Life in the Moment

The seasons will change in their own good and perfect time.  Much like the things in life we are impatient to change, we can't always rush.  

It's human nature, I suppose, to be always looking toward the horizon and to wonder what else is out there.  It can lead to new discoveries, and some hidden treasure, but it can also be folly.

Sometimes things have to happen on their own and it's up to us to find beauty in the moment, in the present situation, and by always looking ahead we miss the wonderful things happening all around us right now.

I am very much the type to be forever planning and organizing, so much so that life becomes nothing more than a series of to-dos checked off my list.  I have to be careful of this or it can distract me from the things in life that actually matter.

If you often find yourself too hopelessly fixated on tomorrow to enjoy today, take the time, right now, to live in this moment.

Pause.  Breathe Deeply.  Look around you.  Enjoy today.

Shopping Info: Velvet Open-Shoulder Top in Mustard from Forever XXI, Golden Bouquet Jacquard Midi Skirt (in black) from ChicWish, The Zest Is History Heel

Window Friends

Excerpted from Anne of Green Gables 

by Lucy Maude Montgomery

 

“When I lived with Mrs. Thomas she had a bookcase in her sitting room with glass doors. [...] One of the doors was broken. Mr. Thomas smashed it one night when he was slightly intoxicated. But the other was whole and I used to pretend that my reflection in it was another little girl who lived in it. I called her Katie Maurice, and we were very intimate. 

I used to talk to her by the hour, especially on Sunday, and tell her everything. Katie was the comfort and consolation of my life. We used to pretend that the bookcase was enchanted and that if I only knew the spell I could open the door and step right into the room where Katie Maurice lived.  And then Katie Maurice would have taken me by the hand and led me out into a wonderful place, all flowers and sunshine and fairies, and we would have lived there happy forever after. 

When I went to live with Mrs. Hammond it just broke my heart to leave Katie Maurice. She felt it dreadfully too, I know she did, for she was crying when she kissed me good-bye through the bookcase door.

Seize the (Snow) Day

I was awake at the usual time this morning.  Laying there in the dark, I started to get up but then noticed how chilly it was and quickly ducked back into bed.  The fire must have gone out in the night and getting it started can be a chore.  I decided to put it off for another half hour.  

By then the sun was coming up and I wrapped up in my robe and went straight to the kitchen to put the kettle on before starting the process of building a fire.  As it turned out, there were still a few coals and the fire was roaring in no time at all.  I left the stove door open to heat the house more quickly and to create that inviting orange glow that makes that house feel not just warm but cozy on a winter morning like this.

With the fire taken care of, I went to heat the oven and popped in a few blueberry coconut muffins to warm up before pouring some steaming water into my cup.  I like to let my herbal tea steep for at least ten minutes before drinking it, last year my teas of choice were dandelion root, milk thistle, or burdock.  This year it's been holy basil with clove or thyme tea, and it takes about as long for my tea to steep as it does for the muffins to heat in the oven—no microwaves in this house.

I can usually enjoy a few quiet moments on a morning like this before the rest of the house wakes up.  This is my time to contemplate my daily to-do list.  But, I decided that today, I would probably spend all day right where I was reading, drink tea, maybe playing a card game or two and very likely not getting out of my pajamas and robe.  

And so I was curled up by the fire, tea cup in one hand, muffin and plate in the other, when my youngest daughter came out of her room, hugged me for a moment, then went to the window to wave at the cats before crying, “look!”  I went to see what the cause of her excitement was.  The whole forest, the whole mountain was frosted with snow and ice crystals.  It was lovely indeed and all my plans of doing nothing went right out the window with the view.

I hadn't planned any outfits, in fact I was down to the bare bones on outfit ideas since it was so cold and bleak outside, but I couldn't let a backdrop such as this go to waste.  It was below freezing out, so I assembled only a few outfits, quickly did my hair and make-up and went out into this beautiful icy landscape.

Snow is such a rare thing here; I almost wish we had more of it so I could take more photos out in it, but then I suppose that the very fact that it's rare makes these photos more special to me and gives me more motivation to get outside than if it happened all the time.

And as for the rest of the day?  Well, I when I came back inside, I promptly switched out my pretty dresses for some fuzzy socks and a sweater and resumed my place in front of the fire with a second cup of tea.  And yes, we did play a few rounds of cards, but mostly we all just hovered near the warmth of the wood stove and went about our day in a cozy, quiet harmony.

