Category: Sunday Chronicles

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

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

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

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