News

So it's no knew news that I live an active lifestyle. Not only do a operate a full run boutique but also handle all of our Ranch needs along with raising 3 little girls. 

Most mornings you can find me running or jogging in our pasture. My husband mowed a path all the way around the front of one of the paddocks and with the cattle grazing it has always stayed shorter. It's where I share my gratitude with God, ask for prayers, and work through problems. It's where I think about my action plans and get some of my best ideas. It's quiet (no headphones needed) and the most beautiful time of day. Our Longhorns have gotten used to my runs- ya'll last year when I began running out there, they were running too- totally hilarious. Guess they thought a predator was after me. Nope, just extra calories. 

Anyway, as school let out for Summer my youngest has asked to come with me. I've politely declined several times- ya'll I NEED those 30 minutes of quiet but this morning after she asked along with "I can be healthy too, Mom" I knew that it wouldn't kill me to have her tag along and that if I'm going to lead an active lifestyle, why not have her join in too. So off we went, and I'll be honest at first I was like, "OMG there goes any planning/thinking/praying" but I had the best time. We talked, we laughed, she asked questions and I answered. I realized as the baby, she doesn't get much alone time, or undivided attention and as the rest of our house slept this was her chance to get some time without any interruption. I taught her how I run looking down in case of snakes and low and behold, we literally saw one 5 minutes later. I had actually never seen a snake out there, just knew there could be one. 

That morning, after our walk I realized that sometimes the best medicine is getting some special time with each child and it reminded me to find a way to do that a little more. Being a Mom is hard. Being a Working Mom is hard. Being a Mom to more than one Kid is Hard. Balancing it all is Hard. 

But it's so worth it right? I would love to hear how you make time for your kids special and individualized. Comment Below. 

XOXO,

Barb

Hey Ya'll! I'm Barb the Owner of Southern Mess. Most days you can find me in our Warehouse working my tail off to bring you the latest and greatest. We are known for our love for fashion that focuses on Real Women. All of our Models are 30+, have real bodies, kids, work, and our images are not photoshopped. We want you to really see what you will look like in our clothes. People would often refer to me as having a Gypsy Soul with a Sailor's Mouth. And I won't argue with that. I love serving the world but empowering Woman to support one another and giving back to our Community where I can. I'm most passionate about my husband, my 3 girls, our ranch, and my business. When I'm not busy working on the boutique you can find me outdoors on our Ranch. Or doing piles and piles of laundry. Yay...laundry. 

If you're dying to hear more, here are 5 things you might not know about me: 

1. I have chapstick....everywhere. All over our house, in my car, in the office. Addicted. 

2. I love a little coffee with my creamer. 

3. I never raised a farm animal until we moved onto our Ranch. 

4. I used to get up every morning and milk our goats before work. 

5. My husband and I had 3 children before we decided to Marry. 

Still here and don't think I'm super weird? Great. Then we should be friends. Seriously though....Let's Connect! Follow me on Facebook and IG @smboutiquetx. 

Purchases made between Dec 1 and Dec 31st will accrue $5 for every $50 spent. The bonus cash is earned per order and is not accumulated. 

For example place a $55 order you'll earn $5 bonus cash certificate in that order. Place $200 order and you'll get a bonus cash certificate for $20 in that order. 

Bonus cash codes can be used Jan 1-30th. There is a minimum purchase requirement. Offer cannot be combined with other codes, coupons, or sales and does not apply to previous purchases. 

If you watched the Super Bowl, then you probably saw Lady Gaga's performance. If you're like me, her performance is all that you watched. 

She went above and beyond and whether you're a fan or not, she owned the Halftime Show. 

But I was shocked, saddened, and concerned at what followed. A slew of social media posts began focused on her body. Judging, shaming, saying things like "Couldn't get past that belly flab".

Ugh, ya'll. That's our problem. We are so quick to judge and say things that can't be taken back and Dear Lord, if they can't get past her belly flab then I guess I won't be putting on a swimsuit this year. Or like ever. 

But seriously. I'm curious how amazing the bodies are on all of these people, who felt so inclined to judge HER body. Probably not so much. Because you see, as a society we take our own insecurities, and we push them off on someone else. 

As a Mother of 3 girls, I have had to really watch myself. I'm not always happy at what I've done to my body, whether it be from childbirth or that extra slice of pizza, but I owe it to my daughters to teach them the difference between healthy and thin. Fit and sedentary. About taking care of our bodies but also being proud of what they are and what they are capable of. 

Ya'll in the past 10 years my body has changed. A lot. I'm larger than I once was. Softer than I was. Older than I was. I've had three babies. My body has gained (and lost) 30+ pounds each time. That is life. That is sacrifice. That is love. And it came with a whole lot of baggage I hadn't planned on. 

