Obviously, this documentary has upset the still current LuLaRoe community. And we’re assuming they’ve been told to fight back.

This documentary has been given 5-star ratings over and over and over. The consistency has been crazy. But now, out of nowhere, here comes a ton of 1-star ratings.

If you take a closer look at these 1-star reviews, it’s all current LuLaRoe retailers. Go figure.

They’re all claiming that the documentary is false and that those who came forward are just bitter the business didn’t work out for them.

I guess they aren’t realizing how much it’s just adding to the fire, but hey, if it makes them feel like they’re accomplishing something, I guess…good job?

There have also been sightings of Facebook posts of LuLaRoe retailers asking others to give the documentary a 1-star review. But try as they may, I think their ship has already sunk.

I speak from experience, when you get off a nursing shift, you feel gross — even under NORMAL circumstances. You can’t wait to get home, throw your scrubs off, and get a shower.

Nurses now, though, may need to throw off their work attire BEFORE they even get in their cars.

Leggings are the answer! Nurses are wearing leggings under their scrubs, so they can take the scrub pants off in the parking lot when they get off their shift.

They usually have a bin or bag waiting to hold the soiled clothes, thereby helping to stop the spread of anything that might be lurking on the clothing.

So what can you do? We ALL have leggings from the “Leggings Are Pants” movement. Ha!

Bag up those CLEAN leggings, call your local hospital, and see if there are any nurses that want a few leggings.

This is an easy way to help if you can’t sew — Like Me!!! I can’t make a face mask, but I can donate a bag or two of leggings.

FINALLY! Something I’m good at that might help the cause!

I’m going to see if my friends have any leggings they want to donate to these heroes that are in the trenches. I can do a porch pickup and deliver them all to the hospital. You can, too!

And then I saw the pictures…

Oh. My. God.

I want candy cane legs! These LuLaRoe Christmas Prints are every elf’s dream come true!!

LuLaRoe Christmas Prints Are Coming!!!

I’m seriously beside myself with all the outfit combinations in my head… Red fuzzy boots… Blingy gold jewelry… Comfy sweaters… And LULAROE CHRISTMAS LEGGINGS!

I haven’t heard if they will be releasing any other items with holiday prints on them, but a girl can hope, right?

Those Christmas tree leggings make me think of snow… And skiing… And all that weather we don’t get down here in Texas but like to watch on TV.

I’m seriously loving all the gold toned footwear styling in these pictures. Younger Me would die at that statement, but I really love how cheerful the golds is for the holiday.

So this is your warning… LuLaRoe Christmas prints are coming! Get ready, because these babies are going to go just as fast as the Halloween ones did.

So far I’ve seen the Disney Villains! How is this even possible? I mean, last year’s leggings were cute, but this year’s leggings are OFF THE CHAIN.

Everyone that knows me knows that I have a serious, hard core Disney Villain addiction. As in, if I could actually become a Disney Villain, I would. I totally would.

Here’s the deal, Halloween is my favorite time of year. It’s my favorite holiday, and Disney is my favorite thing. I am NOT the only one who feels like this. There are a lot of people who shop the LuLaRoe trends and these are the people who are going to show up at the live shows, eyes propped wide from massive doses of caffeine, fingers poised over the “MINE MINE MINE” button, ready to do whatever it takes to bring these styles home.

I ‘might’ be one of them. The good news is, the LuLaRoe promos show a crapton of amazeballs unicorns so even if Halloween isn’t as big of a deal to you, I am sure you will find something you love.

Also spotted in the promo pictures are NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Cheshire cat, Cruella DeVil, Scar, the Queen of Hearts and Maleficent!

Not spotted, but hoped for, are those cute little skull unicorns from last year, and some of the other non-disney styles. So far they’ve only announced leggings, but I’m crossing everything that we get some dresses and shirts like what they did with the LuLaRoe Disney!

This is your notice: LuLaRoe Halloween for Disney prints have been spotted, and they are gorgeous. Get ready to stalker shop.

Why I Chose A LuLaRoe Nicole Over A Little Black Dress

Women of any size or shape can relate to the overwhelming feeling of not being adequately prepared for an event. Especially one with a dress code. And when it comes to fancy I’m at a disadvantage between the pink hair and tattoos. I’m different. I know it. I’ve stopped trying to be anything except me. But that still means I stress the heck out when it’s time to look nice.

LuLaRoe has not-so-slowly been taking over my wardrobe since February. I spend more days than not in my leggings or Carlys than out of them. In case you’re wondering, today’s Roe is a teal and pink triangle print Nicole I cut the sleeves off of. With my freshly dyed hair, it’s adorable. Anyway. I’ve got a lot of clothes to Roe in.

But I couldn’t wear them to this event!

…could I?

After an hour spent trying to pick an appropriate outfit my bedroom looked like a Texas tornado had ran through it and I was about ready to put on a trash bag, find some ice cream and just not go. This was too much stress for someone who no longer regularly leaves the house.

Recognizing I was at that stressful breaking point, I took a deep breath. I read the dress code again, which equated to: don’t wear jeans and t-shirts, be presentable. Then I asked myself, do I want to wear jeans or t-shirts? Nope.

What the heck do I want to wear?

That was such an easy answer!

I wanted to wear my black Nicole.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Nicole it’s a simple, knit dress with a scoop neck, elbow length sleeves and an A-line skirt. Its flattering. It’s comfortable. And paired with some glitzy jewelry and snazzy shoes…I knew it would be the perfect outfit.

I cannot tell you the kind of relief I felt at having arrived at this decision. I’d spent an hour slithering into shape wear I could hardly breathe in to put on a dress that was going to pinch, is now too big (Thanks, PokemonGo), or I just didn’t want to wear. I was getting a super awesome opportunity to attend this event and I didn’t want to spend it wondering when I could get home and put on my leggings. Something I could breathe in!

Long primping montage later, my hair curled, make-up done, all the glitzy jewelry, my black Nicole, a satin belt and heels–I LOOKED AWESOME!

