Category: Sunday Chronicles

Sunday Chronicles: Holiday Traditions!

It’s an odd year for me- to say the least. With house demo and repairs- and the reality sinking in we will be without a kitchen for the holiday- this season is. Not usual. And while I am currently unable to wrap my head around gifts or shopping (well. For gifts!), I am clinging to some of these traditions to feel a bit like a holiday. I’m watching (fave) Christmas movies on repeat, I’ve been out to look at lights (and even put up a few) and have been brainstorming ways to get my holiday meals in. I’d love your thoughts on my traditions below- and I’d also love to know:
When your seasons aren’t usual how do you feel like a holiday?

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I recently looked over this list of holiday traditions that I wrote about. My list remains largely unchanged. And I’m happy! From eating to pjs to wishing for snow, I love my traditions and I can’t wait to dive right into them. What I’m adding this year? The tradition of grace- there’s so much changing, and we’re adapting. There are good days and bad. I’m not productive then I am. Grace is the thing I bet we all need most this year. And the faith that whatever we get done (or don’t), it’s enough. It’s something I’m adding to my list of things to do this year!

Traditions. They seem to be something that we cling to (maybe), enjoy, and are prominent at this time of year. If you think about what you enjoy at this time of year, most likely it can be traced back to a tradition. Me? I love traditions, especially holiday traditions. There’s something comforting about them, and if we let them, I’ve found that we can let them grow with us. There are things that I did as a child that I still love to do, and there are traditions that started a few years ago, and I love adding them to my list. No matter what or how you celebrate this is a season of tradition and family- and one of my favorites!
A few of my favorite traditions include:
1. Wishing for snow and collecting snow globes. Living between two places not known for their snow I’m obsessed. I love the fake snow that abounds and my goal is to one day see a ton of snow.
2. Decorations – I love all the holiday lights, trees, fake snow- all of it!
3. My sister, mom, and I get matching pjs for a gift on Christmas Eve- even though we’re no longer young it still makes waking up on Christmas special.
4. Traditional meals- not just the holiday meal but my mom’s Wassal (hot drink), her beef stroganoff on Christmas Eve, cookies, my Grandma’s Dr Pepper meatballs- it’s a season of eating.
5. Events like the Nutcracker. I love the ballet and as many times as I’ve seen it I just love the costumes, and dances. Related- this season I will watch “Miracle on 34th Street” about 1000 times.

I’d love to know – what are some of your traditions? What are you looking forward to?

Wishing us all joy and amazing shoes! XO RA

Sunday Chronicles: Hauls

If you’re VERY online, you know that there has been a lot of discourse about hauls (when someone buys anywhere from 10-50 pieces at a time, usually from a fast fashion retailer). And people have opinions. I have opinions. There has been advice from where to shop instead of fast fashion, to just stop hauls and shopping fast. But more important than all of that, I think the questions we should be asking ourselves is how can we find joy in really finding our style and taking our time building our wardrobes. Let’s chat about it!

And one of the dresses from my vintage “haul” (aka all of the lovely clothes that a neighbor gifted me when she and her daughter cleaned out their closets) I’m on the fence about. I love the color and the details- and it would need to be taken in (and there are so many options on how to do that!). So- what do you think? Keep or sell?

a woman in a blue dress leans against a door frame

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

Sunday Chronicles: Moving Forward

a woman in navy floral off the shoulder pant suit on a bed with a crochet bed spread

If this was a hard week for you? Same. If you’re still grieving and unsure? Same. If you’re not sure what to do right now? Same!

But what I do know is that we have to get up and get back to work. So, some things that I am thinking about and working towards during this time:

– Taking things at their word. Which means tariffs and price increases from 40-70% are coming. Are there any electronic or European brand needs that I have? Can I get them now? Can I make big payments now?
-Turning to restyling and vintage styling. Yes- I will always believe in using fashion for our stories, and while our fashion may change, I wonder how we can change with them. Mending and laundry care will also become important and I will do my best to help with all of this!
-Fashion as a statement. I no longer mean being bold or “fashionable”. I mean how can we tell the story of what we are going through with our choices? What is safe and what should we push on?
-How do we maintain joy? Joy in itself is resistance
-Looking to the lessons of history (yep, so much of where we are has happened before!) how can we use those?