Shopping list:  Outfit from Shein

Sloane Trousers

Trousers!  I've been a dresses kind of girl for so long, but the longer I work with FemmeLuxe, the more I have come to really enjoy a nice pair of trousers for a classy wear-to-work or evening out kind of look.  Dresses are wonderful and I'll never give them up, but I have made room in my wardrobe for trousers because they bring that Katherine Hepburn class to any event.  For February's collaboration with FemmeLuxe, we've done a mix of all sorts of styles and occasions from a comfy sweater, to two outfits with tartan trousers, to a glitter bodysuit.  For today's collaboration post, I thought I would show off yet another of FemmeLuxe's amazing Trousers.  

I really love what FemmeLuxe's trousers and jeans do for my shape and that makes my confidence levels soar.  FemmeLuxe has some lovely Black Lace Bodysuits, but this outfit is one that I have had in mind since December when I first saw this metallic surplice bodysuit at Forever XXI.  It was such a stand-out piece but I noticed that it had a very high waist and after reading online reviews I discovered that that was the main complaint of purchasers—its high waist line (the actual ridge running across the waist) made it difficult to find the right trousers to match because the trousers, or skirt waist as the case was for different reviewers, wasn't high enough to hide the line made by the bodysuit. 

I really liked the top though, so I decided to buy it and wait for the right trousers to come along.  I was hoping to find something by New Year's but nothing really caught my eye.  Then, when working with FemmeLuxe on February's collaboration, I noticed these Sloane trousers and knew they would be just perfect.  Of course, I think Sloane will go with lots of different tops, but I could not wait any longer to try out this gold bodysuit.   Sloane definitely lived up to my expectations and I could not be more pleased with this outfit; it turned out exactly as I had hoped it would.  These trousers absolutely make the outfit.  It is too late for New Year's, I know, but there's always date night or some occasion around the corner.

Trousers are such a wonderful addition to any closet.  Dresses are my favorite, followed by skirts, and of course jeans are a staple, but I think that a really nice pair of trousers should have equal emphasis as those other items.  The right pair of trousers, meaning a great cut and fit, can be worn to work or on a nice night out.  They can even make a casual look classy.  If you haven't yet added trousers to your closet, I highly recommend it.  The key, as I mentioned, is the right cut and a great fit.  And finding something in an interesting print (like Monday's post), color, or fabric like today's post with the Black PU Tapered D-Ring Trousers - Sloane.

So, let's talk about some of the features of the Sloane trousers that make them so great.  First of all, Sloane is made of vinyl so it does have a little stretch to it and this kind of fabric adds that great element of visual interest to any outfit.  There is no zipper, but they do have an elastic waist and they basically just slide on, super simple, no wiggling.  They have a high fitted waist and a tapered leg to really create that hourglass figure.  They come with a belt and they have nice deep pockets, huzzah!  I accessorized with large black paisley dangle earrings and black peep toe heels.  Don't wear ankle strap heels with this type of trouser, you want your legs to look nice and long, and an ankle strap heel would make your legs look shorter.  For make-up I've been keeping things pretty natural on the eyes and cheeks lately with a bright red lip being the main accent. 

Shopping Info: Black PU Tapered D-Ring Trousers - Sloane from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Metallic Surplice bodysuit from Forever21

Glam & Glitter

FemmeLuxe collaboration week continues and today's post is by far the girliest. In some of my previous posts, I mentioned that Femme Luxe has some lovely glitter bodysuits and this month for our collaboration I thought it would be fun to try one and do an outfit post about them. I've promised to be a little more thorough about breaking down my shopping and outfit making process, so to that end, I'll tell you how and why I decided on the Pink Glitter Puff Sleeve Plunge Bodysuit-Roxina. I chose Roxina because I love the romantic style with all the ruching and the sweet heart neckline. I also adore this pale pink color; it is just too, too pretty.

Most of the time when I'm searching for new items to add to my closet, I look for things that pair nicely with at least one and typically many things in my existing wardrobe. That way I can get lots of outfits with the new item without spending a ton of money. Occasionally I will buy an entire outfit from a shop just as they have it displayed, but that's rare. I do recommend doing this if it's part of your shopping style to only shop once a year and get a complete outfit or two and then wear them over and over until their spent. That's one method, it makes sense to me, and it works quite well for some people. For the most part though, I buy a single item at a time that I really like and have in mind to wear with things I already own.

