Today’s giveaway features two California jewelry artists.
Textured Drop Necklace By Feisty Elle
Every time I wear this piece by Leslie Yang, I get compliments. I’ve actually had people stop me in the street to ask where I got it. It’s made of bamboo, so it’s surprisingly lightweight. I don’t even notice I have it on, and I love how effortlessly it elevates an outfit.
Can You Hear Me Now Brooch by Mama’s Little Babies
Mama’s Little Baby brooches are so witty. This guy is my favorite, but I also feel affectionate toward the artichoke and Gunther, the World Famous Lion Tamer.
Cute, right? I know!
To enter, please leave a piece of advice for your younger self. And don’t forget to check back this week for more contests.
Fine print: Please only leave one comment, because it’s the nice thing to do, and also because multiple entries will be disqualified. I’ll use random.org to select the winner, and I’ll announce who won at the top of this post and in a separate post next Wednesday.
Mighty Girl 
Dear me 15 years ago – stop giving a shit what anyone else thinks of you!
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Don’t stop running. Your joints will decide they like the inactivity, and you’ll have to give it up for good.
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Everyone will love you no matter what you do. It’s just severe anxiety. You should talk to someone about that, and then talk to Mom and convince her to get help too, because she’s been trying to live with it for much longer than you.
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Keep those purple corduroy pants.
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Take your time. Take everything less seriously, especially yourself.
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Dear Me,
Making out does not equal marriage.
Move on and stop talking about him, your friends are tired of hearing about it!
Love Me.
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Stand up straighter, please! Other than your terrible posture, you’re doing great – and anyone who tells you otherwise is a dirty liar. Realize this sooner, rather than later!
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Dear Younger Me,
Relax, stop taking everything so seriously, especially relationships with totally inappropriate women. It’ll work out, or it won’t, and it’s not a big deal.
-T
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Don’t major in journalism!
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It’s okay to leave your religion. You haven’t believed for 20 years, you aren’t going to for the next 20 either. Just leave and start going to therapy now! It will save a lot of time, energy, sadness, and perhaps one divorce later.
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Dear Young Me,
Go ahead and take risks. The adventure is always worth it (so far).
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Oh, younger self… do not drink so much July 4, 2010. But you should still break up with him.
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Set rules and expectations with your family now. Know who you are dealing with and deal with them accordingly.
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Don’t make yourself unhappy aspiring to be someone you’re not. It seems cliche but it couldn’t be more important.
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Dear young self,
Enough with the wishing and the wanting, stick with the doing. The rest will happen, I promise.
Love,
You
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Dear self, remember that moment in 5th grade where you knew you were choosing between two sets of friends? You chose the wrong ones…
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Never regret. You will love yourself more by learning from mistakes. Remember, regrets only lead to sadness.
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Dear younger Tasha –
Keep drawing and put aside doubts that you’re not as good as that other person. You have a unique style, and it’s ok to draw the grass pink. Don’t worry about taking those classes you think you’re supposed to – take the art classes you love!
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No matter how jealous you are at the “normal” ones, soon they will be jealous of your life. It gets better darling. Love yourself first.
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Don’t panic. You’re still young.
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Dear younger self-
Don’t be such an asshole. I guarantee, more people will like you.
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Don’t be afraid to do things you’re not good at. You will never be any good at them if you don’t try.
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Dear self,
Breathe in and breathe out. It doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.
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Leave your hair alone. If you were meant to be blond, you’d have been born blond.
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Dear Young Ingenue Janice,
It will all work out okay so please stop fretting.
Love and kisses,
Your older, wiser and even more fabulous self
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That stick? The one that’s up your butt? Take it out.
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Dear young Katrin,
you look hot now. Quit worrying about that. Also: your dad is not as bad as you think.
Best,
older Katrin
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Dear Younger Self,
Be the most interesting person you know. Being skinny is not the most important thing in the world. You look great! Stop obsessing and start living!
Your Older (& happier) Self
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Invest in leather. It lasts!
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Use sunscreen – all the time
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Don’t rush to graduate college a year early to save the tuition. This is the only time you have to study abroad or take classes in topics just for fun without other life demands. In the long run an extra year of school is trivial. And it was in-state tuition, for crying out loud!
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Dear younger self,
You don’t have to go to art school to practice art. Don’t give up on photography and graphic art just because you didn’t get into RISD!
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Dear Self,
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Appreciate your beauty and feel good enough to take some risks. Throw yourself out there!
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stop spending all your energy on your boyfriend. Your girlfriens will be around WAY longer and are WAY more fun!
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dear teenage-self,
don’t worry so much. and you will be able to have a child of your own, and she is totally awesome.
sincerely,
29yo self
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love yourself and be true to your ambitions.
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Go to a psychiatrist now & keep going for as long as you need. If you don’t like the one you initially see go to a different one! Your depression will never just go away on its own like you hope.
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Dear Younger Self,
Be good to yourself. Trust your gut. Mom and Dad are right. Do not marry HIM. Trust me on this one.
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To my younger self I would say to heck with the boys, focus on your career. Back then I used all my brain cells to worry Where is my Mr Right? I used none at all for my career. As a result I settled down as fast as possible with an OK guy (who turned out to be a cheater), AND I’m way far behind in my career. Doh!
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Be brave. It’s okay to make mistakes, honey; you won’t let anyone down.
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Dear younger self. don’t worry so much about what others think…just live.
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Dear Younger Me –
Hi Darlin’! Pay attention to that intuitive heart of yours and ignore harsh judgments from other people – let it be okay to be sensitive, and treat honest criticisms from others as dessert plants know the wind – those bustling winds will allow your roots to grow stronger under ground and in the end you’ll stand with firmer feet to the Earth. And finally, please remember, Sweet Thang, it will all be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, then it’s not the end.
Much love and gratitude to you my sister, my self,
ame
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Dear Younger Self;
Girl, you are beautiful. Please don’t settle. Don’t be in a rush, everything will work out if you are patient and trust yourself. Have some FUN.
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trust yourself. your positive attitude will carry you through bad times. it’s okay to be a little sad sometimes, but then you need to get on with it. life will work out the way you want it, you just have to be patient.
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Dear little me, age 16-22–
There’s a reason you two always come back to each other. One day, it’ll stick, and it will be even better than when you first fell in love.
Love,
Big me
P.S. Start a savings account and learn proper budgeting, please.
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Don’t schedule 8am classes in college. You won’t go. Schedule your classes at a more reasonable hour so it won’t take you 7 years to finish school and graduate.
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Be willing to accept compliments. And love.
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Dear Younger Leslie:
Smiling at people immediately makes you less awkward, so start now. Except don’t smile AND stare because that’s just creepy. Good luck.
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Dear younger self: learning to like being alone with yourself is the key to happiness.
Kisses,
Older self
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Dear little Emily-
Relax. It is ok to not be so serious. You have more fun when you laugh.
Also, please don’t cut your hair AND get a perm at the same time. That really isn’t a good look on a young person.
Love you…
Emily
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