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 younger Melissa: don’t let fear or embarrassment about your disability stop you from learning the joys of being physical active – not only will your body love it, but your brain will too. Start swimming. Not only will you like it, but you will be good at it despite your leg. Also, since you have to walk with a cane for the rest of your life, ditch the orthopaedic drugstore version and cultivate a collection of interesting ones.
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Finish your degree, don’t use that credit card and hey-relax, you got this.
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Dear Meg-from-15-years-ago,
Stay single. Longer. Date casually & more.
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If something hurts, stop and pay attention.
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Take a few more risks, most of this stuff really isn’t as big of a deal, TRUST ME.
Spend more time with your mother.
Make out alot more, date around, you won’t be a slut for it.
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Dear younger self,
You CAN do it. Don’t forget. Give it your all so you don’t regret it later.
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Be bolder in what you wear. You can totally pull it off. Also? You are awesome and worth respecting, don’t put up with losers who treat you badly. Even only sometimes.
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Sweetie, If a man tells you he isn’t good enough for you, he speaks the truth. Also, you are HOT, enjoy it. One more thing, it’ll get better. I promise.
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Don’t be so anxious to settle down! Live in a faraway city, have some adventures, and for goodness sake wear a bikini while you still can.
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Dear 20-year old self: Stay true to yourself. You’ll be so happy you did.
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My advice to my younger me would be to write it all down in the moment. I’ve had so much fun over the years but I’m afraid I don’t remember it all.
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Dear Former Self,
That haircut… oh boy. Are you sure that’s going to look okay? Let’s reconsider.
Love,
Current Self
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Dear Younger V.
He’ll never change. No matter how much you cry and beg and scream and fight. Leave while you still have time.
Love,
Older V.
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high school Sarah- they really don’t have a permanent record to keep track. But keep those grades up at the beginning of college- they help out with getting into vet school when you stopped caring so much by senior year….
And you’re gonna have some excellent adventures in your 20s. Do it all again!
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Dear younger bow-headed self –
Do the semester abroad – loser boyfriend won’t last anyway and you missed lots of great opportunities.
Don’t swing too far to the opposite end of the spectrum after something goes wrong.
Avoiding conflict in relationships often leads to distance that can’t be repaired.
But holy crap, we have had some fabulous times and we are awesome!
Love,
older, wiser Laura
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Dear Younger W,
You really do have something important to say and others really do want to hear it so speak up! And, you are loved more than you realize – trust me.
Love,
Older W
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Ugh! don’t waste money on a liberal arts private education!!!
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Relax a whole lot – don’t try to maintain perfection and control…life is a lot more fun when you go with the flow…maybe break some rules too and take some risks!
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Dear Younger-Self,
Listen to your little voice. It will take a long time to learn to trust it, but it’s always right.
Love, Older-Self
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Dear 21 year old Ali:
When you meet that guy in the bar on Valentine’s Day in 1996, RUN AWAY as fast as your stubby legs will carry you!!!! That is FIVE YEAR you’ll never get back!
That is all,
Your older (and hopefully wiser) self
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Dear younger self: for the love of all that is holy, get your eyebrows professionally shaped and learn how to fill them. It’s all your future self can look at in photos. SADFACE.
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One more game of solitaire will not make it easier to write that paper, darling. You know that.
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Finish grad school before you have children 🙂
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Dear younger me: The worst he can say is no. No doesn’t kill. Silence you’ll regret for a very long time.
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Hang in there, he is the one, it just takes a year or two to get there.
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Don’t be afraid to say no. It’ll be worth it, I promise.
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Listen to your gut, especially when it comes to love. The gut – – is never ever wrong.
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Be bolder! It will pay off tenfold.
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Son’t be so hard on yourself. You are fine just the way you are!…but do call your grandparents more, they won’t be around forever…
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Get those cavities filled. right. away.
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Honey, please, please, please have more fun, do not settle so early for somebody and travel as much as you can!!! Love, You.
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Dear Ella of Nine Months Ago,
Keep your shit together; you’re a better person than you’re being.
With love,
Ella of Nine Months Later
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I’d tell my 20 year old self that the current boy isn’t worth the drama, the next one isn’t either, and that finding a personal trainer is what you really should be doing — not drinking every night.
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Dear younger self:
Go ahead and sleep with that guy. Seriously.
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Hey Self,
You know how school is pretty easy for you, but you’re just not really into it? GO TO COLLEGE. Also, you know how you really want to live in New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo? DO THAT.
Self, 20 years later
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Dear me,
Have more fun, would ya? Actually, that’s still advice you need to hear. Learn this lesson early.
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Dear Younger Me:
Relax. It’s all going to be okay. Enjoy your life; it’s ever-changing, and each phase is different, imperfect, and wonderful.
Love, Older Me
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Play harder and work less.
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Stay OFF the pill…and especially DON’T take it for close to 6 years in a row…
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Don’t float through college, taking whatever classes that sound interesting. Commit to something you love, but make sure you finish!
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Dear Younger Cassidy:
Stand up for yourself now so it’s easier when you’re nearly 30!
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Dear college freshman,
You don’t have to get with him, go to class instead. There are plenty more who will like you. For now, you are just as weird as you think you are, but you’ll lose that if you get too wrapped up in the wrong person. And that’ll be a shame.
Sincerely,
me.
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You’re right. Twenty *is* plenty.
Don’t be so concerned with when you and your boyfriend are going to get married. Just keep having fun. Start working on the really big things on your to-do list. Then go bigger!
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Although I don’t necessarily feel wiser than I was when I was twenty (I’ve just turned twenty-seven), I think I would tell my younger self that your life is about you, the decisions you make are to please yourself. It’s taken me a long time to be brave enough to make decisions that are working towards what I really want.
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Early twenties self:
There is no prize for drinking the most vodka tonics at the bar.
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Do the study abroad semester, even if it is your spring semester senior year.
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It’s ok if you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up. It makes life more interesting!
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Leave your hair color alone. Seriously. Put that store bought color back on the shelf – you’re going to pay more than $15 to fix the mess you’re about to make.
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Don’t waste that money on a northwest university: you hate being in constant overcast. Plus, you’ll be 31, have a husband and baby and still be paying off student loans for that English degree.
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Oh, honey. It’s OK.
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