Living Magic

Do you listen to the podcast How I Built This? When I'm roadtrippin', I just let the episodes flow from one to the next. I love hearing the inspiring stories of how people followed their passions and their drive to create something of value- not only to themselves but to many others. And the host, Guy Raz, always asks one final question of his accomplished guests: 'How much do you attribute your success to hard work and to luck?' 

(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.)

Most of them say it's a combination of both. That feels about right. But what I want to shed light on is the idea that Source is always bringing us what we want. Aligning the cooperative components to set us up for what we desire to experience and create. If we are a vibrational match, 'things just fall into place', which feels like luck. I call it magic. Magical moments are eagerly waiting to burst on the scene with stardust and rainbows in their wake! Well, not really, but they are ever ready, because Source is also ever ready to accommodate us- if we allow it.

I'm still adjusting the training wheels on this concept, though I have seen it working in my own life. There is living magic all around us and when we tune into it with higher vibrations and thoughts shit happens. Amazing, seemingly crazy coincidences, awesome introductions, gut nudges at the right time, etc all flow effortlessly. It really is, well... magical. 

Eco Outfit Details

FAUX SHEARLING COAT Gerard Darel (similar to one shown) #vegan 

LEATHER JACKET Free People #vegan

SWEATER TOP Elizabeth & James #naturalfibers 

JEANS Paige Denim #madeinUSA

OVER THE KNEE BOOTS #vegan

Many thanks to Penny Lane Cooperative in Jackson Hole for supporting this shoot with their super hip wares! 

Shout out to Seth Hughes who hit me up on Instagram to co-create this incredible content together while he was back in town.

Thank you to Gabe and Marie for coordinating to have us shoot at this beautiful location with these special horses. xx

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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. 

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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. :) 

Ruffled Denim

"Face fear and it ceases to exist" is a favorite quote of mine. Whenever I am starting something new, or headed out to an event without a wingman (or wing-woman), I feel those first pangs of discomfort. They warn me that I am about to embark on something that could possibly be uncomfortable. I've learned to acknowledge that warning (usually my ego talking) and say, "thank you for your concern, but I think I'll try this thing anyways, and see what happens." 

(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.)

I'm learning and growing all the time. I'm beginning to believe that that is what life is all about. Expansion of ourselves through experience and desire. If you are on the Abraham Hicks boat, you'll resonate with that. I've been exploring their view on life and it feels really good to me. To see every day and every opportunity as a way to expand who we are. Good experiences and bad- they offer us value if we are ready to receive it. Sometimes that is way more easily said than done, but I still like to keep it floating around my mind. 

The water may not always be calm, but if we dive in, I think we will find the experience more exhilerating than we could have imagined. 

You can't experience new lands from the confines of your comfort zone. -Jen Sincero from You are a Badass at Making Money

ECO OUTFIT:

STRAPPY CROP TOP, Cossac (gifted) #madeinEurope #local #sustainablefabric 

FRAYED HEM JEANS, I used a pair of hand-me-down jeans and this DIY Tutorial to create my own pair of on-trend jeans. :) 

TREE NECKLACE, Haumeya (gifted) #social 

Cossac reached out to me to collaborate and I instantly felt that the brand might be too cool for me (haha)! I'm thrilled Cossac is in the eco fashion space creating cool girl pieces that are super easy to wear and made ethically. I have a feeling we will be seeing more Cossac in my wardrobe... As long as I up my coolness factor.  ;) Definitely check them out! 

Photos by Mr. Cole Buckhart at String Lake in Jackson Hole, WY. Many thanks to Cossac for sponsoring this post.