Sunday Chronicles – Page 9 – Investment Piece

Sunday. Chronicles: Detox

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

Sunday Chronicles: Looking Back/Planning Forward

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!

Sunday Chronicles: Aftermath

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

Sunday Chronicles: Gift Giving

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

Sunday Chronicles: in Progess

It’s the time of year where we not only have jammed schedules- holiday parties, end of school year tests and activities, family commitments, and the pressure to make this “The BEST holiday ever”- but are compelled to look at our progress, to see how far we’ve come this year. By no means am I anti-goal setting, or the awareness of progress. In a few weeks like most of you I will sit down and think about what I’ve accomplished and what I want to get done next year. Progress will be measured, perhaps tactics reassessed, maybe goals changed. I’m not against this. What I do have a problem with is our (okay, maybe my) tendancey to use the last few weeks to beat ourselves with the measuring stick, to look at what we failed to do instead of our accomplishments, to try to cram someting in just so it can be crossed off a list.
Some goals are hard- they take longer than we thought, meander in a crooked line. Sometimes new goals pop up and we accomplish things we didn’t set out to. Sometimes life gets in the way and getting by is all we can do. I hold myself to a high standard but in the past week I’ve watched friends and loved ones use the winding down of the year to beat themselves up over “yearly goals”. And that’s not a holiday tradition I want a part of. Yes, let’s reach high, but let’s recognize that slow progress is progress. That sometimes enjoying yourself on the journey is just as important as the journey.
This year one of my goals was to paint more,I’ve had this canvas for months, know what I want to do with it- and yet it’s blank. This week while fighting a bad cold, determined to make perfect posts, decorate the house impeccably, and have the “best holiday ever” I felt pressure to get it done- if nothing else just to have it done. I resisted (clearly) but there was some guilt. Then I was forced to do nothing for a day but take cold meds and I was really able to take stock. Yes, I have goals and paintings to do- but if they don’t get done in the next 3 weeks no one will die. It won’t be counted against me.
That maybe the way to make progress is to let go of the measuring stick and live. Enjoy the holiday season, which will in turn make it the best! To do what progress we can, realizing that working toward the goal is part of the goal. And if that means canvases stay blank for a week longer,so be it. In progress is not a bad place to be.

Wishing us all a week of joy and amazing shoes! XO RA

Sunday Chronicles: Gratitude

Thanksgiving is Thursday and with it the start of the holiday season! Which of course means big meals,family, gifts, parties, traditions galore, and hopefully a bit of magic. For a lot of us it’s the “most wonderful time of the year”, and with good reason. But, can we be honest? This time of year can also bring some not-so-wonderful things. The pressure to be/to serve/ to give perfect, awkward family conversations and situations, some battle loneliness, and sometimes it’s hard when the perfect holiday in our head doesn’t get played out in reality. I have no answers for the hard things (shoes and wine?) but I do know how amazing the holidays can be- and conversely how overwhelming they can be.

Here’s the good news! People who love you don’t care if the table is “perfect” – they just love being with you. Awkward situations and conversations happen, the best thing to do is keep a sense of humor about it- at least it can make a good story, and if not, wine? And if you’re lonely and struggling there are people who care and want to help- you just have to ask(I’m not diminishing that the asking is easy). And while the perfect scenarios we come up with in our heads may not play out- often if we pay attention what really does happen is even more perfect.

This time of year can become so big- that I hope you have a chance to focus on the small- the love, the magic, and the gratitude that makes this time of year full of joy and wonder. Gratitude can get thrown around- but internet friends we are so lucky. We have family and friends who love us, tables full of food, and if nothing else: clean, running water that comes in both hot and cold. We’re rich! So amidst the pie and family I hope you take a moment to be thankful, to love those around you, and this week begins a season full of joy and magic.