And you know what?

I felt awesome, too.

I was comfortable. I looked great. I was excited about the night. It was  a home run.

Women’s clothing has been uncomfortable and involved way too many layers since the dawn of time. Since someone decided that women’s bodies were shameful and sinful. And we’ve been paying that price ever since. All we want is clothing that makes us feel good and looks good, am I right? We’ve been begging for it for years. And while yeah, a company or designer might make a few pieces here and there that fit the bill, we are always expected to cinch in or give up something for the sake of looking good, dressing right or meeting social expectations.

I stood in a room full of people wearing outfits that probably cost twice to ten times as much as I paid for my Nicole–and I got complimented all night long. That was empowering. And you know what? It tells me that fashion can be comfortable and on point at the same time.

LuLaRoe, for me, does something that so many other clothing lines doesn’t. It makes me look good with almost zero effort, and I’m comfortable at the same time. No more having to wear my Spanx or a minimizing bra, I can wear a Classic-T and not pop a boob out with leggings and look great. Curves, lumps and all. Finally! Someone has heard the collective female wail of lament and given us something we can love. Bonus that they wash and wear so easily, right?

My size, shape and appearance has been a years long battle. I’ve suffered from depression and anorexia in an attempt to be that ideal size or shape, because I wasn’t good enough. Because I didn’t fit the ideal. I have long-lasting health issues because of my unhealthy attempts to fit in a shirt the way people think I should, or making my hips squeeze into a particular size of jeans. Yes, I’m over weight, yes, I’m working on healthy ways to slim down, but you know what? I’m healthier now both mentally and physically than I’ve been in years.

Here’s the real truth: women are not shaped the same. So why should we all have to fit into the same clothing?

With LuLaRoe the clothing fits to my shape. My size. Not the other way around.

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I’ll never forget my mad dash in packing. I’d chosen 5 pairs of leggings and in eyeing the suitcase space remaining figured, what are the chances I’ll even wear one of these?

I took two pair of leggings with me on our Weddingmoon. Two. For eight days. Oh, how I wish I could go back in time… Seriously, I went a week without leggings and immediately regretted it.

I Went A Week Without Leggings, And Immediately Regretted It

Here’s the thing you should know about me: my thighs are enemies. Mortal enemies. Every time they touch, they try to fight to the death. It’s like someone shows, “FINISH HER” every time they touch. I have horrible issues with chafing, and there’s jack I can do about it. Regardless of how much I’ve weighed, be it 100 to 200 pounds, I have this problem no matter what. I can thank decades of riding horses for that. I’ve tried tons of different products, some work better than others, and suffice to say, the best bet for me is to just wear something knee length.

Poor, naive me figured going into our Weddingmoon that I could get away with wearing a mix of short and long shorts when we weren’t in the water. I didn’t really take into consideration how many off-resort excursions we wanted to go on or how much walking was involved.

I lasted until about the sixth day before I was literally bleeding from chafing and just wanted my LuLaRoe back. Yes, bleeding. Never fear, I had band-aids. The leggings were safe! At one point I was crying the chafe was so bad.

I’ll never forget the utter bliss of sliding into this pair of butter-soft, floral leggings. It was like wrapping myself in a piece of heaven. I didn’t hurt anymore. I was comfortable. My thighs each had their own room. They were no longer being forced to make friendly. And a happy bonus? My leggings were tropical print!

Suffice to say, I’ll never leave home without a full suitcase dedicated just to leggings ever again.

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10 Reasons You Should Be Stalking Your Favorite LuLaRoe Consultants RIGHT NOW

10. Sneak peeks are everything.

I love and hate sneak peeks. Most consultants will post a little teaser of patterns or items coming up in their next sale. I find this is super important for reminding myself to tune the heck in so I know what I want to get!

9. Summer is coming.

Which means, I need all the skirts. Particularly the Madisons, which I find are perfect for summer activities on the go. I mean, hello. Pockets? Anyone?

8. DISNEY PRINTS ARE COMING!

7. Need some air up in here!

Again, summer. The LLR dresses (Nicole, Amelia, Carly, Ana – like what Amiyrah is wearing in the picture) are a staple of my summer wardrobe. It’s easy to throw on and look super cute while not burning to a crisp in our 100+ degree days.

6. The Classic-T is just about the most perfect garment ever created.

Seriously. I love my plain, black classic-t to death. It’s such a flattering shirt that can be worn a dozen ways, dressed up or down, and always look fabulous. I cannot say enough good things about the classic-t. I just need more!!!

5. Layer me some love.

Have you seen Joy? Does it bring you Joy? I’m super excited about light weight summer layering.

4. New pppprrrriiiinnnnttttsssss!

I’m always dying to see new prints and colors. I love me some living in boldness, and LLR brings it. Americana, anyone? Yeah, I am ALL ABOUT those stars and stripes!

3. Can you say s-t-r-e-t-c-h?

Come on, ladies. Who really wants to be vacuum packed into a tiny outfit at the upcoming summer BBQ? I don’t. And I’m all about the give to my clothes. Not just because I’m going to over-eat myself come grilling season, but also because the clothing is so darn forgiving. I can run, stroll, shop and schmooze in my LLR. It’s something that’s got all the love to give and none of the hate!

2. No girl ever has enough leggings!

Seriously. My weddingmoon welcome home present to myself? Two new pairs of leggings. I’m at the point where I’m about to wear out the first batch of leggings I ever bought from maximum wear and I need more!

1. Did I mention, DISNEY PRINTS ARE COMING?

Two Things You Love Are Having A Baby: Disney + LuLaRoe…Can We Say UNICORN LOVE?

Now, how could you not love this? Every time I’ve seen a “what pattern would you like to see LLR make?” Disney has always been at the very top of the list. Like, tippy-top! Let’s face it, Disney people and LuLaRoe are a match made in heaven. Who doesn’t want to rock their favorite Disney homage, look cute and be freakishly comfortable doing it?