For this Roxina Bodysuit, I knew right away that it would be the perfect thing to pair with my colorful, feminine ChicWish skirts. This watercolor print immediately came to mind because I knew it had the same sweet sugar plum pink in it as Roxina. Watercolor prints offer lots of options for outfits and in the past I've worn this skirt with yellow, orange, navy blue and dark purple, but the pale pink/purple is the color I have really been looking for in a top to go with this skirt because it is my absolute favorite. So, when I saw the Roxina bodysuit I knew it was just what I had been waiting for.

In the past I have typically worn this skirt as part of a wear-to-work style, but truly a skirt like this deserves a little glamour. No only was it the color of Roxina that I loved, but the princess style sleeves, ruching, and glitter really drew me in. A glitter bodysuit is just a little to stylish for the office. No, a top like this instantly adds the kind of glam I knew the skirt deserved. This look now feels like something I would wear to a formal event or special occasion. But, it doesn't end there. Imagine this glitter body suit with a lace pencil skirt or even a pair of dark wash jeans. No matter what you pair with it, the Roxina bodysuit is going to make it elegant.

I wanted to take just a moment in this post to discuss the fit of the Roxina bodysuit. As you know, bodysuits extend down and snap together to create a form fitted silhouette. What this can also mean is some discomfort when the bodysuit rides up, or it it is quite snug against the body. This is not the case with Roxina. It is very breathable and stays comfortably in place, no ride up. Even the sleeves were not too snug at the shoulders or cuff. This is definitely one of the more comfortable bodysuits I've ever worn.

FemmeLuxe has some great Corset Dresses which I hope to wear in the coming months as part of my collaboration with Femme Luxe, and I always love to wear their Jeans because they fit like a dream and give me such a confidence boost, but for tomorrow's post we're going to change gears a little with a glam Trousers outfit. I'm so excited to share it with you, so visit the blog tomorrow for my final Femme Luxe outfit of collaboration week.

Shopping Info: Pink Glitter Puff Sleeve Plunge Bodysuit - Roxina from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Watercolor Impressionist Midi Skirt from ChicWish, Purple Heels from Amazon.com

Tartan Trousers Two Ways

Dresses and skirts are my go-to for work and weekend wear, but I do love a sharp pair of trousers. I'm always on the look out for something that really stands out either because of a great print or a really great cut and for today's post I've found a pair of trousers that has both. So, to kick off FemmeLuxe collaboration week, I thought we'd start with these Beige Tartan High Waisted Skinny Leg Trousers - PercyBeige Tartan High Waisted Skinny Leg Trousers - Percy.

FemmeLuxe has never let me down when it comes to high waist jeans and slim fit trousers, but I also love their Corset Dresses and maybe next month I'll be able to showcase one of them. I chose these Beige Tartan High Waisted Skinny Leg Trousers - Percy because the plaid print is comprised of a warm red and three neutrals: beige, black, and white. I knew that this combination would be really fun to mix neutral and red components in the outfit. There were so many possibilities that I'm sure I'll have to do another post to showcase a few more looks, but for today, I chose two looks that mix neutrals and red.

For our photo shoot today, I found this lovely little bakery and the proprietress kindly agreed to let me take a few pics here on this chilly morning. I didn't manage to get her in the pics, but her two year old daughter was quietly wandering around, peeking around corners and smiling her big smile. She was such a little ray of sunshine with her big rosy cheeks and bright blue eyes, maybe next time I'll get her to be in a pic with me.

Back to business, for this first outfit I had in mind a workplace look, something classy for the office. I chose a red blouse in three quarter sleeves that cuff at the end to bring out the red in the plaid. The nice thing about this blouse is that it isn't very long, only about 23"/58cm. The reason that is so important for this outfit is this: when wearing high waist trousers with a slim fit, you want to show off the waist, but a crop top isn't office appropriate. You need a blouse, but you don't want to lose that high waist silhouette with an untucked blouse.

Then again, you also don't want the lines created by a bodysuit or lumps created by the bunched up fabric of a tucked in blouse. A short length on the blouse allows you to tuck in your top with just a touch of blousing around the belt line and to show off the waist without those ugly lines that ruin the look. I chose a black patent leather belt and matching peep toe pumps for a polished look. I decided to go with black instead of adding more red because anymore would be overpowering. For the accessories I chose a pearl necklace and earrings to add that vintage class and put my hair in a messy bun for both looks.

