Mom, Take Back Your Mornings!

Mornings are the most difficult time of day to keep simple. Everyone is rushing, there are breakfasts to be eaten, bags to pack and places to go. But it's important to give everyone a happy head start ~ including you!

Here are some ways to take back your mornings and enjoy them!

1. Help your children choose their clothes the night before. 

Allow them be to be part of the process and work to come to a mutual conclusion. The nice thing about doing this is that if there is going to be a battle, it won't be right before you're walking out the door! You might want to start early in the evening to keep from delaying bedtime, since sleep is also a key factor to having a great morning.

2. Create a capsule wardrobe for them.

Basically this is simply choosing a set of clothes that are easy to mix. Do the colors go together? Does the material or style work well with other items? You may not be able to do this 100% but I would recommend trying. This way, no matter what shirt they pull out, it will go with any of the bottoms.

Of course you will want to be okay with what is going into their set in the first place so there won't be clothing you're opposed to. Having said that though, be sure to embrace your children's unique style; clothing is a fun way to express yourself and children are geniuses at this. If your favorite colors are earthy and your daughter loves brights, give a little and let her express her artistic side. Children are simply little people with their own preferences and tastes. It's best to honor that and work together towards an agreeable end.

3. Put special clothes out of sight.

Store clothes elsewhere that your children always want to wear but either can't be worn except special occasions, or are only for the weekends. Not seeing the temptation can help with struggle.

BONUS TIP: Make a capsule wardrobe for yourself to simplify your morning even more! Own your unique style and let it reflect you!

What is your biggest challenge to having a calm, simple morning?

Earthy Casual Capsule Wardrobe

If you're an earthy colors, all-pants-all-the-time, comfy-casual sort of gal, then this capsule is for YOU! Full of easy to move in jeans, design leggings and a go-with-everything pair of pants, you'll be ready to go. AND I've put the outfits together for you ~ three weeks of outfit bliss!

I'll be honest, these are the kinds of outfits I frequent. Well maybe not the decorated leggings, mine are just black, but still. All comfort all the time! In fact comfortable is one of the three words I chose to help me pick clothes for my capsule wardrobe.

Right now it's cold and snowy here so all I'm thinking about is layers! Lots and lots of layers! This capsule is one that could easily be layered and then shed depending on the fluctuating weather (or in my case, changing inner temperatures).

If you would like help with your wardrobe, I will be offering consultations at the end of this month! I'll share more about that in the coming weeks. May your days be simple and full of purpose!

Like more tips? Sign up to get 10 Steps to a Capsule Wardrobe sent to you right now!

You Have Not Failed

We interrupt this program to bring you an important message: 

You have not failed.

Often at the beginning of the year, we feel so full of life and energized with goals but then, one misstep and we feel like we've failed.

I had a moment like that this week. I re-started my healthy eating plan on Monday and I was doing good, but on Tuesday night I found myself stuffing a handful of cookies in my mouth. Afterwards I felt like a complete failure.

But messing up is not a failure, it's part of the process.

I realized in the middle of my pity-party that being mad at myself and giving up after one mistake would be ridiculous. I didn't completely fail, I messed up. Failing would be giving up completely and never trying again.

When I think of failure I think of something that is completely done and can't be fixed. For example, if I'm fixing dinner and I completely burn the meal to the point that we can't eat it, that meal has failed to be edible. It's done, it's over.

But you're here. You clicked on this post and I'm guessing it's because you needed to hear that you haven't failed. Even if things have ended in your life or you've suffered big losses, you are still here ~ seeking, growing. You haven't given up on life or your dream, or that relationship or whatever it is you're pursuing.

You are here.

And that tells me that you're not ready to stop. You're moving forward. You may just need a little encouragement that you haven't failed. Most likely your problem is simply a misstep or a mistake ~ one that can be fixed. But even if it can't be fixed, you have a choice in this moment. 

You have a choice to move forward, to grow, to extend kindness to yourself and others.

And that is never a failure.

So please, be gentle with yourself and remember this: You have not failed, you're simply in the middle of your process.

Are you worried that you've failed? Please tell me in the comments below so I can encourage you. Are you embracing your process? I'd love to hear how! Let's hold each other up.

New Year Capsule Wardrobe

The beginning of the year is a great time to freshen your closet! Clear out all those clothes you don't love or wear; create a capsule (set of clothes) that are easily mixable and your mornings will be suddenly easier! With one set of clothes, you can create a month's worth of outfits (see above). The set today has only thirteen pieces of clothing and it produced four weeks of outfits! It's completely do-able, trust me. You'll love how light you feel when your closet is uncluttered and your outfits come together effortlessly.

Want to start your new year with a new closet?

Like more tips? Sign up to get 10 Steps to a Capsule Wardrobe sent to you right now!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 

I've said it before but I love the start of a new year and the possibilities it brings!

I've been thinking about what I want to focus on this year and I definitely want more connection and more meaning. I want to keep one word at the forefront of my focus: authentic. That word has always been important to me, but feels even more so right now at this time in my life. I want my blog, my relationships, my passions to all be authentic. I want a life full of honesty and vulnerability.

So in light of that, I'm going to be adding more heartfelt posts and share intimately more often. I love getting to share about small wardrobes and simplifying belongings, but I want to add more depth here on the blog.

Thank you all for making 2015 such a great year with your kind connection. I look forward to knowing you more in the coming year!

Do you have a word or a focus for the year? I would love to hear about it in the comments below!