There hasn’t been any official word about which lines will be getting a Disney look or pattern, but examining some of the images in announcement pictures has led to some parsing out of what to look forward to.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUQ3fnxhWsi/?taken-by=lularoe

Prints!

The iconic mouse ears seem to be prominent among the images. Lots of Micky and Minnie ears, bows, and those wonderfully classic red, white and black looks. But, dear god, what’s that I see? Is it a silhouette of Aurora? One of the Princesses? If you ask me, and no one really did but whatever, this is the biggie. While you can find Micky and Minnie stuff on a lot of items, the princesses don’t make it onto much stuff outside the official Disney store.

I’ll admit, I squealed when I found the princess print for totally personal reasons. ((I’m writing fairy tale themed romance books, but that’s not the topic at hand.))

Styles!

Now, the question on a lot of people’s minds after the big reveal video? What items are going to get a Disney-over?

Looking at some of the images LuLaRoe has released it’s safe to say there will be a variety of stuff hitting the web very soon. Adult and kids! I didn’t think they’d leave the littles out, but I had one heart stopping moment of fear. Don’t sweat it though! The real question is, will you be able to score the coveted Mommy and Me Disney sets? Huh?

Leggings were one of the first images I hit on, and they seem to be a variety of wonderfully zanney to subtle with class. I can see a lot of people rocking their leggings and Disney love for business or casual.

Tops were prominent in the images, from what appears to be Randy to a Classic or Perfect looking top. I wouldn’t be shocked if an Irma showed up with those wonderful ears on them, too.

Skirts were also heavily featured in the Cassie and a few loser options that make me wonder if I’m seeing hints of a Madison or maybe a Nicole.

Some of the pieces glimpsed in the initial promo images are hard to pin down, but I think it’s safe to say that LuLaRoe and Disney are prepared to offer us a large collection of prints, colors and styles.

Here’s the official statement from the LuLaRoe Instagram:

We are SO excited to finally announce the LuLaRoe Collection for Disney. This collection will see a steady rollout of specially-designed clothing available through the Independent Fashion Retailers. This enchanting collection embodies the essence of Disney through apparel. Enjoy prints that inspire imagination, possibilities, and the Disney fantasy we all love. #LULAROE

Competitive clothes shopping? No. Freaking. Thank. You.

I have to watch 3+ hour long live videos of LuLaRoe fashion consultants holding up leggings and THEN have to hope that 1. My internet connection isn’t terrible, 2. Type “Sold” plus the item number faster than every other leggings hungry lady, and 3. Hope that the CONSULTANT’S comment feed showed me as the top comment.

Ugh. Just…ugh.

Now before we get much further and some of you pull out your pitchforks, I want to clarify that this post isn’t another one of those “OMG LuLaRoe is a SCAM!!” posts. Nor is it likely to be the tender first chapter of LuLaRoe: A Love Story. Really, it’s about me figuring out how to love my LuLaRoe without making my wallet cry…

LuLaRoe Life Balance: Keeping My Closet Happy Without Making My Wallet Cry

It’s more of an “OMG! I really like LuLaRoe but have the willpower of a dog who’s just spotted an unattended steak yet I also have a mortgage and the bank probably won’t take leggings as collateral” story.

I have friends who are LuLaRoe Fashion consultants and they use this super awesome LuLaRoe price list, so I decided to watch some of their shows. I’m a plus sized girl and it might be nice to find a line of clothes that I can get flattering shirts that consistently fit me.

Immediately, I was immersed in a world of acronyms (TC and OS Leggings?) and bombarded with sizing information about going up or down in specific styles. 

I watched a couple of ladies pull random things out of a box for 2 hours. I Googled my sizing information and decided I’d probably just grab a pair of leggings on my first foray.

Finally, they pulled something out of the box that I LOVED. TC (Tall and Curvy) leggings with purple and teal gradient starbursts. Heart racing, I typed “Sold” into the comment box before they even announced the number. BLAM! I pulled the trigger. A moment later they called my name and just like that, my LuLaRoe virginity was gone. I watched a little bit longer, then logged off, content in my single purchase. A few minutes later, I was looking for another show.

See, I knew LuLaRoe is the kind of thing that is going to get me into trouble. I get obsessed with collecting things. I have THOUSANDS of World of Warcraft trading cards that probably aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. But the adrenaline rush of opening the packs followed by the endorphin release of the discovery of that one card I was missing is addictive.

There is a whole psychology at play with LuLaRoe and I think it’s important to understand it even though my brain WILL turn off if I see pizza leggings.

As you may know, the way LuLaRoe works is that consultants order clothes from the home company. Consultants can select specific types of shirts, dresses, or legging and sizes. That’s it. They are just as surprised as anyone when they get their boxes of random prints. Some of them even have “Shop the Box” events where they pull items out in random order, sight unseen. I’ve actually witnessed a consultant tear up as she pulled out her own unicorn and put it up for sale because she didn’t know it was in the box.

And that’s another thing. The unicorns. When I first started watching I thought Unicorn legging were LITERALLY printed with unicorns. Unicorns on my pants? Heck yeah! It didn’t take me long to figure out that a unicorn was really just any desirable print. But man, that term gets thrown around quite liberally. If Unicorns were as common in nature as they are on some of these shows, the west would have been won by cowboys riding Twilight Sparkle and Rarity.

This is where the psychology comes in. The inventory is randomized among the consultants so they can’t compete with one another. Same shirts and leggings, different patterns. Add in the idea of the Unicorn and you get scarcity. AND you have to compete with other women attending the live sale? That translates to you, the customer, as “OMG I kinda like those leggings but if I don’t get them now I’ll never see them agaaaaaaaain!!!!”

Chill.