And perhaps most importantly, how can we continue to build and show up for our communities?

I don’t know that I have any of these answers- quite frankly I am still wrapping my head around everything. But I do have faith in us- from our red lips down to our fantastic shoes. If there is a need or a skill you have- could you share it with us? If there is something you have specific knowledge in, could you share? If you just need a friend- could you share?

My biggest hope is that the worst doesn’t happen, but I know we have to prepare for it. I only know that if it is an act of defiance- I want to look amazing. And have amazing shoes. And of course- be with you.

Anything you need to say or share we are here.

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

Sunday Chronicles: Falling In

Investment Piece: Day Off

In the States, this morning we started Daylight Savings Time- aka Fell Back, aka gained an hour of sleep. And while, in general I am anti messing with the clock (it throws me off no matter if we move forward or back!), I am pro more sleep. However, this year I can’t help but think: if we are given the gift of an extra hour how can we best use it?

(I know that’s not exactly how it works, but the thought is true!)

As we know, my life has been in a state of chaos lately. I will not deny that it’s been a lot, and lead to some depression. Fall is usually one of my favorite seasons, but this year it’s just been- not great. And it doesn’t help that it’s not even remotely chilly where I am (and I love sweater weather!). With the extra hour to fall in, I decided this week that while things are what they are, I would get it together this week. Get back to my workouts, my outfits, my life- and find some joy. Lofty ambitions, but I think doable and conveniently those things build on one another. I can’t control contractors or work on the house, but I can control me and how I spend my hours- even the extra one. So. What do I plan on doing with the extra hour we’re falling in?

-Moving my closet from summer to “winter”. Also a little bit of clean out. It’s a bit difficult when the weather isn’t cooperating, but maybe cool weather is a “if we build it, it will come” thing?
-Getting on a routine. From bed times to workouts to meals- I have been all over the place lately. I am yearning for a schedule that lets me do all that I want to, all that helps me thrive, and also combats the blues!
-Read for pleasure. In fact, just pick up a hobby or two in general- I can’t remember the last time I did something just for the joy of it, and think it may be a missing piece of my life
-Regular posting and outfits. Being a bit down, having the house torn apart has left me in sweats (though nothing wrong with that!) and being inconsistent with posts, etc (especially on IG). I want to get back to a routine here as well!

I know that all of these goals won’t fit into one hour- but if I am given the gift of time, why not use all of it? We may as well try, right? (Though honestly, I will probably also sleep a bit more too!)

What are you planning on doing with your extra hour?

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

Sunday Chronicles: The Bright Side

a woman in black tap shoes and leg warmers and shorts in front of French doors

I have written – at this point more than once, and I am sure not for the last time- about the home damage and unexpected repairs and renovations. And yes, it’s not been great here. However, because of who I am, how I was raised, and a firm belief that what we concentrate on increases, I can’t help (or hope) but to be positive. Look on the bright side, if you will.

Has this past week or so been awful? Uncomfortable? Sent me into anything but fashion? Yes.

Yet- this is a chance to redo floors, the kitchen and more (obviously not 100% free in any way) but with insurance help. And. Today, for the first time in weeks, I did something that I kinda always wanted to do, just for me, just for fun. I tapped dance on our wood floors. I took dance in my younger years, and while tap was never something I kept up with, it is something that’s not only fun and feels good– but maybe is a way to stomp things out. In past, prior to knowing the floors would be replaced I would have never put on my tap shoes and gone to town on parquet. Knowing it will be replaced? It gave me some freedom.

Note: I haven’t taken a class in years. Moves came back, but I am in no way, shape, or form good or should be considered so. But it was fun. I laughed. I felt good. I LOVED it. Tap may become a part of my routine as long as I have floor that’s being replaced. There is something to be said about doing something without worrying about if you’re good, or what people will think (though I am totally putting my dance on the Gram today! Why not!); but just doing something for pleasure. And again- stomping proved to be a great stress relief!

I am well aware that there are going to be days ahead that are not going to be great. Times when I again get overwhelmed and have big feelings from sadness to stress. I will worry about my cats and have days when my fashion story is oh-so-casual. BUT. In all that- I will get a new kitchen and floors and until then I will get to dance. A fair trade? We are still waiting, but while we are here, it just seems as if the sane thing to do is to dance (or look on all the bright sides) as much as we can.

