Shannon Ables's Blog, page 284

This & That: September 16, 2016

Book
—The Jane Austen Writers’ Club: Inspiration and Advice from the World’s Best-loved Novelist by Rebecca Smith

Being released on Tuesday, September 20th, Rebecca Smith will offer writers the methods and tools utilized by the one and only Jane Austen. Citing Austen’s well-known as well as lesser-known works, readers will learn and then see visually why her approach works. Discover her method to plotting, characterization and more.

—When in French: Love in a Second Language by Lauren Collins

Released this past Tuesday, Lauren Collin’s memoir of her relationship with her French husband Oliver is a well-written, insightful journey into the nuisances of falling in love with someone from a different culture and how language can cause its own hilarity, frustration and memorable moments.

Film
—Bridget Jones’ Baby

Critics are actually whole-heartedly applauding the third installment of Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones. Now at the age of 43, Bridget is far more comfortable in her own skin, thriving Bridget-style (but still thriving) in her career, single and surrounded by her beloved friends (even though they now have their own families). Enter Dr. McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey) and Colin Firth (the romance didn’t work out evidentially after the credits rolled in the second film). See it in theaters beginning (well, yesterday actually) today and enjoy a wonderful reminder that we don’t have to “do it right” or “be perfect” to have a wail of a fantastic life. Have a look at the trailer below.

—The Hollars

Directed and staring John Krasinski, The Hollars is a film revolving around a dysfunctional family (albeit comically so) that has Come together due to their mother’s recently discovered brain tumor. Krasinski’s character, living in New York as an as of yet, unsuccessful graphic novelist, returns to his childhood home and steps back into his past: past rivals, ex-girlfriend confrontation and now confronted with becoming a father himself with his girlfriend played by Anna Kendrick. The film debuted at Sundance earlier this year and was released to limited theaters in late August. Now available more widely, have a look at the trailer below.

Francophile Find
—Inspired by Paris: Why Borrowing from the French is Better Than Being French by Jordan Phillips

Just released this past June, Jordan Phillips having lived in Paris full-time until she moved to New York where she now resides, regularly visits her apartment in the City of Light. And this is exactly how she likes it. A bona fide Francophile, Phillips shares her experiences but also lifestyle inspiration derived from the French culture that she loves. I for one, cannot wait to read this book.

Shopping
—Marni woven dress

The Outnet continues to be one of my favorite places to find bargains on designer styles, and this woven dress by Marni is no exception. With a classic neutral hue, add one bold signature jewelry item and beautiful shoes and the outfit is complete enabling you to look stunning.

—Ralph Lauren Capri Wrap Shirt

As soon as it was seen on the runway Tuesday night this week, it was available in stores and online. Ralph Lauren’s fall 2016 collection with themes of western and classic layers can be shopped now. And while the prices are designer high, his classic white cotton crisp shirts are items to ponder for sure, such as his white capri cotton wrap shirt included here.

~recipe for Drunken Pear Ginger Bread from Broma Bakery~

New York City Fashion Week has wrapped up and it was the queen of wrapping up that caught my attention as she did not produce a runway show, but rather a portfolio of looks that reveal a shift in the direction of the brand. With as the new creative director and S/S 2017 his first collection, I have to give him a round of applause. The wrap is still apparent but it’s looser, longer and more feminine (a sample is above). Look at the entire collection here. Needless to say, I know where I will be shopping come March.

On an entirely different note, fall will be here next week, and when I saw the recipe above I couldn’t help but share. What better way to welcome the new season with the scent of this ginger pear goodness wafting throughout the house? I hope your week went well. The first full week of a new routine and when it goes rather smoothly, it is a very good thing I have to think, non?

Below are a few articles you might enjoy. Thank you for stopping by and until Monday, bonne journée!