I say this because I have to tell myself. Often. I got my credit card bill after my first TWO WEEKS of LuLaLove. Guys. I ODed on leggings. I don’t even have shirts to wear the leggings with because I can’t figure out what size to wear! Some consultants suggest that I go down two sizes in an Irma. I ordered one, and it did not fit. The consultant was super nice and let me return it for store credit, but I’m out the cost of the return shipping. Then I got a shirt that was the correct size, but the material was extra clingy, so I had to return that one, too. I’ve now successfully figured out what Irma to wear, but the Classic and Perfect still elude me. Carly and I clicked right away, and Amelia….if Amelia wasn’t one of the more expensive styles I’d be rolling with her every day of the week. Why? Pockets. OMG. A DRESS WITH POCKETS.

Look, I love leggings. I love some of the amazing weird patterns. I love hunting for and obsessing over things. But my wallet doesn’t. So, what do I do?

Chill.

Because if this is ever going to turn into LuLaRoe: A Love Story, I have to set boundaries. LuLaRoe will always be there, eagerly awaiting with new patterns and unicorns. But if I let it, LuLaRoe will take over my life, cost me a lot of money, and I’ll have to go cold turkey. Then I can never buy LuLaRoe again. I’ve lived this cycle before. I have the 40 pound boxes of WoW trading cards to prove it.

I’ve got to be an adult…an adult who wears rocket ship leggings.

And, please…LuLaRoe responsibly.

This is an awesome LuLaRoe price list if you’re looking to buy some LuLaRoe.

You know. With a simple pair of black leggings. A nice, every girl sort of staple to see what all the fuss is about.

The LuLaRoe Obsession Starts With Just A Pair Of Black Leggings…

I am all for this method. Staple items like solid color leggings, a little black dress, these things never go out of style and you can update the look with a variety of accessories. They’re really not a risky buy, and for the cautious buyer, a great place to start.

But let’s say you got that pair of black leggings and you want to give some of the other looks a go. Where to start?

I’ve already covered my personal feelings and reviews of numerous LuLaRoe pieces for women in previous posts (leggings, dresses, shirts, skirts). Feel free to brows those and ask questions!

What I’ve been telling my friends is two things. A) Set a budget. B) Pick a few styles to try. C) Stick to that budget.

Why am I stressing budget so much?

Because every month I see the posts in the various LuLaRoe resell groups. “Help! I bought too much LLR and we need to pay xyz/I’m in trouble/I’m overwhelmed/insert other reason here!”

Take it from me, it is very easy to go overboard with your LuLaRoe buying. Especially in the beginning when you want all the things. What I hate hearing are the stories about people who tried LuLaRoe, fell into insta-love and then had it ruined by blowing their budget. My LuLaRoe clothing makes me feel good and live comfortably, so I hate hearing about people who let that happiness get sullied by things they could have changed. So please, stick with that budget!

Another tip? If you’re like me and worried about spending the budget on what you think you want, only to find a pattern, color or style that you must have now, create a dual budget. X amount for buying what you see, and X amount to be held for first unicorn sightings. If you don’t see a unicorn, simply put that unicorn budget toward next month. Voila! Smart budgeting and a bit of savings should you need it.

Now, what to buy?

I always suggest picking one new style to give a whirl at a time. The way sales happen, it’s fast and furious. I often stand a better chance of getting what I want if I’m laser focused on one style. That way I don’t get distracted. But for the new shopper, selectively widening your wardrobe can be a good way to ease into the habit. I mean–lifestyle.

For me, I went into leggings then a Cassie skirt. I like the Cassies, but my day to day life is a bit too casual for them. I tried the Nicoles, then a few shirts and then discovered that I love wearing Amelias. But I have a friend who cannot stand the pleated skirts and much prefers the Nicoles. There are so many styles that figuring out what works for you will take time. And that’s fine! LuLaRoe is constantly releasing new patterns, colors and styles.

Hope this helps. Shop smart, shop comfortable!

I was trying to pick out something to wear and was feeling Star-Wars-Festive. I have this really cool, long sleeved Star Wars shirt and figured I’d wear that. But the leggings I own that match it were all dirty. Which meant I’d have to wear jeans. And at this point I hate jeans. My jeans judge me in a way my LuLaRoe leggings never will…

My LuLaRoe Leggings Don’t Judge Me

Seriously, though, jeans.

Ug!

Okay. Well. The shirt was sort of hoodie like…

I used to love wearing hoodies with jeans!

At this point, I can’t tell you when the last time I wore jeans and a hoodie was. The last time I wore jeans is stamped into my brain, it was miserable. But, it was super hot then. Now it’s cold.

I can totally wear jeans, right?

I pulled out one of my formerly favorite pairs of jeans and started to put them on. I got them up to my hips. I recall staring down at these cruel jeans thinking, I’m not shaped like this.

Which reminded me of my all-the-time problem with jeans.

I could and can never find jeans that are shaped the way I am. It’s like the most impossible search ever. And I’ve bought $10 to $100 pairs of jeans in the attempt to find ones that fit me.

Which leads me to the conclusion that jeans are evil dictators. They tell me to conform to their shape. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to suffer baggy butt jeans just to get something to fit my thighs. I grew up riding horses which means I’ve got thick, muscular thighs (Okay, these days there’s a layer of fat over those muscles, but whatever. Not the point!). I’m never going to have a thigh gap. My thighs do not taper like jeans think they should.

I am my own shape.

And jeans do not respect that.

This weekend I’m going to go through my jeans, try them all on, and I’m likely to just chunk ’em all.

At this point, I’m thirty-something (I have to ask my fiance how old I am, and he’s not here. Hey, at least I’ve stopped automatically responding that I’m twenty-three!). I’m comfortable with who I am. How I’m shaped. And the last thing I need to do is wear uncomfortable clothes.

So jeans, I’m breaking up with you. Likely forever. And I’m okay with that.

My leggings don’t judge me.

The other day I was scrolling Facebook and saw a meme that was shared by someone from some new, non LuLaRoe legging company that shall not be named. Please note, this was a meme posted on this company’s, I guess, official page. No, I won’t name names. The meme had rules for wearing leggings. There were just two rules, but you only need a few words to body shame people. And that’s why I’ll never give up my LuLaRoe. They would Never have done something like THIS.

