(Attempted) Capsule Wardrobe

(Attempted) Capsule Wardrobe

11.30.2015

Ahh the allusive idea that is the capsule wardrobe. It's been a thing I've been wanting to accomplish for a while now but for so long has felt daunting. I kept telling myself I just had to be in the right mood or it had to be the right time. In the interim I brushed up on capsule wardrobe anatomy (just decided that that is a thing) by following Caroline Joy's beautiful blog, Un-Fancy. Here, she documents her daily outfits from her 37 piece seasonal wardrobes to inspire others to live with a simple but intentional focus.

I set myself up for success by not limiting myself to a number but rather a set of criteria that would ensure every piece had a reason for still hanging up in my closet. This meant only keeping the pieces I loved, wore frequently, are good quality without any tears or pilling, and I felt totally comfortable in. This meant putting aside any emotional attachment and being totally practical. Relieving myself of the weight that all of this stuff kept in my life was the reason for doing this in the first place. Up to my closet I went, and the rest was well... a massive purge. The result was well worth the time and energy: an organized and realistic closet containing only what belongs. I could literally close my eyes and pick something out blindly knowing I'd love it and wear it. Picking out my clothes and jewelry, especially for work, is now a much easier and more positive experience.

With clutter comes weight. With weight comes guilt. It does not serve you to have half of your closet (or any material thing for that matter!) in your life that makes you feel any negativity. If so, pass it on to someone who will appreciate it and has a better use for it than you. As satisfying as it is to open my closet doors and admire the perfectly stacked sweaters or thinned out jewelry rack that was previously over flowing, creating this practical and intentional wardrobe came with an even better reward besides what was in front of me. The ultimate reward was making a massive donation to the St. Frances & St. Clarie's thrift sore of Lazarus House Ministries — a Catholic charity supporting those in need, especially families who have suffered from house fires. Taking the time to find a place to donate to that supports causes that are personally near to my heart made the entire experience that much more worth while.
I encourage you to take a look at what items in your home may not be serving a purpose any longer and pass them on. It's a win win. You feel great and your home will become more of a freer environment while you enrich someone else's life with something so appreciated. There's no better time to give than the holiday season :)

Thankful

Thankful

11.25.2015

It's that time of year. Time to celebrate what we're thankful for. I love it. Though I think it's important to be mindful of this year round, it doesn't take away from how nice it is to intentionally celebrate what we're thankful for during this season. I love the sentiment around thanksgiving for this reason. It is so easy to get wrapped up in material things and stress this time of year, but when you stop and really look around at what you're so lucky to have, it's a reality check that can lift a great weight off your heart. I encourage you to try it when life gets hectic and you feel like you just. can't. even. These are the top three blessings I'm counting this year:

health Without your health, you have nothin' they say. Though as I'm writing this I'm laid up with a badly sprained foot from a basketball game last week, that's okay. Everyday I'm grateful for not only my own general health but if not more importantly, the health of my family.


home
A roof over my head, a warm place to sleep at night, a safe haven, and food in the refrigerator for every meal of the day all sound like cliche 'yeah, yeah' things to point out — but it all holds a much deeper meaning for me.

Having survived a house fire but losing everything, these are things that I saw vanish before my eyes in a split second completely out of the blue. Thank God for insurance (really though), strong parents, a supportive family and community that got us back on our feet as gracefully as possible. However, not everyone is as lucky in that situation, which is something I take to heart. This is why I am deeply connected to the sense of home and never spend a moment taking it for granted.


community
Speaking of community, I cannot express my gratitude enough for the people I hold near and dear in my life. I live by the mantra of "quality over quantity" and there is no area of my life that this applies to more than who I surround myself with. I also believe there is no thing more important in life than the people whom you share it with. I feel so blessed day in and day out that the family and friends I share my life with are as loving, supportive, generous and genuine as they are.

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What are you grateful for this year? I'd love to hear it and I'd love for you to share it with everyone around you. If you post what you're thankful for on Instagram or Facebook, be sure to include #commondaymoments in your caption.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Put aside all distractions to enjoy the moment and the people you're with.

#commondaymoments

#commondaymoments

11.23.2015

You may have noticed I've been using #commondaymoments on certain Instagram posts that relate to the mission of this blog. My intention with this, simply, is to create a community of posts that foster the beauty in the little things, the every day, the beautiful, the honest.

There's something to be grateful for every single day. Let's share our common day moments with one another by using #commondaymoments on Instagram posts that encourage an intentional focus on the honest little things that make this life so beautiful.

I cannot wait to see what makes your day wonderful, even it is not the most glamorous. That is the point here, honest beauty!

Intentional Common Day: Morning Routine

Intentional Common Day: Morning Routine

11.10.2015

I've struggled with figuring out where to even start with this post. Instead of some lengthy or eloquent intro I'll just put it all out there – my mornings are a mess and a great source of stress to my days, weeks and even months. As Derek and I are at the stage of moving from engagement to marriage, we've been intentionally focussing on what aspects of our lives (as individuals and as a couple) could use some improvement or change. Personally, my complete lack of a morning routine is glaringly at the top of my list. A realistic and committable fitness regime, digital free periods of the day/evening, and creating balance in our life as a unit wherein our relationship comes first – are a few other points we've agreed need attention as well. I'll talk about these as this series of 'Intentional Common Day' posts roll out.

Back to mornings;
It has been difficult to maintain any type of routine since taking on a split schedule of working from home and in an office throughout the week. But, this is merely an excuse I've allowed myself to indulge for far too long. My mornings are nothing short of rushed, stressful and overly stimulated in all the wrong ways (hello, social media...). I've reached a point where, at the end of too many days I am frazzled and left feeling like each week is a blur. My poor start to each day is the root of it all.

I'm so far from being a "morning person" that I know this is not going to be something I'll be able to decide to change one day and wake up the next morning sticking to it for the rest of my life right off the bat. I know I have to mentally prepare, so for the past few weeks I've done just that. This all sounds so dramatic, I know. But really, anyone who has crossed me within the first ten minutes of waking refers to me as a total bear. Sorry D... love ya ;)



So, here I am. Ready to go. Mentally prepared as to what it is that I need to gain from each morning and how to get there. Ready to give it my best and not call it quits when I slip up here or there. Mostly, I'm eager to reap the benefits of a calm and collected common day for doing so.

The goal:
– Get up when Derek wakes me up to say goodbye at 7:00 AM when he's leaving for work (the best <3)
– Shower and/or allow myself the time to properly get ready – i.e. style my hair and not rush
– Make and eat breakfast at home / pack my lunch
– Take time to do something slow and creative such as reading or writing and reflecting in a journal to ease into the day
– Walk Conway instead of rushing for a quick stop in the backyard
– Enjoy the scenic commute to work instead of rushing

I would love to see how you start your day by tagging your Instagram posts with #commondaymoments — here's to less top knots and more clarity!