~Good news for my fellow liberal arts majors, Your Peers Probably Won’t Outearn You Forever

~Keep it simple . . . 28 Ways to Stop Complicating Your Life 

~It all comes back to being simple in how we live: 16 Simple Rules for Living a Successful Life

~9 Strategies Successful People Use to Overcome Stress

~As it is fig season . . . Baked Brie with Fig Spread

~Say it isn’t so! Are You Smarter in the Summer?

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Outfit of the Week: GOOP Fall Style

GOOP just released their first clothing collection, GOOP label, on Monday. And while it only consists of a couple of items, Gwyneth has designed and selected these capsule items first-hand. A limited supply is available, so be sure to take a look. I have chosen the tweed belted blazer as I think it would be a wonderful staple to wear for fall and winter season after season.

~GOOP Label tweed peak lapel blazer~

~Equipment Adalyn silk floral print shirt~

~M.i.H jeans Stevie mid-rise flared jeans (50% off)~

~Free People Cecile Ankle Boot~

~ZAC Zac Posen Eartha iconic large satchel (other colors available)~

~Julie Vos Chloe Statement earring~

~SHOP THE OUTFIT:

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Why Not . . . Design a Great Week?

“This is as true in everyday life as it is in battle: we are given one life and the decision is ours whether to wait for circumstances to make up our mind, or whether to act, and in acting, to live.” —Omar N. Bradley

When the week begins I find myself regularly signing my emails “Have a great week!” but I began to ponder what this actually meant and how can we indeed insure we will have a great week. The more I ponder this idea, the more I realized many of us, including myself sometimes, are passively moving through our weeks hoping that our weeks go well. Whether we’re hoping that we don’t receive too much to do from our boss, hoping we don’t receive a phone call we don’t want to receive, hoping an unexpected bill doesn’t arrive in the mail, when we do this we’re placing the outcome of our week into the hands of the world around us.

Instead why not design a greater possibility that a great week will occur? Why not plan a week that is full of activities, approaches, rituals and routines that enliven us, make us smile and foster more of what we love?

The reality is sometimes a week is going to throw something our way that we don’t want to deal with, that we didn’t expect to have to deal with, but these unwanted events don’t have to define the entire week. Maybe they will affect that moment or that one particular afternoon, but if we’ve designed our week to be great, the negative won’t outweigh the positive.

Here’s a few ideas for designing a great week each week:

1. Sit down and take a look

Before your week begins, maybe it’s Sunday or Friday, whichever day of the week works for you, sit down and take a look at your planner. What appointments have you scheduled, what to-dos must get done, etc.? Then take a look at each day and plan out the day. Observe closely how much time you actually have in your days. Have you overbooked yourself? Do you have unscheduled time on Wednesday afternoon and evening that you want to protect? Make a change now or vow to protect windows of seemingly “free” time so that you have time to do whatever you want without an appointment accidentally filling that space. When we know what is ahead of us, we can prepare ourselves and not be surprised or forget things that we have to do.

2. Plan a weekly capsule menu

We have to eat, so why not eat well? Take a moment after looking over your week’s schedule to plan your menu for the week. You can use TSLL weekly Capsule Menu notepad, or simply sketch it out in your planner.  Knowing you have planned healthy, but delicious meals will give you something to look forward to, as well as keep you healthy and well-fed.

3. Grocery shop

Now go grocery shopping for the items that you will need from your weekly capsule menu. Make this a weekly ritual that is enjoyable. Pick an ideal time of day, visit your favorite markets and savor the luxury of all of the options we have to eat on a daily basis.

4. Take a day off

Plan one day a week, or at least an afternoon or morning, to be absolutely yours to do with what you want. Not only will this give you something to look forward to the entire week, but it will also give you time to become comfortable with your own company, figure out what you truly love to do and listen to what is piquing your curiosity.

5. Incorporate physical exercise

With anything that isn’t necessarily beloved, it can be easy to forget or let it slide. And even if we do love the form of exercise we’ve chosen to incorporate into our lives, sometimes we forget to make it a priority. Each week before it begins, sit down and plan when you will get your exercise class, walk, swim or session into your schedule. Lock it in. Write it in ink and welcome a feeling of calm knowing you are taking care of your health, as well as helping your mind and your body sleep better at night.