Why I’ll Never Give Up My LuLaRoe…

So basically the meme boiled down to rules for wearing leggings. Because apparently people aren’t allowed to put whatever they damn well please on their own damn bodies:

Rule #1  was something like, make sure your leggings aren’t see through.

Hey, some people are into that. *shrug* Not my thing.

Rule #2 was punctuated with multiple exclamation points and was basically, cover your bum and girl bits.

Oh. Wow. Wait a God damn second.

First, you’re talking to grown women here. Women who feed themselves. Pay their own bills. And buy their own freaking clothes. Now, please, someone, tell me why a third party, a complete and total mystery to you or I, should dictate how our bodies are covered?

Please, someone tell me a valid reason that is not:

• But I don’t want to see her fat butt.
• People of a certain size shouldn’t wear that.
• I don’t like it.
• It’s not appropriate.

I need to walk away.

Okay, back.

First, people of a certain size who might also be called fat are not on this planet to be wallpaper. We are not here to quietly keep to the background while the women who fit the ideal image of beauty are the ones allowed to live in the limelight. Oh, no. Women of all sizes are welcome to express themselves. Wear what they want. Be fabulous, even in see-through clothing. Let’s not forget, lacy shirts and neon bras were all the rage not that long ago. There is no fat police, no one who hands down who should be allowed to wear what.

And if you think there is, please, step through this door.

Yeah, that’s right. If anyone thinks they should hold the power to tell me, or any of the beautiful curvy, large or voluptuous women I know what we can and cannot wear, just dive on in with the other judgmental dick-holes in hell.

I might be a tad bit peeved, but you know what? I’ve spent years, decades even, being told that I am less of a person because I’m a bigger size. I’ve been told to sit down, shut up and stay out of sight. I’ve battled with depression, anxiety, eating disorders and suicide because of people who think too much of their opinions. So yeah, I’m probably a lot defensive and on the rampage, because you know what?

I like me.

I like who I am. Yeah, I might not be the perfect size or whatever, but you know what’s way more important?

I no longer hate myself. I like myself. And that’s a journey so many people never make. So excuse me while I build my fabulous, plus sized castle on this bedrock of love.

All of this goes back to one thing that I’ve seen make a positive change in people: LuLaRoe. And yeah, I’m going to sound like a Kool-Aid drinking evangelist, but whatever. I seriously love the culture that surrounds LuLaRoe. I’ve never been body shamed, told I can’t wear something or that I shouldn’t try something. In fact, people encourage ladies of size to try something outside their comfort zone. And that’s awesome. So yeah, label me the LuLaRoe nut or whatever, because I’m happy to surround myself in a loving environment with people who want to build me up and not tear me down.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go find a shorter shirt to wear with today’s leggings. I feel the need to show off how great my large butt looks in leggings.

I was chatting with Totally The Bomb’s writer Mary the other day, recounting some of the absurd questions people have asked me since I dove into this crazy pool and she was all, “you have to write a blog post!” So here’s to all the weird question’s y’all have asked!

Can I Touch You? And Other Odd Questions Only Another LuLaRoe Addict Will Understand.

So here it is.

A bunch of random questions people have asked me…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNrhAKNBWlJ/?taken-by=sidneybristol

Can I buy those off you?

This question might not seem all that odd until I tell you this conversation happened at the top of a mountain in Moab, Utah. I was wearing pixilated unicorn (literally unicorns) leggings and attached to a zip line about to plunge about 300 feet to my death-er-adventure of a lifetime. The person wanting to buy them off me? A 20’something, super masculine guy who couldn’t get over the fact that I had unicorns on my legs. He wanted them to go rock climbing in. And no, I didn’t sell him the pants I was wearing, lol.

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Can…I touch your leg?

I probably get asked this in the grocery store like once a month or so. It used to be every week, but I think everyone in my part of the city has felt up my legs. The rules are from the mid-thigh to mid-calf is okay. Any higher isn’t yours, and any lower needs some explanation!

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Babe, touch her butt!

Okay, this one was a friend of mine who was obsessed with the luxurious feel of my Ana maxi dress. it really did feel awesome. Thankfully, her husband is a smart man and patted my shoulder.

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Does…that even match?

Look, here’s the thing, matching is all in the eye of the beholder. Me? I like red and pink together. Black and brown is totally fine. So yes, I  mix some c-r-a-z-y colors! And that’s perfectly okay.

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Do you have a mirror?

Okay, seriously, yeah, I do. Here’s the thing, a lot of people these days have a weird sense of entitlement about what people can or can’t wear, and their ability to act as the fashion police. My reply to this is often not all that polite, because really I don’t have time for that nonsense. a) I have manners. b) I look awesome.

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I could never wear that…could I?

Yes, yes you can. here’s the thing I love and will continue to love about my LulaCult. You can do whatever you want. Seriously. The clothes are comfy. There are no rules. You can totally wear it if you want it.

Do those come in…big girl sizes?

Um, I think you mean size AWESOME! And yes, they totally do.

Here’s the thing I keep saying about LuLaRoe. It’s not just clothes, it’s like…confidence you put on first thing in the morning. I have no problems talking about my clothes. They’re comfy. They’re awesome. I feel great. I look great. And I will always let you feel my knee (but only below mid-thigh and only above-mid calf).

Let me say that again.

Layering. Leggings.

I remember gasping and thinking, “Why didn’t I come up with that?”

Layering Your LuLaRoe Leggings

I sort of did earlier this year, but not in a cute way. I mean, I layered my buttery soft LuLaRoe leggings for zip lining in Moab, Utah because it was freaking cold and I didn’t bring jeans. But I didn’t make it into a fashion statement.

This girl did.

So I set out to recreate the layering look all on my own.

