Pulling Focus

At the beginning of this year a small but powerful voice inside of me posed this question: "What do you really want to do with your time and energy?" It was a tough love moment between me and me. One where the wiser deeper part of me offered that although I'm a very capable woman, there are only so many hours in each day. "What," it asked, "do you want to fill that precious time with?"

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

One answer came through loud and clear. It had been apparent for almost a year. The love of my life needed me, and though my ego put up a good fight about self protection and uncertainty, my heart won out. With this realization came the reality check: "Showing up for him requires a percentage of your time and energy. What are you going to do with the rest?"

And that leads me to this post. Little by little I let go of the ways I was spending my time that didn't fully align with who I am, and more importantly who I want to become. I attended a graduation ceremony recently and felt the profound truth told by an eighth grader who said, "So far I've learned that integrity is everything. Decide who you want to be and then act accordingly." 

The fourteen year old got there by taking responsibility for immature actions on a school trip. And I got there too. Pushed into a corner by life, and grateful for the nudge. How often do we see the bigger picture in spite of the trees?

You might be able to guess where this is going. As I prioritize the people in my life (including the version of myself I'm eager to grow into), and where I spend my time, I'm narrowing my focus. Intuitively it feels right, and necessary. Although I love the creative process behind this blog, I find it's time to let it go. And intentionally make space for other things. I have something in the works that I hope to share with you soon. 

Many thanks to the brands, collaborators, and other creatives who've helped shaped this content. And most of all, thank you to the readers. Silent as you are at times, I appreciate you and your listening ear. I wish you all the best- with integrity and intention. And, if you're not yet ready to say goodbye, you can find me (and collaborate with me) over on Instagram. xx

Eco Outfit Details

CROPPED LEATHER JACKET (similar to one shown) Lab Leather #vegan 

DENIM OVERALLS (similar to ones shown) Paige Denim #madeinUSA #naturalfibers

WHITE TEE Bon Label (gifted) #sustainablefibers #ethicalproduction

SLIP ON SNEAKERS Opening Ceremony #ethicalproduction

Have you noticed that a lot of really great eco fashion and clean beauty is coming out of Australia? I have, and I was overjoyed when Bon Label reached out to collaborate. This hip everyday label hits all the marks for casual cool dressing. Their tees are in regular rotation with my wardrobe. All of their pieces are ethically made in Australia, using sustainable fabrics (like organic cotton) and enviro-friendly water based dyes. Plus, they claim unf*ckupable design boasting simple shapes and minimal designs that never go out of style. I can attest to that! 

Photos taken in Jackson, WY with Cole Buckhart. :) 

Beneffect

Those who know me well, know that I love to make up words and then casually use them in everyday conversation. One of my all time favorites is 'hometel' which can be defined as a hotel you stay at so frequently and align with the aesthetic enough that it feels like your home... home + hotel. 

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

My newest invention is beneffect! It defines an unplanned side effect of something that has a positive effect. Beneficial side effect = beneffect. :) This little nugget makes itself known in many ways, and recently I felt its relevance when thinking about money and value. If we approach money as a beneffect of creating value in the world our focus and motivation is coming from a deeper and truer place. I'll admit this is a new approach for me, and I'm interested to see what manifests from this mindset. Never underestimate the power of a beneffect. 

Eco Outfit Details

SHEER RUBY CHECKERED DRESS Marni via Rent the Runway #sharedfashion 

LEATHER TIE BELT #upcycledleather #secondlifecycle #secondhand 

QUILTED CROSSBODY BAG Stella McCartney #vegan #fauxleather 

BOOTS #vegan 

Shop the Look

Photos by the multi-talented Cole Buckhart. 

Ice Queen

Do you ever feel you have to be the strong one for everyone else? That it's your job to keep it together so you can be the pillar others lean on? I think I've felt that way my whole life. Maybe it's the caregiver in me or just my optimistic nature to always look towards the good in every situation. And I don't think it's wrong per se, but sometimes it gets in the way of allowing all that needs to be felt and expressed from coming out. Like an ice queen keeping it on lock down.

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

Recently I've been going through something challenging and I felt a shift in myself. I wasn't able to keep seeing the bright side. I got sucked into the 'reality of what is' and it had me gripped tight. Then I found myself in a discontented place of fear and negativity. And I was upset about that. And that made me feel ever worse. Until one night, as I was drifting to sleep I had an epiphany...

I wasn't far from myself at all. I was just going through the motions of life that reveal to us more of who we are and what we want. I was expanding. The minute I had the thought, I felt relief. I felt the judgement I had placed on myself for not being stronger or more positive lift off of me and I truly felt elated. Sometimes it is so easy to make feeling bad or uncertain or sad wrong, but I think without them we might be bored and stagnant. They move us forward by revealing the complexity of who we are and showing us more of what we want (sometimes by showing us what we don't want). It felt like a movie director pulling back to see the full scene, and I could appreciate the role of those hard feelings. So now, I remain committed to my default way of being (positive and uplifted) and hold space for the other emotions that show up too. No need to freeze them out. They're part of the bigger picture.

