There’s a favorite saying of mine “People worry about wasting money, worry about wasting time. Time is not a renewable resource. Money is”. While is this not a call to be careless with your money, it is a call to be aware of your time. Tomorrow is leap day–the one extra day that we get every four years. A whole extra 24 hours (and yes we could complain that it’s a Monday–but time is a gift). No matter what you value or what you like to do, time is what makes up our lives–and it’s finite. So what are you going to do with your extra time? From work to relaxing to pampering yourself, I hope that you get to take this gift of an extra day and do something special with it–what ever that means to you!
Wishing us all a week of meaningful time and amazing shoes! XO RA
Friends! It’s been a week, hasn’t it? I’ve been busy with work and commitments, and have also been battling sleepless nights. That’s not always bad- I’m a little Type A and I like being busy. Which is good- we live in a society that glorifies busy. I’m sure you’ve heard that before – but have you ever taken a moment to think about how true it is?
We love busy. We encourage busy. We are all supposed to have jobs we love and activities we love and when we aren’t doing those things we need to have plans- with our friends, or learning a new skill or something. The main point? We aren’t supposed to have time unaccounted for- we should always be doing something. I love my job, I love spending time with friends, learning skills – all of that. However, the busier I become the more I cherish doing nothing – and long for unaccounted time.
What we forget is that doing nothing and unaccounted time are both actually good for us. They let us relax, unwind, recharge- and believe it or not become more creative. If you were to start a new workout regime your trainer would talk to you about rest; that recovery is an essential part of the program, and how you wouldn’t see progress without it. So, how did we get so far away from that truth in every other area of our lives?
I don’t have the answers friends. However, I do know that this week I’m giving myself permission to do nothing. To have some time set aside for nothing. And whatever shape that nothing takes- reading, movies, art, relaxation- I’m going to let myself enjoy it!
Wishing us all a week of nothing and amazing shoes! XO RA
Happy Super Bowl Sunday! I know- if you’re not into football this may not be an exciting day for you. However, between parties, halftime, and commercials- it is a day when football fan and non-fan alike can come together to eat nachos and enjoy “America’s Game”. What are you doing? I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of big parties- I really like to pay attention to the game. I’m having a small group of friends and family over, and we plan on experimenting with nachos and other snacks!
I do have to admit – this day makes me a little sad, it’s the end of the Football season (yes, I’m that much of a fan). The upside? It means we’re closer to summer! I will still mourn a little next week with no football to watch- and marvel at all my extra time. As for today? I plan on enjoying what I hope is a great game and eating my fill!
Wishing us all a week of exciting water cooler conversation and amazing shoes!
Recently I had coffee with a friend, and as we were sitting there talking about our goals and wants he simply turned to me and (basically) asked, “why aren’t you going after what you want? Why don’t you just do it?”. A simple question, and yet I was taken back. Loves, I like to think that I’m fairly honest-I have no firm answers and am making this all up as I go along, much like you I think to think. But my friend has a point–why don’t we go after what we want?
There are a ton of reasons why we don’t always pursue our goals–time, money, skill. Sometimes what we really want would hurt people we care about, and we are afraid to do that. Sometimes we don’t really want what we think we do–and procrastination saves us. And then there are times when we truly go after what we want–and we fail. None of these situations are easy. And there’s no magic phrase or inspirational quote to make us begin to move forward or make us succeed. However, I think we all have things that we want–even if they aren’t big, grand things (the fact that not every goal or desire needs to be big and grand is a topic unto itself) and many of those things are within our grasp. So what stops us? Why aren’t we running towards our dreams as if everything were on fire?
I don’t have answers. But I can tell you what I’m doing. Since that conversation I’m sitting down with myself. I’m having hard and honest talks with me about what I really want and what I’m really willing to do for those goals. And I’m running, not always as fast as I’d like, but running like it matters in that direction. And those dreams that I find I can’t bring myself to run to? I’m doing my best to let them go. Another person I adore loves to remind me that nothing is promised–not tomorrow, not the rest of today. So it matters what we do. And if matters what we do, we owe to ourselves to go after what we want, what makes us happy–from snacks to dreams to people (especially ourselves). Maybe it is in the asking–in the demanding of ourselves that we go after what we want, that we can figure out what we really want and need. Here’s to hoping!
Wishing us all a week of dream chasing and amazing shoes! XO RA
When boxers train they watch film of their opponents-study what the opposition’s “go-to” is. They also study themselves–they know their reflexes, understand that their personal “go to” is, to be better prepared, to change bad habits if necessary, to make themselves better. It’s the same in any sport–Football coaches not only study the opposing teams tape–they make sure they know what their own QB will do in times of stress. Study acting for any period of time–your teacher will want you to keep a journal; as it’s impossible to really “be” anyone else unless you understand your own habits and self. As one of my favorite spin teachers explains,” You got to know your punches, you have to know what you fall back on, what you go to. It’s the only way to prepare and it’s the only way to change yourself”. So, we can agree that understanding yourself is important, now you may be asking: what does this have to do with a fashion blog?
We’ve spent the week talking about cleaning out your closet–and hopefully you’ve touched your clothes and were really able to see what you have, what you need, and where those two circles meet. So, what are your punches? What do you tend to buy? Is it what you need? Or do you need to change? Lovers, there is not a gray t-shirt or party dress that I don’t love. Those are my punches. Shop anywhere with me and you will see me reach over and over again for gray shirts and dresses that are worthy of a great cocktail party, if not a red carpet. There’s nothing wrong with either of these-my right hook works-but there does come a time where I may need to buy something else. (Sidenote, someone invite me to a party, I have plenty to wear)I know this about myself. And yet–I have to go through things and remind myself that I don’t need to fall back on the two things that make me comfortable. There are so many great things out there–incorporating new punches can be a good thing.