For the second look I wanted something a little more romantic and soft. This frilly beige lace top seemed like the right fit to create that look. Like the red blouse, this top has a short length so I can tuck it just a little and show off the Percy's high waist and the red belt, and lace always creates a soft romantic look. 

I know many people shy away from combining a textured top with a printed trousers, for fear of it making the outfit too busy, but that's really not the case. The top is a neutral color and in the same color palette with these Percy trousers, so instead of creating conflict it creates visual interest.

And, to that end of creating visual interest, when pairing these Percy trousers with a neutral top, I didn't want to lose that lovely red accent in the plaid, so I decided to add a few more red accents with red flats, a red belt, and a red lip color. Interestingly enough I think less is more and I love the way these accents really make that red pop in the plaid. With a high neck blouse like this that's already making quite a statement, I decided to forgo the pearl necklace but keep the earrings.

I can't decide which of these two outfits I like the best, but the good news is that I don't have to choose. Not only that, but more outfits with these Percy trousers are on the way and I'll be featuring another great style of FemmeLuxe trousers this week, so stay tuned.

Shopping Info: Trousers from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Lace blouse and camisole from Forever 21, belt from ModCloth, and flats from Ebay, Top from Shein

A Warm Jumper and a Cup of Coffee

Another quiet Sunday morning in this sleepy little town and I thought this old truck would make nice backdrop for some photos this morning. It has been cloudy for weeks and it seems like everywhere I go people are taking notice of dreary it's been lately. Personally I have been feeling a little nostalgic for the Pacific Northwest and that tiny little island in the frozen sea where we spent three years of perpetual winter and gloom. 

 I know that sort of description doesn't make it sound like the sort of place I should miss now that I'm not there, but in spite of all the cold and fog and rain, I have some wonderful memories of long walk with my little girls on rainy afternoons all huddled under the same umbrella or down to the icy ocean to look but not touch for fear of hypothermia. Good times.

So, while others are starting to getting a little case of the winter blues, I've been taking these cloudy days in stride, because they remind me of happy times and because I know that even though it seems like winter will never end, it always does. As winter stretches on just a little longer and the busyness of life shows no signs of slowing down, it is nice to have something warm and comfortable to wear around the house or out running errands. I decided to go out for coffee this morning to this wonderful local shop that roasts their own beans and has the friendliest service around. It's funny how no matter how chilly it is outside and hot cup of coffee and a nice cozy sweater like this Grey High Neck Bodycon Jumper Dress - Esmelia can warm your heart as well as your body.

It is FemmeLuxe week here on the blog and I'm so excited to share my outfits with you this month. FemmeLuxe has some lovely Corset Dresses and Black Lace Bodysuits, and hopefully I will be able to showcase some of them in March's collaboration. For today's post though, and since it is still quite chilly outside, let's focus on the warm and fuzzy world of sweater mini dresses. You may remember last month that I wore a couple of sweaters from FemmeLuxe. The topics for those posts covered chic casual wear and how to wear a mini dress as a tunic and vice versa. You can see those posts here and here. I was so pleased with how both of those sweaters looked that I wanted to try another sweater and leggings post.

FemmeLuxe's sweaters look so polished and chic and yet they feel so comfortable that I could not resist adding another one to February's collaboration with FemmeLuxe and I knew exactly which sweater I wanted to showcase. This Esmelia sweater dress is so soft, with a nice ribbed pattern, mock turtle neck and just the right amount of stretch, and the perfect length for wearing with leggings. Although the Esmelia jumper could be worn as a mini dress, and I think it will look quite stylish that way, especially with a nice wide belt and heels, today is all about comfort so I thought I'd wear it as a tunic instead.

Last month for my sweater posts when I wore my sweaters as tunics, I chose a bright comic print to go with the bright pink sweater and a snake print accompanied the black sweater, so this time I thought I would go for gingham. Gingham is an understated print, especially in black and white, that I think it goes perfectly with the pale gray of the Esmelia Dress. 

Gray is a neutral color so it goes with anything which means the outfit potential is limitless. In the future I would like to try pairing my Esmelia jumper with bright red leggings, maybe in a shiny PU leather like FemmeLuxe's Skylar Trousers, a wide black belt, and black heels for something a little more edgy. But today is all about relaxing in comfort, so I'll save that outfit for another day and for now, I'll just enjoy my walk, my hot cup of coffee, and my nice cozy sweater.

Shopping Info: Sweater from FemmeLuxe, Pants from Shein