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As women, there are tons of pressures on us to be thin, in tip-top shape, and look something along the lines of a Victoria's Secret model. The stakes are high, and the majority of us fall short. You feel as though you're in an endless vortex of advertisements and magazine photos of celebrities who seemingly always look the picture of perfection, and you cringe because you think that could never be you. Your insecurities are high, creeping in to steal your joy.        

You may tell yourself that you like who you are and don't care what other people think, but in the same breath you are untagging yourself in Facebook photos and taking dozens of selfies until you get just the right angle that makes you look angular and thin. You spend more time than necessary trying on outfits before you head out the door, picking the one that makes you look the thinnest. I know that I'm guilty of that on an almost daily basis. I hate to be in front of the camera at events, opting to be the photographer so that I don't have to "ruin" the photos that I might want to share later. It sounds extreme...but that's because it is. We have bought the lies that have been sold to us about ourselves, hook, line and sinker. Think about it. How often do you genuinely find yourself wishing you looked like her, had her wardrobe, or her tan? I'm guessing it's often. It is for me. And that's a problem. 

I am a 31-year-old mother of a now 9-month-old son. I was thin and in great shape once upon a time, but after marriage and years of yo-yo dieting and binge workouts, I found myself pregnant and the weight creeping up to a record high. (Yes it was baby weight, but that didn't matter) After giving birth I was focused and ready to shed the pounds, but found those last 15-20 sticking around. I was devastated. I felt uncomfortable in anything but maternity and loose clothing. I was embarrassed to even see the photos of my son and I. A crappy place to find myself. 

If I was totally honest with you, I will probably never be satisfied with the way that I look. My body will never be the same, and I will never be considered the perfect specimen of a mother (like the way the media thinks of the likes of Kim Kardashian), and I have to be okay with that. I am still allowed to have goals for myself in health and wellness, but I need to let go of the desire to look like so-and-so, or be like so-and-so. The sea of deception is a deep one, and it's so easy to find ourselves with our heads barely above the water. So today, I will no longer believe the deception that I have bought about myself. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and though there are places in my life that could be made healthier for my family and I, I need to be happy with who I am and what I look like today. I embrace this new body of mine and I won't be afraid of the words "extra large" or "plus size". Just because the world has a stereotype and stigma attached to those words, I will not allow them to steal my joy. 

I am with those of you who hate to shop because nothing that you love seems to fit just right or look the way you wished. But I encourage you to take a good look in the mirror and smile at the reflection staring back. You could use it. Remember that you are you, and though everyone should take the steps to live a healthier life, you need to love yourself. Don't buy the lies that you have to be a certain weight or wear a certain size in order to be happy and accepted. People love you just the way you are! 

And just because I'm sure your curious...here is a pic of me with the heartbeat of my life, Jude, and as your Heylee B "extended size" model (not my day job!!)

Kate and Jude just hanging out at home!

Kate is wearing the "My Moto Jacket" in this pic and can be found our "extended size" tab!

Out with the old and in with the new! 

Over the past couple of months, we have worked diligently to bring you the best in fashion for the season. We have spent hours pouring over the Lookbooks of new vendors making sure that we are always on the cutting edge of not just fashion, but pricing. All that being said, we are still trying to make room for more great clothes! In order to do so, we are having our very first 20% off Flash Sale! 

Here are the items that will fall into our 20% off offer! These items will be available at this 20% off rate until July 1st, so make sure to get yours before they are gone! 

Egg Hunt Top & Let It Be True Shrug

Zig Zag Zoe Top & Show Your Stripes Top 

My Moto Jacket & Rosie Posey Top (both are in Extended Sizing)

In my closet there are a couple of staples:

1. Jeans: skinnies, boot cut, boyfriend, ankle cut, distressed and dark wash. 
2. Sweatshirts: zip-up, hoodie, athletic, and every variety in between. 
3. Tanks/camis: white, nude, black, gray, green, navy, purple, and orange. 

All of these things I wear regularly, and I don't mind having multiples of. I like them in all styles and cuts. They go with everything.

Tanks and cami's are one of the things that I most diligent about keeping in my closet since I wear them pretty much every day. I wear them on their own, under shirts a little too sheer, and with kimonos and cardigans. I like them in every length. Their versatility is what makes them so great! But one of the things I hate is when they ride up or they are too short. But then I found a NikiBiki.

What in the world is a NikiBiki you might ask? It's an amazing cami that is designed to specifically battle not riding-up and rolling over the course of your day. Plus, they are made of a super soft material that breathes...unlike so many of their cotton counterparts. My favorite are the extra long tanks that I wear with leggings and under maxi's. (They hide your butt and help to slim) The regular length cami's and tanks are also not too short...something that tends to drive me nuts! NikiBiki changed everything about the way I bought and wore tanks, and I won't wear anything else! They are simply the best. 