6. Schedule something to look forward to

Perhaps #4 is what you will be scheduling to look forward to, but no matter what you do or how you define “something to look forward to”, make sure you include one experience a week. It will put a skip in your step, it will enliven your being and it may just speed up the week.

7. Make sleep a priority and a luxurious experience

Block out at least 7-8 hours for sleep each night, and guard it fiercely. To make going to bed even more enticing, adorn your bed with luxurious sheets, your favorite pillows, a candle, the proper lighting and reading material beside the bed. One of my favorite things to do each day is go to bed. I love the moments before I fall asleep as the feel of my sheets, the comfort of my mattress and pillows and the material I get to enjoy each night is a pure pleasure helping me to fall asleep more easily.

8. Set a work goal

Consider each week what you would like to complete by the time the week wraps up. Write it down in your planner. And set it in your mind that you will complete this task no matter what happens. Even if you simply make significant progress, when the end of the week arrives, you will feel as though you have accomplished what you had set out to do, and that is a wonderful way to bring tranquility into your weekend.

9. Choose to nurture your cherished relationships

Whether it is with your friends, partner, children, etc., consider how you can nurture the relationships that mean the most to you this week. Think small. It doesn’t have to be anything grand. A thoughtful text, a rendezvous at a fun new restaurant, helping them out with a project. You get the idea. Once you’ve planned your week and how you can feel successful and happy about what you’ve done, think about how you can make the week go wonderfully for your loved ones.

10. Plan something that commemorates the end of your work week

11. Get outside

Mother Nature is a power force and whether you can get outside each day or maybe just once a week, figure out a way or a day to get outside.

12. Incorporate activities that bring calm back into your life

Earlier in this week’s episode of the podcast I shared a list of habits that can bring the calm back into your life. Take a look at the list here and consider what could I do to bring or at least ensure a more tranquil week?

13. Make one day a week tech free

When I first started doing this, it felt amazing to not have my phone within arm’s reach. Simply knowing that I didn’t have to jump or text or type or send something felt truly liberating. Granted, I love what I do as a blogger, but when we set technology down for a moment, we recognize how we might become too attached and not present enough in our real, everyday lives. Experiment with this one, perhaps start out with an afternoon or an evening, but try to make one full day a week completely tech free and see what a difference it makes in the quality of your life.

14. Check your closet

Are all of the clothes you want to wear cleaned, picked up from the dry-cleaner, ironed? Simply knowing the clothes we want to wear are available in our closets and don’t need to be tended to will save us time and unnecessary to-dos.

15. Beauty routine

Whether its your weekly manicure or time for your bi-weekly pedicure, even if you do them yourself, make sure you have put them on your schedule. As well, what about your at-home spa morning to give yourself the weekly moisturizing masque (or whichever masque your skin needs)? Make sure your daily beauty necessities are stocked: lotions, make-up, etc. Because you know, when we feel our best, we relax. And when we relax, we welcome the improved likelihood that things will go well.

16. Check in with yourself regularly

So far you’ve planned a great week. A week full of moments and events to look forward to, but what if other events occur? What if meetings run long and time becomes squashed? Take a moment or moments throughout the week to assess how you are feeling. Are you tense? Do you need to talk it out, do you need to exercise? Do you need to journal and work out your feelings? Checking in with yourself is the quickest and easier remedy we can give ourselves to help our week get back on track. Often we just need to remind ourselves to be present, to slow down and to relax before we make any more decisions that may clog the quality of our week. The more we get into the habit of protecting our time and our energy, the less we will have to check in and correct ourselves.