Wishing us all a week of only bright sides and amazing shoes! Even those that tap! XO RA

Sunday Chronicle: Constant Resets

a woman with red nails, a blue cameo ring and a blue clutch

I have attempted to be really honest about how lately things have been — off? hard? more stressed? almost like a midlife crisis (and I hate that as it admits perhaps I am midlife and no longer a youth!)! In general- this summer has been a lot. I have been overworked in my day job, which has affected everything, led to some burnout — and yet I haven’t found a balance. (Also, someone has to pay for my shoes!) My closet collapsed and even that felt like a BIG deal (when it probably shouldn’t have). Basically this summer has felt like a series of constant resets. Much like how we all say on Mondays our diets would start, I feel as if this summer has been a constant reset of : my closet, my balance, my workouts, diet, and more. It’s been discouraging as it’s felt as if instead of having answers or getting ahead; or at least, doing what I love, I have constantly been resetting. Restarting. Adjusting. And doing it all over again. Honestly, I’ve been a bit depressed. This summer was not supposed to be a reset– but a way forward. A bit of fun. Time in the water and fantastic outfits.

Then. Today, of all days, I had a thought that shifted my perspective: what if life is just constant resets? Instead of focusing on all that I haven’t done, or all I need to redo, what if I could accept that each season of life is a bit of resetting? What if life is constantly adjusting to what’s happening and reseting as we go along? So we don’t have to be depressed or beat ourselves up- we could just reset like we drink our coffee and make the most of it? This thought shifted me from being so down to having a bit of hope– and feeling a bit good.

Don’t get me wrong- I know it’s the last quarter of the year. There are things I want to do- from making strides to putting together my closet (again). Yet, instead of being down about it, I am choosing to look at these resets- and the resets to come- as things to get excited about. Perhaps the constant resets are a chance to really get things right, to do everything I really want, and to take my time with things. Maybe resets are opportunities to get things perfect. Are resets, even constant ones, things to celebrate? I truly don’t know. But I have been acting as if the resets were little deaths- and little celebrations and second chances seem much more fun.

So I don’t know about you, but that’s what I am going to try- celebrating and enjoying constant resets.

How do you handle it when you have to reset again and again? How do you stay upbeat? And what do you think the constant resets mean?

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

After Labor Day Do We Wear White?

I have asked this question and debated it and yet- I never thought to ask: when do we start wearing white? Do you wait till Easter? Is the first day of spring ok? If there is a cut off to wear white when do we begin again?

Is this because I’m in possession of fantastic white (ish) pants that I’m currently wearing (see ? OR because at a point when the weather is all over do I say I’m just doing what the weather tells me? Please let me know- do you have dates for your outfits and colors? I would love to hear about them!

XO RA

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I’m from the South and it’s a pretty hard and fast rule that you don’t wear white after Labor Day. It’s so ingrained in us that a few years ago at a football game a guy friend of mine–who is not into fashion–saw a woman wearing white pants and made a comment that she shouldn’t be doing that, as it was after Labor Day. In fact, starting Monday, my mom puts away all her linen items–citing the fact that it’s a summer fabric. And I get it–I’ve clearly been excited and ready for fall. There is something to be said for dressing for the season.

However, after living in California I came to realize that the white rule isn’t necessarily followed everywhere. You could argue that in CA it feels like summer longer, although it can be in the 100s till October in TX. Even the fashion elite –Vogue, etc– have relaxed their thinking and you can search for articles today like “How to Wear Your White Jeans Through Fall”. So who do we listen to–our Southern Moms or those who say we can wear white?

Honestly, I fall in the middle here. Don’t worry Mom–after Monday I won’t wear (a ton of) white pants (winter white is a whole other story though!) but I won’t be rushing to my fall/winter wardrobe. The fact of the matter is it will still be hot on Tuesday. And while I won’t be wearing white pants, white will still most likely pop into my outfits as an accent or piece–skirt, top, etc–but not the whole look. I no longer judge those who wear white after Monday–fashion is so diverse and if you like your outfit I’m a fan of you rocking it! (Also I love it when you’re daring) But I will say I’m looking forward to our gradual shift to fall clothing! Have I mentioned I have some amazing boots to show you??

I’d love to know–what’s your stance on white after Labor Day?