If you are a tank and cami wearer, and are looking for that perfect one, look no further! The NikiBIki that we carry at Heylee B. will be the only one that you'll ever want to wear. (Can be found in our "Intimates" section.) Be sure to get yours today!! 

When it comes to nail polishes, you fall into 1 of 3 categories. 

1. You paint your nails in a regular routine, meticulously matching each shade to your outfits. 

2. You paint your nails on occasion, but wait until the paint has completely chipped off (or scraped off) until you consider another shade.

3. Paint my nails?

No matter where you find yourself, there's something to be said about perfectly manicured nails painted in beautiful shades to enhance a look. This is especially true in the summer, when both our hands and our feet our on regular display. Here are some of the hottest colors and styles that are sure to sizzle this summer!

The most classic color on the market is a true red from O.P.I. The shade we use the most is "Big Apple Red". This color is a classic because it is the most commonly worn nail color, and it is appropriate for any occasion and any person. We also love that it goes with pretty much everything in our closet! There are ways to jazz up this everyday favorite. One of our favorite ways it to add a little bit of glitter polish to go on just 1 or 2 fingers as an accent.

A less bold look than red, this blush/nude is a very subtle polish that pairs well with every look because it blends into your natural nail and skin color so well. We chose O.P.I.'s "Chillin' Like A Villian". Because of the subtlety of this color, adding a pop of color, print, or glitter gives it a little glam. There are tons of glitter polishes, but we chose O.P.I. Rose of Light since it had more of the pink and gold tones that went well with this polish. It also looks amazing on its' own!

If you like to stand out and push the fashion envelope farther than a simple red nail, we love some of the new colors from last fall and this spring. There are yellows, blues, purples, and greens that really make a statement. We love wearing O.P.I.'s "Thanks a Windmillion". This color is similar to a robin's egg blue. Because it's such a soft color, this is an easy transition color if you are typically a pink or red kinda girl. 

After putting on any polish, always finish off with a top coat. This will help give your polish a longer lifespan. It also helps give it that ultra-gloss finish that we can't get enough of! There are tons of top coats out there that boast a quick-dry that aren't all that quick. However, we found one that lives up to it's fast-drying claim: Out The Door super fast drying top coat for nails. It actually dries super fast! And for someone who's always on-the-go, this is essential! 

Shopping online can be intimidating. From not really knowing what clothes feel like, to not really not knowing how those clothes would fit on your body, to the daunting task of returning any items that aren't up to par, we know online shopping is not for everyone. That's why Heylee B has created opportunities for you to shop in person with all your friends! 

Ever since Heylee moved her small boutique from a brick and mortar storefront to an online store, she has always offered to bring her amazing clothes and accessories right to you. She started out bringing clothes to family functions, then to the parking lot of Sam's Club so people could shop out of her car, finally finding regular locations in salons and homes around the Nashville area. The ability to pop-up and shop has always been successful for Heylee since she is able to move around and meet people where they are. 

Hosting one of these pop-up & shop events is simple! Here are a couple options that you can choose from:

You can host a traditional Trunk Show where you invite all of your friends, have food and drinks, and hang with your girlfriends while Heylee gives styling tips and you get to try everything on. As a hostess, you receive 20% off your entire purchase, and there can be drawings and giveaways for those who attend. Also, the more your guests buy, the more discounts you get as a hostess! We ask that there be a minimum of 10 people in attendance, and we only travel within 90 min of Downtown Franklin, TN. 

If you are a small business owner, such as a salon or coffee shop, you can have Heylee bring her racks to your store for a specific amount of time. Then, everyone who comes through your store can browse and shop. This has been wildly successful for both Heylee and each small business since traffic is driven into your store and it's very low pressure. We can also have a regular day or days each month that we come hang at your space! Her most successful locations are salons. Business owners who bring Heylee in and receive 40% off one item. The more people come and purchase, the more discounts you can receive!

Our newest option is the Open House. We have had a couple of these already and people love them! As a host, you literally open up your house to friends, family, and local Heylee B customers to come and go over a certain amount of time. This is much more low-key for both the hostess and all her guests since there's less pressure to show up and entertain. These are completely customizable as well. We have had afternoon soirees outside, evening swing-by and shop with us, and are talking of a pool party! The hostess of these events receive 20% off their entire purchase, plus the more people purchase at your open house, the more discounts you can acquire! There is no minimum on attendance, and we will travel within 90 min of Downtown Franklin. 

If you are interested in having Heylee bring the shopping to you, please let us know so we can get you on our already very full calendar! Just contact Heylee at heylee@heyleeb.com to set up an event of your choice! They are so much fun (because who doesn't love to shop?!), and it's a great way to meet new people!

We've all heard about the amazing properties that coconut oil has and all the different ways that it can be used. You can cook with it, use it to alleviate stretch marks while pregnant, aid eczema, help with your teeth (oil pulling), and put it in your hair to battle dry hair and scalp. It's an amazing, product that should be a pantry, and maybe even bathroom) staple. 

