficiency and trust."

EXCERPT FROM 16 SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT PARENTING IN CHINA

"On a diaper-free culture: Babies wear split pants, and they’ll pee and poop on the ground. My American friends say, “I’m so jealous that they potty train sooner,” but the definition of potty training is completely different here. Back home potty training means going on a toilet, whereas here potty training means going on command. It’s more laid back. Chinese moms will hold their baby and whistle, and then the child will go potty on the ground. The other day, while I was walking my daughter to school, we saw two older boys pooping on egg cartons. They’re potty trained to go anywhere—not to wait to hold it and go a toilet. One big bonus: When our kid has to go, we’re not scrambling to find a public restroom."

EXCERPT FROM 12 SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT PARENTING IN ABU DHABI

"On hiring help: I’d never hired a nanny before moving to Abu Dhabi, but now we have full-time help. Our nanny, Tsega, is Ethiopian, and she helps cook, clean and take care of the kids six days a week.

Most domestic help comes from outside the country—Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, the Philippines or Bangladesh—and it’s extremely affordable. People here say “nanny” or “housemaid.” Everyone—both locals and expats—has a housemaid, and often a driver. I’ve seen everyday Emiratis with a maid for each child!

I realize this is a controversial subject for some American women. Among the women I knew in Utah, it was common to have five or six kids and take care of them full-time, with no help. I felt real pressure to have a beautiful meal prepared every night, vacuum lines on the carpet, kids looking like they stepped out of Crewcuts—all while having perky breasts and wearing size 6 skinny jeans. For me, that was impossible. I felt like I was constantly failing. Soon after we moved to Abu Dhabi, our middle child, Asher, was diagnosed with autism, and we hired Tsega because I just couldn’t keep up. She swept in, with her soft gentle voice and impeccable cooking and cleaning skills, and saved us. She gave me TIME! Time to focus on my kids individually; time to actually have date nights with my husband; time to start my own business. Having full-time help has been a huge benefit to living in this city, and it’s something I’ll be sad to give up.

It’s worth mentioning that there has been some local controversy here about housemaids being worked too hard. For example, the Ethiopian government recently stopped allowing the UAE to recruit Ethiopian maids because of reports that they’re literally being asked to work day and night, seven days a week, by local families. I can only speak to my own experience, but we talk often to Tsega about her hours and pay and are very careful to make sure feels she is being treated fairly. I truly feel like she is part of our family and I adore her. Right now we’re paying for her to take computer and English classes so that when we leave, she’ll be in a position to move forward with her career and send more money to her family back home."

EXCERPT FROM 13 SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT PARENTING IN CONGO

On hiring nannies and housekeepers: Jill: We had never hired people to work in our homes before moving to Congo. But it’s expected here for families who are relatively well off to use some of that income to provide work for others.[...]

[...]In Congo, all women are called “Mama So-and-So” out of respect, whether you’re a mother or not. I thought I would be uncomfortable sharing my mama title, but I’m not. It’s a strange relationship—that of nanny and parent and child—but one that is less threatening and more loving than I expected. Now it’s hard to imagine raising children without so many mamas.[...]

"On weight: Jill: There’s no need to step on a scale on the continent of Africa. I know I’m gaining weight when I start getting compliments on my appearance. More specifically, my butt. I’ve been told, with great kindness, that I looked “nice and fat” after returning from a vacation. The tailor who recently made me a dress looked at my lackluster curves and reassured me that she could figure out how to add in boobs and a butt via some magical seams.

Sarah: Recently I took some photos of some of the Mamas in my children’s lives, and Mama Youyou gently brought me Mamitsho’s photo saying, “Madame, umm, hmm, well…Have you seen this photo of Mamitsho? Well, hmm, has she seen it? Is she okay with this?” I told her I thought it was a lovely picture of Mamitsho, and in fact everyone who has seen it comments on how nice she looks. (In retrospect, I guess it was only Americans giving the compliments.)

“Well, Madame, it’s not a good photo,” said Mama Youyou. “She looks skinny. It must be embarrassing for her. You can see her”—and then she yell-whispered—”collarbone!” Body fat is a precious thing here; a sign of nutrition, comfort and a good life.

Jill: The different perspectives on bodies and beauty are something that comes up fairly often. I just read an article in a local magazine about tia foin, the dangerous trend of women using prescription medications to fatten up a bit. It’s the same discussion as we might see in the pages of Marie Claire or Elle about weight-loss drug use among women, but with a completely different spin."