Hope you’re have a great holiday weekend! XO RA

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Sunday Chronicles: Catching Up

a cat biting the heel of a woman wearing a white dress with tabby cats on its

It feels as if my life has been a comedy of errors lately. And that’s not always a bad thing, but I am wary to make plans as none of the plans that I have made recently- from friends to pilates classes- have some to pass. Some of the things that I’ve had to break plans for have been AMAZING (print jobs, acting gigs, etc) but some things have been comical- weather and other extensional reasons. Yet, no matter what the reasons I’m missing my routine. And my friends. AKA Nothing ha been doing to plan, I’ve had to cancel too many times, I’m constantly scrambling to readjust my plans. What I’d really love to do is catch up.

So my goal for this next season (Taurus, like me! if you’re into that sort of thing, or just late spring) is to get to follow through with my plans. Classes. Lunches and more with friends. Shoots on certain days. I know not everything is in my control- from weather on down- but everything that is in my control- I’m willing it to go towards catching up.

Also-this goal to catch up doesn’t only apply to my plans (which I AM going to stick to), it also applies to me. From my workouts to my writing schedule (which I’m still working on solidifying), I’m looking to keep commitments this seasons- especially if the commitments in question are to myself. But how do you make catching up to yourself a thing when your work is always in flux? Honestly, I’ve been working as an actress since I was 20 and as a blogger for the past 8 years and I still haven’t figure that out 100%.

But for both me and my social plans I can’t Not plan on anything coming up (yes, I know that’s a double negative). Perhaps what I mean is that no one can ever see all the turns life will throw at you. What I can say is that I am determined to get to catch up. Stick to my plans. If I have to cancel reschedule right away. Maybe it’s a way of being more on top of my schedule, or maybe it’s a way of not letting my life get away. Catching up, at its heart, is about sitting down and listening to some else. And perhaps what I’m craving is really listening to my friends, and me, so that I can adjust my plans.

The coming up season- from birthdays to weddings to showers to graduations is a bit overwhelming, which makes it a perfect season to stick to catching up on what you need- and making that a priority. Exactly what I plan on doing.

Wishing us all a week of plans that follow through and amazing shoes!
XO RA

Sunday Chronicles: Recovery

a woman in navy floral off the shoulder pant suit on a bed with a crochet bed spread

This summer has not gone to plan at all. There’s been health issues. A ton of burnout. Lack of creativity. Feeling just off and not like myself.

Yes, sometimes this is just life. We go through phases like this. Lose ourselves and find ourselves, recreate ourselves all over again. Yet, when you’re coming out of a period that feels “not you”. Or illness. Or switching habits, schedules, and the like. It can feel like recovery. Which I think – at least to me- is hard to admit. Recovery is something I associate with a serious illness. Or addiction (even shopping!). Or something major. From burn out to minor illness to trying to switch my habits and schedules all summer I have been beating myself up a bit as I felt like this was all things that should “come easily” or I should “get over” and “not take time with”.

Yet. Recovery. Any kind of recovery takes time. A lot of my adult life has been spent in gyms and with that comes injuries (both mine and observing others). And it’s not a rarity that recovery is difficult for many of us. Mainly as it involves admitting that you need a step back- or a change. Rest. A reevaluation. All the time that I have spent being hard on myself- and wondering why I was still burnt out or not feeling great (or event shy the house hadn’t been deeply cleaned) was a bit counter productive. In my heart I know that- that rest and focus on recovery would ironically help me recover and change my habits faster. A physical injury needs rest and recovery, and so does any burn out, etc.

But. Why is recovery so difficult? Why is rest, even rest you know you need, hard to allow yourself? Quell surprise, I have none of the answers. Even admitting to myself that I need to recover, or at least a few days off, has been incredibly hard (why I feel like I always need to be on is beyond me). Letting myself actually recover? Working on it.

For me recovery needs a lot of rest- even if that just means doing what I love (like pilates classes and time with friends). It’s alone time and piddling around the house. Bad TV and amazing movies. Schedules and changing of habits. The most difficult part? Giving myself the time to do all of this. Again, I am working on it.

I would love to know- how do you recover? From burnout or injury or simply just not feeling like you? What are your best tips to get to where you want to be and allowing yourself time?

I would love to hear all about it!

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