Interestingly enough, one of my favorite things to do each Sunday is sit down, take a look at my week and see what I get to look forward to. Yes, you read that correctly: “get to look forward to”. I want to live a life in which I am excited to live it everyday. And even if every day doesn’t offer excitement, I want to give myself the opportunities to grow, be challenged and appreciate the life I have the opportunity to live. I hope you feel the same way too because the ordinary life can truly be extraordinary if we choose to be present, live consciously by not passively living our lives and regularly take time to look around and express our gratitude.

Have a wonderful week!

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY: 

~6 Ingredients for a Perfect Day

~11 Ways to be Happy Right Now 

~14 Ideas for Ending Your Day Well

Image: source

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The Last Sentiments of Summer

Last weekend offered some stunning summer warmth. Perhaps as a final farewell or maybe a reminder that the beloved warm season is not quite over yet. Either way, items from our summer closet don’t have to be entirely put away for the year just yet. Why not wear a summer maxi with a blazer as seen above? Or leave the tanned ankles bare? Whatever final summer outfits you have in mind, revel in them, for a brand new lovely season of new combinations is nearly upon us.

~STYLE INSPIRATION posts from the Archives:

~Monochromatic Mastery

~Lots of Stripes

~Denim & Simple Details

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14 Ways to Get Back to Calm

“The more tranquil a [wo]man becomes, the greater is [her] success, [her] influence, [her] power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.” – James Allen

 

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #121

Back at the start of 2015, I posted the idea of getting back to simple, sharing 22 ways to welcome simple habits back into the everyday routine. With much of the ideas on the list, they were reminders, ways of living that we most likely know bring our lives more contentment, but with the hustle and bustle of it all we sometimes let our priorities and our approach to life get off track.

As I have been settling into my life here in Bend, now having lived here just over a year, I am more able to reflect, assess and determine which manners of living serve me and living simply luxuriously well and which do not. Recently, I was asked the question about how my summer went, and I shared something with them that I perhaps had never vocalized even to myself before, but it was a powerful truth to discover: for the first time, I enjoyed staying in my hometown which is now Bend during the summer months, as I truly feel it is my home, and I enjoy being home. This feeling of a found home is the first time I have ever felt this about any place in my adult-life.

Such a simple, but profound realization has brought me much tranquility. And in reveling in this tranquility, I quickly realized, this is the state I needed more of in my life on a regular basis. Now this is not to say we must wait until we find our “home” before we can welcome tranquility into our lives, no, absolutely not. It just happened, that for me, it was how the lesson finally was learned by the student. I’ve always needed and, to be truthful, been able or at least capable of finding how to be more tranquil, I just didn’t make it a priority because there was some place I needed to work toward arriving at.

The timing of this post is purely purposeful because whether you have children or not, are a teacher or not, work or are retired, schedules begin to change when the fall (or spring!) season arrives. And while 10-12 weeks of a more leisurely pace helps to instate better habits and routines, when the busier schedule is upon us, it is imperative that we are clear about how we are going to continue to welcome tranquility and calm into our lives. Because the truth is, we need it. As was shared in last week’s episode of the podcast and here on the blog, the balance of acute stress and restful respite is necessary each day. The key is knowing how.

How to welcome tranquility into your everyday routine:

1. Spend time with positive people. People who are calm and rational.

2. Stop spending time, reaching out to people who can’t give you what you need. On the flipside from #1 is breaking the habit of reaching out to people who we wish could bring us happiness, who if only they would change a little would make our lives all the happier. The hard truth is that they will not change simply because we want them to, and whether or not they attempt to is completely out of our control. When we reach out to these people, we only bring more stress and agony into our lives, but the good news is we were the ones who initiated, and therefore, we can be the ones to choose not to do it again. A recently released study conducted by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) revealed that while healthy social connections have a strong influence on the happiness of our lives, they are “outweighed by the adverse effects of strained relationships.” Choose the people you spend time with, choose to be intimate with wisely because they have a significant influence over the quality of your life.