First I picked a patterned legging (may I suggest a triangle patterned legging) and a solid. You know, nice, simple, easy to combine things. The peak-a-boo legging has to be worn inside out, and if you’re wearing Tall and Curvy I suggest trying to keep the opening around your foot so it’s easier to smooth things out.

Then put on the outer legging, right side out. I usually go with deeper colors black, wine, burnt orange etc.

How Do I Know What Size LuLaRoe Leggings I Wear?

If you want to figure out what size leggings you wear, it’s easy. You just need to know what size you wear in jeans and you can go from there.

Remember LuLaRoe super soft leggings come in three sizes, LuLaRoe OS Leggings (Size 0-12), TC Leggings (Size 10-20) and TC2 Leggings (Size 18-28).

Once you’ve situated everything, got it all comfortable and smooth, roll, fold or cuff your two pair of leggings to create that layered look.

BAM.

Not only are you rocking some great style, you’re also super warm, comfortable and cute. I mean, we’re all eating our feelings and drinking our joy this holiday season so you want something that expands a bit with you, right?

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So far I’ve sported this look three times when it’s been cold enough and I’m kind of conflicted about wanting colder weather so I can layer more. It’s such a cute look!!!

Why do I hate layers, you ask?

Claustrophobia.

Only, for some reason I always feel like the only thing closing in on me are clothes. I swear, I gave up t-shirts because I couldn’t get away from the sensation of being choked by my favorite graphic t-shirt. Yet another reason why I dig LuLaRoe clothing! It’s so soft it’s more like a hug. So here are some tips on layering that LuLaRoe from someone who’s probably struggled at it as much as you…

A Beginners Guide To Layering LuLaRoe

Unless you live in the tropics or the southern hemisphere, surprise! It’s winter and you’re likely a little chilly every now and then. Let me be honest, I’ve been pining for these colder months and the ability to give real layering a go.

My go to outfit right now is, hands down, a Carly t-shirt dress, leggings, a sweater and comfy knit boots. I really love wearing a bright, contrasting legging under my Carly’s for a bit of added color. Who says we have to dress drab in winter? I’m so not giving up my canary yellow leggings! Also, if you’re looking for warm boot recommendations, I love these knit boots. They’re warm, comfy and have held up to a lot of running around.

There’s a lot of different LuLaRoe items you can layer! It’s not just shirts and leggings. Take the Julia dress for example. Layer it with a Perfect-T and you’ve got a super cute double layer top. Stick some contrasting leggings underneath and it’s adorable! Pair it with a Sarah for an elongated, dramatic look and maybe even add a Joy for a touch of whimsy.

My Amelia dresses are getting a work out. Those pockets? Life savers during hectic shopping seasons. I like to wear a thermal shirt under, stick a joy over and belt it with a thick, leather belt and throw a Sarah over the top. The look is super sleek, put together and you’ll completely fool your co-workers, other moms or family into believing you’re a true adulting adult.

Right now I’m falling in love with the Randy shirt. It’s a baseball 3/4 sleeve shirt that usually has different patterns or colors on the arms vs the body. This is a super cute one to wear with maybe a thermal under it or some other layering pieces. I’m jonesing to get a couple more so I can play around with them. I like sizing up, which means they are great over pieces and very forgiving for those post-holiday party food hangovers.

Don’t forget the value of socks! Either over or under your leggings these can add the right bit of warmth to your outfit.

And let’s face it, with all the running around this holiday season people do, we want to be warm, comfortable and cute! Get creative with your mixing and matching. Whenever you’re curious for a new style to try search the #LuLaRoe hashtag on your favorite social media platform for inspiration!

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me break it down to you real quick. LuLaRoe is a clothing line that’s not sold like your average yoga pants or ready to wear dresses. You can only get these from a dealer…er…consultant, excuse me. Not all patterns or styles are available from every seller. Which makes getting exactly what you want a little bit of a trial. The clothes are typically sold at in person sales in someone’s home, retail space or a private event. Or on-line via Facebook groups. Or on some really neat, LuLaRoe specialty shopping sites. They’re all very member driven, so you’ve got to know someone to get the secret handshake…er…url.

To that end, I’ve got a few tips and tricks for what we call…Unicorn Hunting.

Hunting The LuLaRoe Unicorn: A How To Guide

A unicorn is that elusive print or article of clothing that you’re dying to get your hands on. And if it’s something ultra rare, say purple dragons? It’s really hard to get those. This is not a hunt that is for the weak of heart.

1) Resell Groups/Sites

Auction Sites: I’m not an advocate of going to on-line sources like Ebay or Mercari for buying your LuLaRoe. I know that every ultra rare thing in the universe somehow ends up on Ebay at twice the price it was in the store. Now, there are some people who are doing a legitimate destash without price gouging, which is why I mention those sites. Just shop with care.

Resell Groups: There are a number of groups focused on destashing. These are buyer to buyer groups. People just like me and you who maaaayyybe went a little over board with the buying and need to offload a few pieces before we get ourselves into trouble of the big kind.

2) Make friends with a consultant.

You don’t have to be fake about it, but when you’re a regular participant in a LuLaRoe consultant’s group they remember what you love, what you buy and get a feel for what you might like. Case in point, back in the beginning I had my eye on this super awesome, leopard print Monroe. It’s a sheer material, sort of a kimono style layering piece, with black fringe. I was obsessed with finding it! And guess what. A consultant got it in her shipment, she never posted it for sale, and offered it to me via messenger because she knew I was mad about it.

3) Post in ISO posts.

A lot of the groups and consultants will have ISO, or In Search Of, posts. This does not mean that you’re going to find it, and sometimes a LuLaRoe consultant will or will not offer it to the ISO poster first. That said, I’ve found these are great locations for networking and mutual unicorn hunting. Because while the group you’re in might not have the item, sometimes someone else has seen and knows where to find it! Be mindful of the host consultant’s rules. Some don’t allow posting of other group links in theirs, so be respectful.

4) Join a lot of groups. A. Lot.