EXCERPT FROM 10 SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT PARENTING IN JAPAN

On food: Kids here eat mostly very healthy…tons of rice! Lunch boxes are mainly rice balls—sometimes wrapped in seaweed—with a little egg omelet, sausage and broccoli. The tricky part is that there isn’t labeling like in the U.S. So when you buy eggs or vegetables, you don’t know if they’re organic or not. My husband thinks it’s because all the food is good quality, but it frustrates me not to know. In Brooklyn I was part of a food coop and I bought all organic…Here I just have to close my eyes and buy it!

10 SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT PARENTING IN NORWAY

On marriage: People work a lot fewer hours in Norway than they do in the U.S. For example, my husband works for the government for 37.5 hours per week (8am to 3:45pm, five days a week). That’s typical. Since both parents work, marriage partnerships feel much more equal here. Families tend to eat dinner together around 5pm. The housework is mostly divided, and I don’t know any husband who doesn’t help cook dinner and take care of the kids. I see just as many dads picking up their kids from Barnehage as I do moms.

For the whole series check them on Joanna blog here: Motherhood around the world

I would really love to see a series about Romania too. Thank you cupofjo.com for all this wonderful information!

Food affair: Oven pumpkin

I know Halloween is all over now but when inspiration hits you...you need to let creativity do its thing. So this is how my dear mum welcomed us this week-end..quite a tasty feast, I'm telling you.

And this is how she did it:
* One piece of pumkpin
* 2 tablespoons of sugar
* Decoration: whatever sweet fruits you have available (mum had some raspberries), a tiny little bit of powdered sugar, some pumpkin seeds

Put the 2 tbsp of sugar over the pumpkin slice evenly and put the pumpkin to the oven. Let it cook very slowly for a few hours, and try it from time to time to see when you like the taste. When you like it, take the pumpkin out, add the "eyes" and the "teeth" and enjoy!

Weekend Fashion Inspiration

Hi guys, I say, let's end the week with some sneak peaks into the clothing choices of random people around the world as inspiration for the next wardrobe decisions. Hope you enjoy!

 from stylecaster.com

from bloglovin.com

from fashion.telegraph.co.uk

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

 from apartment34.com

from  lacooletchic.tumblr.com

from lisasaysgah.com

from whowhatwear.com

 from alonestarstateofsouthern.com

from atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com

PS: This is a selection of items I like which I found via Pinterest.  For more inspiration of this kind you can see my boards here

Heaven is for real

I've recently seen (again) a movie that moved me quite a lot about a little boy who had a near death experience but miraculously recovers after a while in the hospital. He then tells his parents he he's been on a journey to Heaven and talked to God. The film follows the struggles the family faces after the little guy makes his story known and of course, the people's reactions to this spectacular news.

I must admit, the fact that this movie is said to be based on a true story made me even more curious than I would normally be. The story is catchy, well narrated, has a little bit of fun and drama and most of all, it treats a subject that you don't see every time you turn on the TV. 

But the thing that really got me thinking in the end is that while we are taught from early childhood to believe in God, Heaven, miracles, etc and we spend most of our lives into the belief that there is something out there after our life on earth ends, a beautiful place where we will meet our beloved and where we will spend eternity, when someone comes and says that God really exists, that they've been to Heaven, that they've talked to Him, that everything we thought so far really exists...everybody thinks that person is crazy and should stop saying such things. Seems like quite a paradox to me. :)
On this note I leave you to see the trailer:

The Hunger Games

found on etsy.com via pintrest

Hi again guys. Long time, no see! Since our last virtual encounter I've gained a few (more) pounds, gave birth to my son, lost a few pounds and then got stuck with some extra 8 kg that are stubbornly just hanging around. 

Those who know me know I don't like to starve myself and I totally prefer doing the slow but healthier version than the "I can't sleep at night, I only dream about food" way.  Still, even with the "I want healthy stuff" mindset I still find myself more often than not drooling like crazy over eating sweets, salty things, then sweets again, then coffee... a never ending vicious circle with not so nice results.

Experts say that when we crave for certain aliments, our body actually need some particular vitamins. Understanding how this all works and providing ourselves with the healthy options instead of the not so healthy ones helps us feel better and also paves the way to a slimmer figure. So this is what I found while researching on the subject: 

When we crave for all kinds of sweets:

Our body feels stressed and needs a wide range of vitamins like chromium (found in broccoli, grapes, dried beans, chicken), carbon (found in sweet fruits), phosphorus (chicken, liver, fish, eggs, cheese, nuts, veggies and cereals), sulfur (horseradish, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips), tryptophane (cheese, liver, raisins, sweet potatoes, spinach).