3. Find time to meditate or practice mindfulness every day, no matter how much or little. 

4. Don’t react (actions or words) immediately in stressful, chaotic or unexpected situations. Pause for an hour, a day, a weekend, until the emotions have subsided and you are thinking clearly. Don’t let others rush you to speak, act or involve yourself.

5. Set and maintain clear boundaries. The hardest boundaries to maintain will be with those who don’t want to respect them. These people will attempt to make you feel guilty or shame you for saying “no”, not involving yourself, etc. Their reaction is all the more evidence that you need a boundary with these people. Good for you. Even if nobody else close to you understands, know that I do. Respect your self-worth, your feelings, your life’s journey, and thereby protect the tranquility you need in your everyday life. If they drain the placid tone you want in your life simply by being themselves, their attitude, their words, their behavior, place a boundary. In smaller, more minor situations, if asked to do something that you aren’t sure you want to do, simply say, I’ll have to think about it or check my schedule, but I will get back to you. This will give you time to determine if you need to protect your energy as your schedule may be getting too full, etc.

6. Be authentically you. Whether it is what people want or do not want, be you, express you. Do so tactfully, with decorum, but the result of introducing a false self to the world will eventually build up so that you aren’t able to relax with others. And even when you are alone, you may stew over who you are trying to be. They can like it or not, they can take it or leave it, but by being authentic, you are investing in a life of tranquility.

7. Find time to be with nature regularly. For me, it’s water. Perhaps for you, it is the palm trees and sand or simply the sun. However you find it, step outside and soak it in.

8. Be silent. After reading this article, I discovered that epidemiologists have proven that there is a correlation between high blood pressure and chronic sources of noise. Perhaps the noise you are around isn’t chronic, but it highlights the power of noise on our beings. It’s not good. At least not regularly or consistently. And it is impossible to be calm when everything around us is cacophonous. “The fruit of silence is tranquility.”– Arabian Proverb

9. Pinpoint your hobbies. Maybe you can easily list them right now, or maybe you are still exploring. Either way keep diving into the journey of hobby exploration and enjoyment – whatever dismisses the observance of time and grabs your full attention. Enjoy immersing yourself in your hobbies regularly.

10. Feel productive each day. A few days ago in the weekly This & That I shared this article about the “100-Year-Old To-Do List Hack that Still Works Like a Charm“. After giving it a try, I can see why it is effective. Similar to how Franklin-Covey structures their planning pages, the idea is to list 6 things you want to accomplish tomorrow. Put them in order of importance.  Then, when you wake up the next day, focus solely on the top item until it is complete. Once complete, move on the next. Any uncompleted items for the day will move to the top of the list tomorrow, but the key is only have six (or fewer), AND to always put them in order of importance. This past August I have been working on putting TSLL book into audio format for Audible. And so it was just this past weekend, that I put “Finish editing and uploading audio book” at the top of my list. Upon stepping into my office, it was the first and only thing I focused on until it was done, and once it was done, the rest of my day I felt exhilarated and much more able to relax and be present.

11. Give yourself a day without a “have-to” list. This doesn’t mean you have to lay on the couch or stay in bed the entire day. What it means is that you give yourself the freedom to do whatever you want. No have-tos. No feeling bad if you don’t get something done. Just relax, lose track of time, wander, nap, tinker, play, follow where your curiosities lead.

12. Incorporate a one-week/month “no-spending” practice. At first glance, this practice may sound counter-intuitive, but what I have found, as I shared last month when I introduced this idea in great detail, was that knowing you can’t spend for an entire week relieves the stress of making purchases, perhaps purchases that may incur more debt or stress or responsibilities, and gives you permission to slow down. If you have your spending well under control, this most likely won’t make much of a difference, but sometimes just by putting up an absolute decision, removes the stress of having to make a decision at all, and that is liberating. It slows us down, it nudges us to do what truly is fulfilling and not what is just a quick fix.