Eco Outfit Details

CINDY CASCADE GOWN Nha Khan via Rent the Runway #sharedfashion

PLAID CASHMERE SCARF #naturalfibers

I'm sure you've heard me talk about renting fashion before, and I can't get enough of this genius concept! For this shoot, I knew I wanted to create something more artistic and a gown in the snow felt like the perfect thing. I do have a couple of gowns in storage (one of them is my high school prom dress!), but I wanted something to fit my vision and with my Rent the Runway Unlimited subscription a plethora of gowns and designers were at my fingertips! The best part is this gown will be warn many times- not just once or twice by moi if I had bought it. Shared fashion is one of my favorite ways to participate in sustainable fashion, and it is oh so stylish. 

SHOP THE POST

Many thanks to Cole Buckhart for yet another awesome shoot! 

All Rise

There's a shift in the air. It's trending in a positive direction and changing lives. Lately I've been noticing (or attracting?) various people who are awake and alive- passionate about life and how to really live it. You can feel the energy and excitement pulsing through them. It's refreshing and contagious. 

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

Have you seen these people show up in your life? They have sparkling eyes and beaming smiles. They've usually been through something intense (haven't we all) and come through to the other side with resolve to be mindful and intentional about the life they are creating. A common denominator I've observed is meditation. And I get it. There's no better way to tune into yourself for guidance and Truth that you can't get anywhere else. It's awesome.

So the other day, I was thinking about how to support these shape shifters- myself included. And it seems like holding the space for each other to share what needs to be shared, and allowing for our own processes are key. More than any time before, I find myself talking about meditation, self care, spiritual practice and the power of thought with a variety of people. Is it just me, or are we collectively up-leveling?! With open hearts, minds, and ears, we all rise together to a new and, I daresay, better place.

Eco Outfit:

COAT, Mackintosh #handcrafted #madeinUK #naturalfibers

SWEATER, (similar to one shown) Rag & Bone #naturalfibers #madeinUSA

DRESS, borrowed from Penny Lane Cooperative in Jackson, WY (check out this post to learn more about this local gem!)

BOOTS, (similar to ones shown) Stuart Weitzman #madeinSpain

Moving into the cold weather season, I like to 'winterize' a summer dress with tights and a chunky sweater. The look is effortless and very suitable for cooler temps. 

Photos at Astoria Hot Springs Park, by Cole Buckhart. 

Make Space

I was having dinner with a couple of remarkable ladies the other night, and our conversation veered towards a vulnerable place. Through the natural flow of conversation we found ourselves identifying and speaking up for the need to make space. I'm not talking about cleaning out your closet, though I'm a fan of that too. What we were connecting to was the real and necessary human need we have to create enough space in our lives and minds to gain clarity and ask ourselves what we truly want from this life.

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

It was a powerful realization. I had been sharing my story of how I moved to LA last year and had an extremely challenging time. It was one of the hardest years of my life, to date. Yet, with that experience, I found my way and without a road map I began to make space for myself. I made time to read. I hiked almost daily in the Santa Monica Mountains and would prompt myself to think about what I wanted to do next on the way up, while letting it all go and simply appreciating the view and the fresh air on the way down. I wrote morning pages, and listened to smart and interesting podcasts. I attended conferences and dinner parties with inspiring people. Somehow, some part of me knew that I needed to push myself to expand and create more space to see what was possible. 

And through this make shift process I found myself again. With clarity and focus I received guidance from within. It was (and still is) incredible. It wasn't until I was sharing this at dinner and one of the women pointed out the value of creating that space that I realized how important the process was. Or that my doing it created a model for others. I want to do some version of it regularly. It's a way of checking in with our truest selves, I think. How about you? How do you make space for yourself and align with what's truly wanted of you in this life?

ECO OUTFIT DETAILS

For this look, I pulled this dress from Penny Lane Cooperative. PLC is a local store in Jackson, Wyoming that showcases work and products from local artists. It's fantastic! The owner, Andi Keenan, has done an amazing job of curating a clothing boutique in the front of the space and housing pop-up stalls featuring a variety of local artists and producers in the back. As an active member of the community, she uses the space regularly to host how-to parties (they recently had one about making essential oil blends and beauty products!) and community events. 

I'm thrilled PLC is part of our small town scene, and can't wait to engage more fully with this special place. Check out their EVENTS page to see what's on deck!

Photos by Cole Buckhart. :)