When feeling crazy about chocolate (like all the time?): it appears magnesium has gone missing. Try to counter with peanuts, nuts and pumpkin seeds. 

Falling for the salty side? Chlorine may be at fault. Or better said, the lack of it. Goat cheese, fish, unrefined sea salt should help getting things back to normal.

If you wanna eat bread all day, it seems you might be missing nitrogen. Try see if more fish, meat, nuts and beans will do the trick and get you back on track.

When we totally need coffee or tea body needs phosphorus, iron, sulfur or salt which can be found in all veggies, sea salt, apple vinegar, green leaves, eggs, fish.

You can't stop the choosing fatty and/or oily foods? You might be needing Calcium. Cheese, broccoli and green leaves should help you keep things in control.

Can't stop thinking about the booze? Alcohol cravings may be your body's way of telling you to bring in more Protein (meat, sea food, cheese, nuts and peanuts, granola), Calcium (Mustard, broccoli, cheese, sesame, veggies), Potassium (dark olives, potatoes, green leaves), Glutamine (supplements with glutamine, fresh cabbage juice (yuck))

Tobacco cravings? Try supplementing your silicone intake (nuts, peanuts, seeds) and tyrosine (vitamin C, veggies, red colored fruits)

PS: Please note that I do not have a medical degree - the suggestions in this post have been gathered by researching the internet on this subject of great importance to me at the moment. However, the information in this article cannot replace a doctor's advice. For more detailed information about loosing weight in a healthier way 

This week's fashion pic(k)s

Hi guys,

Long time no see. I've had a lot going on lately with the new guy that entered my life and soon will take his fair share of the living space in my apartment.
In case you were wondering, that would be my soon to be born son Levi :) I'll share with you some more on this subject in one of my future posts.

Joke aside, as I've gathered some street style pictures that I very much like, I take the opportunity to share them with you. These girls might or might not be famous but they have a great sense of style.
Take a look!

found on agirlandagluegun.com

found on thenletitbe.tumblr.com

found on theyallhateus.com

found on whowhatwear.com

found on brit.com

found on lolobu.com

found on whowhatwear.com

found on theberry.com

found on uk.pintrest.com

Denim wear

As I've said before in some of my previous posts, I love street style so much because I can see practical head-to-toe outfits worn beautifully by people in their day to day life.  Some women I never saw before and probably never see again (except maybe another street style photo) make the most interesting clothes and accessories combinations.

Since it's summer and blue hues go perfectly with the hot nowadays, I let you get inspired by these fashion forward ladies below who made denim their choice for the day :

See you next time!

found on theyallhateus.com

found on i-love-fashion-and-boys.blogspoti.it

found on ladylachict.tumblr.com

found on amazon.com

found on whowhatwear.com

found on laurenconrad.com

found on  thesimplyluxuriouslife.com

found on southmoltonststyle.com

found on marieclaire.co.uk

found on bloglovin.com

Point of view

found on thedecorista.tumblr.com

A little while ago I've been to a 4-day course at my chosen birthing center Medlife where medical staff came to teach future parents the ABCs of taking care of a little human.  Personally, I didn't find the courses much enlightening or the staff very well prepared with useful information and wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for courses of this kind.
Maybe they will improve this area in the future, but for present time I also tested the courses provided by Crucea Alba which I found much more closer to my informational and emotional  needs.

One moment I could not forget, or apparently get over was when the nutrition teacher brought up one things I've heard a lot of people around me saying to pregnant women or women with very little kids (Approximate reproduction): "I am sorry to tell you this, but you need to not to do and eat this and this and this anymore (insert half hour long list). Now that you need to take care of the little one inside you don't matter anymore, he or she does. The only thing that is important now is the welfare of your newborn, etc, etc"

I perfectly agree that once a woman become pregnant she needs to take as much care as possible of herself in order to give her child the best and healthiest start in life possible. Nothing more true.

But I also know that this doesn't come easy for everybody. Personally I miss a lot my old lifestyle, foods, vices and all. Lifestyle which needed a hell of a lot of adjustments which still don't come easy to me even after 7 months of pregnancy.
Feeling this way does not mean I don't do the needed changes and requirements anyway, or that I think less lovingly about the little man growing inside.