Back in January, Heylee did a test on the coconut hair treatment to help her dry scalp. She had already re-trained her to need less washing with harsh soaps by a combo of only washing it twice a week and using dry shampoo in-between washes. She loved the results so much, that she now uses coconut oil each night before she washes her hair to help lock in moisture. 

This is a great process that can be used on any type of hair. We encourage you to try it out for yourself using this simple process.

Use 1/4 cup of organic coconut oil heated to warm. (We love the stuff from Whole Foods) Give your hair a quick brush to eliminate tangles. 

Heylee Likes to start at the ends of her hair (where the majority of damage is found), and work the oil in using her fingertips

Because Heylee is using this treatment to help battle a dry scalp, she spends a couple of minutes massaging the oil into the roots of her hair and her scalp. To make it easier, she typically pours the remaining oil into this area and works it all around

Once her hair is thoroughly coated with the oil, she uses her fingers to pull her hair up to the top of her head, and uses a soft elastic band to secure it in place. (She sleeps in this treatment, and this helps keep the oil off of her skin). As added help to the heat, she places a heated towel (pop it in the dryer on high-heat while you do the process) around her hair and lets it keep her head warm for about 20 min. 

The next morning, she simply washes out the oil using a gentle, organic shampoo and conditioner, sometimes shampooing twice to avoid greasy hair. She's left with beautiful, soft hair that lasts for days! 

As an added help to her hair, she will occasionally add doTerra Geranium and Frankincense essential oils to her coconut oil. Both aid in dry skin and have antibacterial properties. (There are different oils for different types of hair, so make sure to check which one would be best for you if you want to add these to your treatment)

When we were sent this entry for our Fashion Fail Friday, we had no words. We still have no words other than ladies, meet Amy. 

In her subject line, she titled this "Purple Awesomeness". Again...no words. 

Amy today is one of the most beautiful and talented women that I know. She is wife to Matt, and mom to Nyah. She is an artist in everything. From a talented painter and writer, to a fantastic baker, to a makeup artist/stylist for the likes of Jeremy Cowart at Hope Portrait. I love calling her "friend", and I'm so excited for her to win our Fashion Fail! She clearly deserves it! 

Here's a more recent, and less purple, photo of Amy.

While doing these fashion fails, we want to make it clear that it's okay to laugh at bad fashion (it's kind of hard not to laugh)...but understand that fashion is not a definition of beauty. You are beautiful on the inside. You are beautiful in your attitudes and character. You are beautiful as you share your life with family and friends. You are beautiful in your vulnerability. What's considered "fashionable" will wax and wane faster than the moon, so don't find your identity in it. It's temporary. You are beautiful as you...not as the clothes you once wore. 

If you're anything like me, figuring out what to get someone on a holiday or birthday is daunting. You want it to be perfect. Something that will make that person say, "Wow!" But where to start?

I am always looking for a great new bag, but I tend to buy based on what I need, and a bag is usually at the bottom of that list. But I pick up just about every one and tell myself that I could really use a new one! Here are 3 of my favs from the Heylee B store:

Since Mother's Day is just around the corner, we thought we would make it easy for you to pick out something amazing for you mom (or wife if you're a guy looking for a no-brainer), by offering a discount on all bags at Heylee B from today until this Friday at midnight! We have tons to choose from, and any of them would make a great gift for that special lady in your life. Just use the code below at checkout to take advantage of this great deal! Make sure that you order in time to have them shipped to you before Saturday. 

Make sure to take advantage of this great offer, and pick out something super cute for your mom!! She will love it!

When we started out Fashion Fail Fridays, we were so excited to give everyone the opportunity to win $25 to take themselves shopping at Heylee B. We expected to be flooded with entries, and have honestly been surprised by the lack of interest in winning money! Now, this is saying two things. 

1. It's really easy to win.

2. We are thinking you guys take yourself too seriously! 

We want this to be fun, entertaining, and a place where you can let yourself be free! And we want you to WIN!!! 

So, this week, we had one entry from Samantha Carter. We are in love with both pictures that she sent to us, and couldn't decide on just one. So we will post them both! From the jean dress with the stripe down the side (sort of like track pants), to the epic floral print dress with matching hat, we loved these!! You look amazing in both of these photos, and we can all relate to the looks of the 90s.

As an added bonus, we wanted to show a great picture of Heylee B owner, Heylee Achten. I mean seriously, who doesn't love the all one color sweatsuit with giant cat decal on it? We think she looks adorable totally going vogue in this photo as well. A true fashionista! 

Make sure to not miss out on winning some money towards your wardrobe! Send us your fashion fail photos to kate@heyleeb.com so we can add them to the cue! As of now, your chances of winning are very good!