Wishing us all a week of thanks and amazing shoes! XO RA

Sunday Chronicles: Family Culture Day

I’m lucky enough to be close to my family–to genuinely consider my mom and sister (and father though not pictured) friends. And while there are things that I miss about childhood, what has made being an adult so sweet are the things that my family and I get to enjoy together. My mom always made sure that culture was a part of our lives–art, dance, theater–we were often lucky enough to travel, but even when we didn’t my mom did her part to make sure that we were exposed to other cultures via their performing and still art. To her credit, both my sister and I have a deep love of museums, ballet, opera, art, and all performing arts. In fact, as these things feed my soul so much, I’ve made a life of pursuing them.

So what it a treat it was to recently see a Flamenco music and dance at a near-by museum. I actually lived in Spain with my mother and father when I was a baby (1 mth-18mths) and through hearing those stories, and a subsequent visit back, have simply fallen in love with that culture, and Flamenco. The way that the musicians and dancers are able to express the story or emotion through the performance-it is a raw and beautiful thing.

The holidays are coming and we will all be overwhelmed with family, many of us will want a break from them. So before all of that, it was heavenly to be able to have a day with my mom and sister to appreciate a culture we love, and spend some time together.

Wishing us all a week of art and amazing shoes! XO RA

Sunday Chronicles: TX Flood Relief

Internet friends I had a whole other topic in mind. It was a lovely essay. But as you may or may not know it but Central TX has been battling flood damage since May. I’ve had high school friends who have watched their childhood homes lost. School kids I know having to be rescued by armored car. It flooded in May in my mom’s area- she was without power for days. It flooded last weekend and the road to her house opened Saturday- when another round of heavy rain hit and roads were affected. I’m lucky. My family hadn’t lost property or family members. I was in town this weekend and slightly put out as I couldn’t make it to a friend’s bridal shower. But people hurting. People are needing. We need rain but not floods. If you have extra and feel like donating American Red Cross<\a> and Central Tx Flood Relief Fund<\a> are great places to donate. And next week I promise you a great essay!

Wishing us all a week of relief and amazing shoes! Xo RA

Sunday Chronicles: New Series

I have so enjoyed sharing my love of fashion with you over the past few months and I have some exciting news! We’re expanding! Stay tuned for outfit posts M/W/F, but please come back T/TH for new series where we will focus on wishlist items, shopping secrets, brands to know, and other fashion news! Subjects you’d like to read about? We’d love to hear about it-email racheladelicia@investmentpiece.com. We hope you love what we have in store for you, we love sharing this little spot on the internet with you!

Wishing us all a week of new things and amazing shoes! XO RA

Sunday Chronicles: Detox

I’ve been traveling for the past few weeks, which has meant great times with friends, amazing meals, and more than one glass of wine. And as fun as that can be, life is all about balance and I got to the point where I was looking forward to being home and detoxing. Working out, sleeping well, eating right. Juice, bone broth, and lots of veggies. Yoga, spinning, Pilates and a little bit more walking. Nothing intense, but a cleaning,letting myself rest, if you will. And it’s felt great. However, as popular as detoxes can be–there’s more than a just a juice that’s needed sometimes.

More than one friend of mine has recently read Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and I have to admit: I’m intrigued. Full disclosure: I haven’t read it yet; but if I understand the method behind it correctly I’m on board. My understanding is that the thought here is that we have so much in our lives-clothes, things, responsibilities, relationships–that really we keep things around that are just “good enough”, instead of holding out for, or really surrounding ourselves with things that we believe are beautiful and bring us joy. There’s a method Kondo uses to clear out the unwanted or passable items, making room for clothes, things, and relationships that truly bring us joy and fulfill us. And this, in my space of taking care of myself, has resonated.

So it’s not just been juice. I’ve been turning off the TV and reading. I’ve been thinking about the kind of life I want, the kind of woman I want to be–and beginning to cut out what doesn’t serve that. There’s been art and painting, sorting through and contemplating. I’ve been writing and thinking; shoe shopping and making choices based on what I love–and not what “will do”. I’m concentrating on what I want, and ignoring what I don’t. This is by no means a week fix, but I have to say–I’m loving the results.

I’d love to know, have you read the book? Done a detox? What are your thoughts?

Wishing us all a week of joy and amazing shoes! XO RA