So while I totally believe that the lady there had the best intentions at heart for the mother and baby and provided her advice without meaning any harm, I felt totally depressed after leaving the center.

I don't know about you, but personally I don't like to think of myself as a walking human incubator, or a person who lost her right to matter once she got pregnant. I also believe that nobody, woman or man deserves to be told they as a person and their needs don't matter anymore. Especially during one of the most demanding periods of one's life.

I totally agree all those things need to be done, no argument there. But I also think that the way the information is presented makes a whole of a lot of difference on whether a person will be able to cope and find motivation or will get into a depression.

So having encountered this way too many times, I'd like to see more doctors wrapping their advice and lessons in a way that targets not only having a perfectly healthy body to produce children but also a healthy mind to be able to adjust to the changes happening in the new course of life.

I'd like to hear them telling women that they are important, that what they feel, need and crave is important, that being able to find joy in new things might mean being referred to a course of therapy to help obtain those targets.

I'd also love to hear your opinions on this. Have you been in the same situation? How did you handle it? How do you think things could be different?

Thanks you all for taking the time to read my thoughts and see you again soon!

Want to make a soon to be mom a gift? Here's some inspiration

I've had a recent conversation with one of my colleagues from work regarding gifts that are given to expectant mothers. I mentioned that as far as my experience goes, most people (me included) are always inclined to buy cute things for the little ones and was nicely impressed that she wanted to give something for the mother's use and not the baby's.

Got me thinking that after getting married or a bit later, women usually start to receive gifts that are not actually for them in particular. For example, kitchen accessories/electronics to help her cook better for her family or things for the home, stuff for the baby, kids, etc?

Hmm...I think I'm gonna need to start re-thinking the way I give things myself, since I did these things too. Usually it's because it's easy and time economic to use a stereotype than try to find out what the person likes/needs or what hobbies she might have nowadays. Sometimes you find yourself there's no way in the world you have enough time in the day or means to find out.

But I also discovered the joy of giving people something practical that they needed at a certain moment and found out it feels very satisfying to me also that the present was appreciated (I guess I'll never know that  one for sure, but one can only hope).

So getting back to our future to be mothers here, I've compiled a list of maybe not so common, but helpful (I hope) and practical gifts that you could use in case of need. 

1. A pregnancy massage/massage package given by a specialized center

Pregnant women find themselves facing back pain, swollen feet and hands which brings difficulties when moving around, tiredness and a general not so nice mood. A good massage therapist to help improve on these areas is a blessing and something many future to be mothers can't afford as they need to save money for the little one.

Attention: Massage on pregnant ladies can be done only with the doctor's consent.

found on massagemag.com

2. A set of pregnancy courses for the new parents. 

Usually, if the couple is having their first child they have no clue over many of the things related to pregnancy. And although the internet is a great source of information, it is also a great source of anxiety especially for first time moms who are not sure what to believe and what not. My opinion is that the best way to get informed is to attend some classes held by specialized personnel and have them respond to all the questions that might appear.

In Romania, if the father also participates, he gets 10 extra paid days to be able to stay home and tend to the mother and child.

3. A belly support band.
For me it's one of the best things ever because it keeps the belly in place giving me a lot freedom to move, exercise, etc. I wear the belly support band in combination with under the bump maternity jeans for the best support.

found on newlook.com

4. A maternity pillow

They are useful especially at the end of the second trimester and during the third one when the bump gets bigger and a pregnant lady needs better support for sleep and relaxation.

I've got a regular U shaped one and I'm happy with it, but you can find them in several shapes. I cannot tell if it's the best option since it's the only one I've tried, but it sure gets points for comfort.

Some of them can also be used after giving birth for nursing and are available at all ranges of prices depending on the budget.

found on amazon.com

5. Ask what she would need

If you are close to the expectant mother, a good option is to ask what she needs. Many people feel uncomfortable asking what others need. The recipients feel uncomfortable asking for things.

However, a list of things to choose from is beneficial for both sides. The one making the gift saves time browsing the stores thinking what to buy and the mother gets something she actually needs and won't need to spend money on.

It might indeed not be such a surprise to give an expected gift, but you could always add a touch of  fun and unexpected with an amusing postcard or a cookie.