13. Give without expectation. Each of us will give as we can and how we can based on personality, level of comfort and availability of time, energy and/or money. But when we know we’ve contributed in a way that is suitable to us (nobody else can determine this for us), we bring into our lives tranquility. Observe what those you care about would appreciate, what would make them feel loved, known and heard. Let the answers to these questions guide you as you decide how to give. As the Dalai Lama states, “The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.”

14. Find something to be grateful for every day. A habit I have found to alleviate any residuals of stress at the end of the day, make sense of questions I may still have or simply be a calming end to the day and signal to my mind that it is time to start thinking about falling asleep is to take out my journal and at the bear minimum list what I am grateful for from that particular day. If I have more energy, I will write about my day and work my thoughts out, but at least, I share what I am grateful for. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful this small activity is to right my mind before I go to sleep and squelch unnecessary worries.

The tranquility we seek, the calm we want in our lives, is possible to incorporate into each and every day of our lives. It simply needs to be a conscious choice. Once we put into place habits that protect our lives from tranquility-smashers, we hardly need to even think about it. Most likely your life is already full of amazing everyday moments and rituals that bring a calm and peace of mind, but for those moments when we just can’t figure out why it isn’t working, go back and check this list, perhaps one or two of these habits just needs to be polished up a bit.

Here’s to getting back to calm and may it bring a more fulfilling life than we ever knew was possible.

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~30 Ways to Find Tranquility in Your Day

~Time to Recharge

~What Does a Simply Luxurious Life Look & Feel Like?

~True Contentment

~Why Less is More

SPONSOR for today’s Episode:

Four Athletics

Remember to use the promo code to take an additional 15% off your purchase: simple15

Petit Plaisir:
~Dinner with Edward: A Story of an Unexpected Friendship by Isabel Vincent 

~learn more about Edward Hussey here.

 

Image: click here for the recipe of Cardamom Coffee as seen at the top of the post

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A New Restaurant in Town: Washington Dining & Cocktails

Bend, Oregon, is quickly becoming known as a small town destination for delicious food, making the expectation from diners of new establishments quite high due to the quality offerings at restaurants and food trucks. One of the reasons the bar is high is because of a restauranteur who arrived in Bend in 2013 and established a coveted downtown destination for diners on the corner of NW Wall and Franklin, Drake. The man and his team behind the successful restaurant is Ted Swigert, his executive chef John Gurnee and his contractor Bob O’Connor. And now the trio has ventured into a new eating destination in the Northwest Crossing neighborhood: Washington Dining & Cocktails, or “Washington”.

Located on the corner of Mt. Washington Drive and Northwest Crossing Drive, Washington D & C (the name was purposely chosen as an homage to where Swigert’s roots and bulk of restaurant experience took place – Washington D.C.), opened on August 25 just a few weeks ago. Offering a family and neighborhood aesthetic, there is both ample indoor and outdoor seating. And for those looking for a beautiful setting and scrumptious aprés ski destination this winter, Washington is the place to go as they will have heaters in the outdoor area.

The outdoor area, as you can see below beckons to be enjoyed with group seating as well as more intimate individual tables, a gas fire structure nestled against a plushly decorated bench for sitting and sipping and two flat-screen televisions above the bar (three glass garage doors open up to outdoor guests).

Ted Swigert kindly sat down with me just before the restaurant opened, and I asked him why Bend. Why move to Bend and why open another restaurant? His candor was appreciated as he admitted, he was reluctant to move to the west side of the country (having called D.C. home for quite some time), but the immediate difference and what he most appreciates about living and working in Bend is,”People like being here and live here because they want to” and that makes a tremendous difference.  With his expertise in cultivating food establishments that connect with the community and providing guests with a sense of stepping into “their” restaurant due in part to a welcoming aesthetic conceptualized by Style 8 Design, the community has begun to flock already to Washington.

Wanting to visit the restaurant when it opened to see for myself how everything was working, tasting and evolving, it was a Saturday evening and the place was packed. With the glass sliding doors open, the air was fresh and warm and the service was prompt. With every new restaurant, there are minor kinks to work out, but the quality of food (see below the appetizers we ordered), the atmosphere and the location offer a wonderful experience.