This is the part that can get very overwhelming. At one point I was in over sixty LuLaRoe groups. In my defense it was in the beginning of my LuLaRoe craze and OMG I had to buy All The Things! We all go through that phase. It’s okay! I don’t advocate for being in sixty groups, but a dozen or so is a nice spread of opportunity for unicorn hunting.

5) Find a few multi-consultant sale events.

These are a great way to maximize your hunting time. These types of sales will bring a dozen LuLaRoe consultants to you, in one place, often with things separated down into style and size so there’s no anguish over finding the perfect thing…in the wrong size. To that end multi-consultant events are awesome.

6) Make LuLaFriends.

You’re going to notice a few of the same people popping up in a few groups. Make friends. And then you and those friends start a group chat or a private group. I’m in three with a handful of people in each. Our main goal is gushing about what we’re loving right now and helping each other find and buy our unicorns.

LuLaRoe is about comfort and community. So make that hunt a team effort!

It was the week PokemonGo became the thing to do.

We’d planned our first big, group hunting expedition and I was really worried that my newly found love of LuLaRoe leggings would run way too hot given the extreme Texas heat. So to be safe I opted to wear jeans and my super cute, brand new Star Trek shirt.

An hour into our hunting expedition I was singing my regrets.

The Last Day I Wore Pants… (A LuLaRoe Love Story)

You see, I’d become spoiled. Spoiled by Publishing Pants (the name which I’ve come to call all of my LuLaRoe leggings since it’s just about all I wear). My jeans always fit great…the first hour I’m wearing them. After that hour, unless they’re slicked on, spandex skinny jeans, they’ve stretched to a completely different size and even if I wear a belt they will slid totally off my body leaving me with my butt in the wind.

That’s happened on a few occasions, and I’m a girl with hips and a booty.

A couple hours into our hunt and dear lord, if I could just get some relief from the chafing, sweaty, way too freaking hot jeans I swore I’d never give up my Publishing Pants ever again!

A friend of mine took this photo of me sitting on a curb, lost in the middle of town. Yes, it looks a little like a panda bear on my back and yes, I’m just about to lose my pants. Again.

I haven’t worn jeans since that day. No lie. I’ve been a leggings all the way kind of girl. Last I counted I own over 40 pairs and I refuse to actually put a figure down on paper or bother to count them besides how many hangers I need to dry them.

See, I’m one of those people who needs to keep 3 or 4 different sizes of jeans on hand because I can fluctuate in size a lot. It’s a pain in the butt to figure out what size I am today, what I can or can’t wear. Since discovering LuLaRoe I no longer have to feel shame about my body, the way it changes or much of anything. I can put on just about the same pair of leggings no matter what phase of the month I’m in and be fine, cute and comfortable.

Seriously, if you haven’t given LuLaRoe leggings a whirl, you should. For $25 it’s a small investment and a huge return.

As of today I’ve culled my closet of over a dozen pairs of jeans. Right now I think I have 3-5. Maybe. Because honestly, life is too short to be uncomfortable or wear boring clothes. Live life in color, all of them, and maybe all at once.

Why I Chose To Be A LuLaRoe Evangelist

I love reading all of the consultant’s stories about how LuLaRoe had changed their lives. It’s given a struggling family financial freedom, it’s let a single mom put her kids through school, it’s changed lives. I love these stories. They’re empowering and awesome! I feel like my writing has done much the same for us. So I really identify with the spirit behind the LuLaRoe consultants.

My boyfriend and I talked a long time about whether or not I should look into selling the product line. See, back in February I was let go from a career I loved and had been with for almost nine years. It was a huge blow. We stumbled a bit. But then I shook it off, drank a little jet fuel (aka, tea… yes, tea) and got to work.

And you know what the very first piece of Full Time Author Wear was? My LuLaRoe leggings.

I guess for me a lot of my feelings about LuLaRoe are wrapped up in feeling empowered. I fell in love with them at the same time I threw myself 100% into writing and creating a true career out of my writing. One thing I did was to get up and get dressed every single day.

Spoiler: I wore a lot of LuLaRoe leggings… A lot of them.

Now, you might be wondering, why the heck wouldn’t a LuLaRoe Evangelist like me not want to sell the clothes?

A few reasons…

First, writing is my focus. My dream. And the way I write, as immersive as it is, it doesn’t leave a lot of working hours in the day to devote to managing a clothing business. If I decided to be a consultant, I’d have to maybe write one less book a year, or two or three. I’m already struggling to get as many books out of my head as I can, so I can’t really justify that one. I couldn’t give up the time!

Second, we have cats. And I would never, ever forgive myself if I sold clothing covered in my Maine Coon’s fur. I mean, I’d have the best intentions of keeping my office closed, but everything in this house is inevitably covered in Rand, Ned or Lucas fur. It’s just how it goes.

Lastly, I don’t want to sell. There’s a freedom to tell someone about how much I love what I’m wearing when I’m not trying to sell them something. See, when I start talking books with someone, and I’m pretty sure they’d like something I write, I never ever recommend one of my books to them. It just feels weird and wrong. I can’t do it. Even if they’d be a fan. Likewise, I feel like I wouldn’t have as much impact or freedom to tell people to come feel awesome, beautiful and comfortable if I was trying to sell them something.

I’ve settled into this role. I’m a LuLaRoe Evangelist, and I love telling people the joys of being fabulous and comfortable, every day of the weak, no matter the occasion. That’s how I Roe. That’s where I find my happiness, and we all deserve to do what makes us happy.

All of this to say I love LuLaRoe. If my life, my personality, or my day job were even a little bit different I’d be a consultant in a heartbeat. LuLaRoe really DOES give people a chance to change their lives. For me, it came as an evangelist. For you? Who knows? Sell it, wear it, preach it – no matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong. Because LuLa has a Roe for that!

If you did buy a bunch of LuLaroe, then don’t dry it. And if you’re thinking about selling LuLaRoe, you should sell this instead.