Pregnancy life savers

Hey ladies! Today I'm gonna tell you about some useful things I found out about and used for the pregnancy period. This is my first experience of the kind so I'm still discovering a lot of things along the way. Here would be my list:

1. Drink a lot water in order to not retain water

One of the best advice I've received which tested out to be true, especially if you like to taste saltier foods from time to time. Lack of water results in wrinkles, cellulite, prevents toxins from leaving the body and very important as it impacts your general confort and ability to move around: a lot of water retention at face and ankles level. The very same applies even if you are not pregnant but trying to loose weight and improve on those areas. Best way that I found working was drinking plain water, tea temperature.

Plus, even though not many people may speak about it, the persons who don't drink enough water leave a foul smell after going to the toilet... OK now...Moving on to number two :)

PS: One way to be able to see how much water you drink could be buying a 2l bottle and setting a goal empty it by the end of the day. 

Or, if you like technology, you can install a free app on your phone. Waterlogged is a free app where you log the water you drink during the day so you can better follow up on your goal.

                                                               found on thisiswherelifegetsgood.tumblr.com

2. Find a good pregnancy massage therapist and go for it as often as you can afford.

Most pregnant women, me included get swollen face, feet and hands. What helped the most in my case was finding a good pregnancy massage therapist that worked on draining my face and feet and relieved my back from pain. I go twice a week and for a personalized massage program. The results are very visible: I am 6 months pregnant and don't have problems yet with swollen feet, face, back pain or difficulties in walking around. However, if I miss my sessions, those problems start to appear in a few days. So I can totally say that discipline and perseverance are a key here.

My advice if you want to do this is to search for centers that offer pregnancy services like courses, gym and massage. Since these people are specialized to offer pregnancy services only, normally they should be offering better things than the places that do all kinds of massages for everybody. 

3. Have two pairs of specially designed pregnancy pants/jeans.

I found the difference between normal jeans altered to fit a growing belly and specially designed pregnancy jeans to be huge. The best combination that worked for me is under the bump jeans combined with an elastic band. The band from the jeans offers good support for the lower side of the belly which is awesome since most of the time we are sitting in vertical position. The elastic band provides support for the rest of the belly keeping everything in place. This gave in my case a great relief since I am a very active person and like moving around a lot, which means needed my bump to stay in place.

Unfortunately in Romania and Bucharest to be more specific I haven't really found pregnancy clothes that look both young and are available at accessible prices. So two options for pants and not only are www.asos.com and www.newlook.com Below is what I have:

found on asos.com

                                                                                             found on asos.com

4. Two elastic bands to support the belly: for all the reasons listed above :)

found on newlook.com

To be continued

To buy or not to buy?

I was wandering through the stores a few days ago, curious to see what's new in the clothes, shoes and accessories departments. Since I'm getting more and more pregnant every day (heh) stores view marathons are one of the last fitness moments I have left for now (not that I complain, I do really like it).

What caught my attention (again) this time is to see many clothes have so spicy price tags but quality materials no better than the ones I could find for 2 or 3 times less money.

So what's to be done? Should we be buy something just because it has a famous company name on the tag? I say nope.

So with this in mind, I've made up a list of things I always try to consider before buying something, to decide if it's worth it for me:

1. Touch the material. How does it feel? Do you like to touch it? - Since you're gonna stay in it for several hours a day, if you don't like it when you put your hand on it, imagine how it would feel for that fabric to be in contact with your skin for a few hours.
2. The design: Do you have anything to wear it with at the present time? Many people buy things because they are nicely presented in the store, they catch the eye, they have famous tag, but soon after the buy it they realize they would need to buy a whole new wardrobe around the new piece. So that piece might just be getting to take your wardrobe space and empty your wallet.
3. Actually first importance for me: if you would take that dress/jumper/etc from where it is (nice store design, nice light, nice presentation) remove the tag and imagine it in a not famous, maybe neighborhood store: would it still stand out, would you still pay the money to buy it? A piece with good material and good design that flatters your figure will stand out (almost) wherever it is.
4. The size: If you need something, buy that something in the size you are right now. Buying things with a slimmer figure in mind means you won't be able to wear it for a while now. You might not even like it anymore when you get to the desired clothes size. I still have a pair of very skinny jeans that I don't like anymore from some years ago, when I thought I was gonna loose several kg very soon. So with that in mind, does it flatter your current beautiful self?

What do you think of this list? What else would you add to it?

Until next time I'll leave you with some nice findings I encountered while surfing the internet.

Take care!

found on whowhatwear.com

found on atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com

found on bloglovin.com

from popsugar.com

found on bloglovin.com

found on shopstyle.com

found on puravidabracelets.com

found on blogmommies.com

found on ecstasymodels.tumblr.com