About 4 years ago I had a goal to put on a bikini again. Not even sure why to be honest, but I did it.  I lost 25 lbs of pure fat and was super proud of the hard work I put in. But all the weight loss didn't take away my stretch marks, my insecurities, my fear of judgement. I looked in the mirror and was still not where I wanted to be, which was unrealistic because I wanted my body to be 18 again, before kids so you know..... I wore the bikini anyway at the encouragement of my bestie but I was so dang uncomfortable because of what others may be thinking. Ya'll that sucks! I lost all that weight, worked out super hard, got crazy toned after three kids and I was still worried I may be too fat, too old, too stretch marky (yes, I know that's not a word).  We have gotta stop this cycle of judgment and instead celebrate each other, uplift each other, and encourage each other to wear that dress, rock that look, and most of all BE YOURSELF. 

Lady Gaga came back with an amazing message to her haters. She said that she was proud of her body and that you don't need to cater to anyone else in order to be successful. And she's so right. But I also know that those words spoken about her were hurtful. Made her possibly second guess her decision making. Quite possibly even changed the way she looked at herself in the mirror, you know what I'm talking about, when you scrutinize all the parts of yourself you are already insecure about or weren't until someone else said you should be. Those words, they change people. 

So the next time you see someone rocking something you probably wouldn't and your first thoughts are to laugh, mock, or shake your head remember that it took confidence to wear what they are wearing, whether you would or not, and that's something we can all look up to. 

XOXO,

Barb

Ya'll there are things in our life that are meant to challenge us. Some deep to the core of your soul and some that seem devastating at the time but are really minor in perspective. 

For the past 10 days we were without electricity. Hit by an ice storm that devastated our town, the area, and our farm. Pretty hard when you are caring for a family, a business that is run online and a farm. I went 3 days before I showered, then 3 more after that. I think that's the longest I've gone without one, since I was like 5. That first shower offered to me by someone who owed me nothing. Just a kind gesture and one worth remembering. Inspiring me to pay it forward someday.

We did break down and buy a generator after about day 5 or 6. A painful purchase, but without it we would continue to go without hot water, which not only we need for that said shower, but our bottle calf who I worried would get sick drinking his milk cold. We needed power to cook, so my girls could go back to school, so I could work. 

I've been spending my time cutting out the ugly from my life. Whether it be people, my own thoughts, or the noise from the outside world. Through this, I remained positive, slightly anxious but manageable and I focused on all the things I COULD do without electricity. Yea, hauling buckets of water to animals isn't fun, but hey I could use the exercise. To be honest, without the distraction of my phone or the internet I got to read, A lot. I got to really listen to my kids. I got to explore outside. I even got to watch my girls spend a whole day helping their Dad move tree limbs while I deep cleaned all the places in our home I always say I have no time to do.

If you look closely in the photo of me, you will see some of those branches blurred in the background. I contemplated moving them. I did. And then I decided that even though no one will probably notice, I will. I will see them and remember this storm. A man lost his life getting power back in our area. Working around the clock, like countless others, so our area could stop living in the dark. Makes my hot water catastrophe seem like an absolute joke compared to the nightmare his family is living right now.  

Each day is a gift. There is no promise of a tomorrow.

 Cherish the beauty even in the storm. And keep on smiling. 

XOXO,

Barb

Owner, Creator, and Work A Holic at Southern Mess

As another year creeps in, I'm constantly reminded that I'm not getting any younger. I have 3 little girls and my oldest will be rushing off to Jr. High next year. Unsettling for a Mama who gave birth to her at the young age of 22 for sure. 

Interestingly enough, this day, my birthday, is also the anniversary of Southern Mess. Up until this time last year, we were a small Etsy shop still testing waters. Over Christmas last year, I told my husband I was going to become an online boutique. I'm pretty sure he rolled his eyes. 

My first website looked childish really. Setup as best I could. For those who placed their very first orders, thank you. You've watched us grow, succeed, and become well, You. 

I wanted to do something special for our anniversary but wasn't sure what. So I ordered this over the top Southern outfit from another boutique owner not really confident I would actually ever wear it. Oh how I tried it on. For weeks. Back and forth. Do I? Don't I? Is it too flashy? Am I too old? Can I even pull this thing off? I need to lose weight. I need to be 20 again. My boobs are too big. My stomach isn't flat enough. Can my legs get any whiter?

And then I remembered something said to me by two different people last week. Eat the Cake. Buy the Shoes. Take the Trip. I kept thinking "Wear the dress." 

And I did. Because our whole company, my vision, is about celebrating woman. For who they are, what they've become, and what they can be. No strings attached. I designed a shirt with a phonetically spelled cuss word displayed across the chest for goodness sake. I can do this. And I did. 

So Happy Birthday to me, another year older but probably not grown up yet, whatever that is anyway.

Happy Anniversary to Southern Mess because without ya'll, there would be no us. 

So let's celebrate because we can't wait to show you how unstoppable we can be in 2017. 

XOXO,

Barb