So you bought a hundred and one pairs of leggings. Now what?

First, I’d congratulate you and suggest icing your fingers, because that’s pretty impressive.

Second, anyone who wears LuLaRoe knows about Wash Day. Oh…wash day.

You Can’t Dry LuLaRoe In A Dryer, So What Do You DO!?!?!

Standard care instructions tell you to wash inside out, with like colors in cold unicorn tears with angel feathers. (kidding!) That’s the easy enough part. Now, the hard part is drying your 101 pairs of LuLaRoe duds. Because unless you’re the uh-mazing domesticated goddess, chances are you’re like me.

You wear all the clothes you want to, and when the pile is about big enough to become sentient and eat you–that’s when you do laundry.

This means–you have a lot of laundry. And with LuLaRoe you can’t exactly wash, dry and chunk it in a hamper. It’s got to air dry.

Now, if you’re blessed with a whole laundry room and drying racks, I might hate you a little. For the rest of us, we have to figure out how the heck we’re going to keep our LuLaRoe looking good and fresh. It’s hard when you live in a cramped apartment or maybe in a house that doesn’t have a designated laundry room. If we weren’t headed into the fall, I’d totally recommend a clothes line… except with my luck squirrels would eat holes in the crotches of my leggings and the elastic out of my Lola skirts. Ug!

The easiest solution is to hang things load by load in a bathroom or somewhere. This means you have to exercise those domestic goddess chops and stick to slaying the laundry monster. It’s a hard job. Believe me. I’m pretty sure one of my cats got gobbled up as a snack. (Or he’s on top of the bookshelves, it’s a toss up)

But what if you can’t stash the wet stuff in the bathroom? Too many people in and out, you don’t want to do laundry for days. What are your options?

The first and easiest solution, especially for apartment dwelling LuLaRoers, is some form of the free standing drying rack. These were a god send back before I had cats.

Another option, if you’re okay with repairing a few holes in the wall, is a retractable clothesline you can install indoors. I had one of these when I lived in Thailand and sweet Jesus, it saved my bacon. It was hard enough finding clothes to fit my big, white booty without them walking off.

If you have a spare coat closet or some place that can hold a rolling rack, those are great. Especially for parties or packing. I very shortly inherited one (which broke after a few months!) and I loved it. Not only was I able to roll it into my apartment kitchen to dry on the tile, but it could go out on the patio, I could plan LuLa outfits for my week and organize stuff a lot better with them.

One suggestion I feel totally silly for not realizing is an over the door drying rack. Or towel rack! I always saw it and thought-TOWELS! Not LEGGINGS! This is one I’m probably going to have to steal, especially when all I need is one or two items.

If you’re into wall mounted solutions, maybe you own your own house, are long-time renters or just have a place you can install a few drying rack options, these are for you.

I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Ikea stainless steel drying rack. I have a friend who has six of these in her laundry closet and they’re hung so that they fit perfectly between each other when the doors are closed. It is a marvel of domestic goddess skill!

The accordion drying racks keep getting recommended to me. I’m a lot nervous about something fixed to my wall with this many moving parts, but so many recommendations has to be saying something. Right? I’m really considering these, especially since my drying area is a bit slim on wall space.

One item I’ve been eyeballing, despite the price and lack of reviews, is this sleek murphy wall mounted system. I like how it stands the chance of blending into the wall of our den and not be such a glaring, obvious domestic tool.

So, I’m dying to hear what your LuLaRoe drying solutions are? Because my den needs some help and my LuLaRoe addiction isn’t ending!

Accessorizing Your LuLaRoe For Fall

I feel like fall and winter are made for leggings. Seriously. Here in Texas it gets so hot that it can feel like you’re coated in hot butter if you go out in anything more than what you have to. But come fall and winter? Man, that’s legging weather! For some of you though, the winters are super cold and leggings alone just won’t cut it.

Think in layers! What about leggings under a Cassie skirt or a long Anna dress? I’ve seen some adorable looks with leggings and Carlys that I’d dying to rock. If it will just cool off a little bit more… And don’t discount wearing knee high socks over your leggings. Mix and match those patterns, throw a pop of color in there. Try something a little different. Lately I’ve seen some super cute Classic-T’s under a Perfect-T that are crazy cute looking.

Sweaters save me in the inter. I swear, I can’t keep long sleeve shirts around. They simply disappear. This winter I’m really hoping to get my hands on the LuLaRoe duster style sweater, the Sarah. It’s long and super snuggly looking. Perfect for wearing over your leggings for an added layer and a bit of warmth.

Another must have accessory for fall? Scarves. I knit a ton of scarves during the year just as something to do. I swear I have a scarf in every color on top of the neat, printed infinity scarves or shawls I own. These are great because you can just drape them around your shoulders for a stylish look, or wrap them tightly to, you know, actually be warm. I recently got a really neat scarf that has my book printed on it. Looking forward to rocking that this winter!

I’ve heard through through a couple of people that LuLaRoe is coming out with some sort of hybrid sweater-scarf and I’m super curious. I finally found this YouTube video of the debut and…I’m intrigued. How often do I walk around the winter wearing a throw blanket as a shawl? A lot! I might need one of what they’re calling the MiMi… Check it out!

When it comes to fall, one of the things I get the most excited about is…boots. Boots with leggings. Knit boots. Boots with dresses. Leather boots. Boots with jeans. Lace up boots. Boots! This is another way to really rock those leggings. I mean, leggings, boots, a cute Cassie or a Carly with a sweater? I cannot wait. Bring on the cooler weather because I have boots I want to wear!

I always feel like fall is the perfect time of year to break out my gold jewelry. From a pretty rose gold beaded headband to long, draping necklaces there’s something about the fall that makes me think–gold. Yeah, most people are probably into the browns and greens and oranges and autumn reds…and I’m over here wanting to rock gold sparkly boots. Or, should I call them…saffron? What can you do?

What are your favorite fall accessories or LuLaRoe styling tips?