Of course, this could work for any part of life–I know that there are habits that I fall back on in all areas of my life. Some serve me, some probably need some tweaking. The point in any of these disciplines is not to completely scrap all of your habits (and yes, I just called shopping a discipline), but to use your habits to your best advantage. If your right hook is great, keep it. If it could occasionally use a left jab–it’s just about learning to use that as well. Will I still reach for a gray shirt or a party dress? Yes. The hope is I will think it through and put it back if needed, and also reach for the black pants that I need. So again, what do you reach for? And is it something you need?
Wishing us all a week of things we want and need, and amazing shoes! XO RA
It’s the first long weekend of the year, it’s cold, and all I want to do is curl up with a book. By the time you read this I will have finished Me Before You (Which I’m loving). Besides clothes and shoes, books come in as a tie for my first love- this is a live look at my bedside stack (actually a small portion of it)- and I’m sure I will find another one to dive into. It’s Sunday- we deserve a book break, right?
So- what are you reading? What do you recommend?
Wishing us all a week of amazing stories and fantastic shoes! XO RA
Relax my internet loves: this is not where I tell you that we’re only drinking juice (although I am a fan of the green juice and have been trying to include a few more in my routine). But they seem to be everywhere, and in all forms, right? It’s the season of cleanses, closet-cleaning, clutter- fixers, new diets, and in general detoxing. And I’m not mad at it- of course to your own level and need, I like the ideas of stripping things down and only adding back to your life the things that you truly want and need. Again, I’m not just talking about juice.
I am drinking more juice- I try to eat moderately and clean throughout the year but after the holidays, it’s nice to reset my diet. I’m cleaning out my closets- eliminating things that I don’t love or wear, making space for things I will. But more than that, I’m trying to sit still some- to look at my life, stripped down and making sure that the things I add into it are only the things that I love or need. You can call it mindful or focused, use the word detox, but I’m making a conscious effort to take this time of “stripping down” and making sure that the building back up results in a life I’m in love with.
No form of detox is easy- there are scary questions like: what do I want my life to look like? Where do I want to be? What do I need to do to get there? The answers aren’t always easy- but they aren’t always awful. Like that green juice, I’m taking this time to enjoy doing things that are good for me.
I’d love to know: are you detoxing (in any form)? What are you letting go of?
Wishing us all a week of easy letting go and amazing shoes!! XO RA
Internet Friends!! We made it through another year! I hope it was full of joy and love, friends and family, that the bad things led to the best things and that you’re excited for the new, blank year in front of us! And we have a new year! I’m one for lists and goals and planning so I love this time of year–the time to sit and think about what we want to build and create in the new year, and to look back (with gratitude I hope) on what we’ve been through.
This past year was a big year for me- I started this blog–and I could not be more grateful for you. Thank you for letting me into your lives–and have fun while doing so! And I started going back and forth between LA and TX to be there for family. It was a year full of transitions and yet I could not be more excited about what’s to come! Because I will ask you a few of my goals for the year:
Expand the site! We have some youtube work coming your way, as well as trying to deliver the best possible content to you!
Personally, still iron out the back and forth issue, travel, some art–and I have some side projects that simply excite me!
Also–I’m working on being better at the business (401Ks, etc) side. Being in the creative field I have not always paid close attention to the “math” side, but I’m determined that this is the year I conquer that!
I’d love to know–what are you planning? How can we keep each other on track?
Again, thank you for letting me share this journey with you. I am so excited for 2016, and a large part of that is you!
Happy New Year! Let’s kick some ass! XO RA
Here are some of my fave pics from the last year–I look forward to sharing many more!
Christmas is over. The presents unwrapped, leftovers abound and you may or may not have already hit the after-holiday sales for th things you didn’t get. There’s a collective sigh- be it relaxing or not. The day after Christmas my mom, sister, and I always get up early and head to the mall- mainly so we can get back early. Then my sister and I head to my dad’s for Christmas with him and to celebrate my grandma’s birthday (she turns 97 today!). And of course we all have the upcoming anticipation of the New Year Holiday.
I’d love to know: what did you get? What are your traditions in this week between?
Wishing us all a week of family and amazing shoes! XO RA
It’s that time of year: we’re frantically shopping for others, hoping we’ve gotten the perfect gifts. Gift guides are abundant, as well as Facebook posts such as : the couple who give their kids too many presents (probably not for us to judge), the want/need/wear/read guideline (which I actually like), and ads for things no one you know wants. My mom has two grown, fashion loving daughters who shop year round and in the past few years she’s instutided this gift gifting “tradition” for our family: my sister and I get a donation to a big ticket item and then we all exchange a book (preferably one from your bookcase you want to pass around), a recipe you love (a great way to hand down family recipes), an item from your own closet, and one purchased gift. It’s made things simple- and as much as I love shopping I look forward to the personal touches I know I get on Christmas morning.
Let’s be honest- there’s always something we want (seriously if you’re shopping for me I have a list), but aren’t the holidays supposed to be about more than that? I do love presents- but more than that I love spending time with my family and friends. The gift exchange is lovely- what means more is the sitting and chatting with friends after. So this year I’m trying my best to focus on the presence, not the presents. Yes, my friends deserve the “perfect” gift- but more than that they deserve my focus, my listening, my making an effort to show up for them. I wish I could buy my sister all the shoes she wants- curling up on the couch with champagne might actually go further. Not only does it make my shopping so much more enjoyable- it gives me so much more to get.
This is not me saying you shouldn’t give gifts- we all love them! And really, my list of wants is long. This is me saying along with the presents is I hope you get all the presence you need this week, as it makes this season so much sweeter.
Wishing us all a week of presence and amazing shoes! XO RA