Oh, and as far as food is concerned, Swigert has brought onto his team a pastry chef who will share her talents at both the Washington and Drake locations. Having had a chance to look at the menu, I am excited to give it a try. In the months to come, I look forward to sitting around the outdoor fire and either nibbling on something sweet and enjoying the Bend outdoors or sipping a lovely glass of wine and losing track of time after enjoying a wonderful day here in central Oregon.

Enjoy a tour of Bend’s newest restaurant below.

~outdoor dining area, sliding garage doors open to the bar and two large televisions above~

~outdoor seating area for sipping and noshing around the gas fire fixture~

~Take Out window, walk up and pick up~

~view from the corner of Mt. Washington Drive’s round-about and NW Crossing Drive~

~Melanie Ehrlich is the resident “Liquid Therapist” behind the bar that heads up the bartending team~

~French bistro chairs and statement wall-paper~

~watch your meal being prepared with the open kitchen~

~appetizers: sweet-corn pancakes topped with brie and crispy mozzarella with tomato cape~

~private al fresco dining~

~a new neighborhood restaurant plants its roots in NW Crossing~

~MORE Bend Destinations to Visit:

~Sparrow Bakery NW – Spotlight

~The Best Bakeries in Bend

~The Best Take-Out Spots in Bend

~Nicole Michelle Decor 

All images taken by TSLL

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This & That: September 9, 2016

Beauty
—Kevin Murphy Angel Rinse for fine hair (conditioner)

For those of you who have fine hair, you know how hard it can be to find a conditioner that repairs, softens and brings a brilliant shine without weighing our hair down. Recently I discovered Kevin Murphy’s Angel Rinse for fine hair, a daily conditioner that brings back the shine, a little bit of body and a lovely soft hair.

Book
—Mavis Gallant’s Collected Stories

A Canadian-Parisian writer, Mavis Gallant arrived in Paris from Montreal in 1950 and began to share her experiences by putting them into short stories. Writing for The New Yorker as well as other reputable publications, Mavis Gallant’s collected stories amass 52 written between the years 1953-1995. If you are a lover of Paris and good writing, you may just want to have a look at this collection. Learn more about Mavis Gallant here in The Wall Street Journal profile piece in August.

Cookbook
—Life in Balance by Donna Hay

Highly regarded in the cooking world, Australian chef Donna Hay just released a new cookbook on Tuesday, Life in Balance. Tying in beautifully with Monday’s post, reminding readers of the power of the food we eat and the balance we need to strike and why, Donna Hay offers a book full of flavor that we can incorporate into the everyday all while taking care of our health.

—Small Victories: Recipes, Advice + Hundreds of Ideas for Home Cooking by Julia Turshen

With a foreword by Ina Garten and the recipe developer for best-selling cookbooks such as Gwyneth Paltrow’s It’s All Good, Mario Batali’s Spain…A Culinary Road Trip, and Dana Cowin’s Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen, Julia Turshen offers tried and true recipes for every meal of the day all with a touch of humor and beautiful photography.

Film
—Complete Unknown

Over the course of 24 hours, Rachel Weisz’s character, who has been many different people (consciously choosing a different name, identity, etc.) in the past twenty years, she runs into a former love at his birthday gathering. She denies knowing him; he is adamant he knows her (even though she is calling herself by another name). By the end of the night, she makes him a proposition that could shift his settled, happy world. Having premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, it has received mixed reviews, but I must say the concept is intriguing.

—Sully

I can still remember the news on that fateful day on January 15, 2009, when Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger navigated what would become known as the Miracle on the Hudson. Tom Hanks stars as Sully in this drama-filled journey that Sully must traverse unwillingly, yet skillfully. Opening today nation-wide, have a look at the trailer below.

Shopping
—Shirtini

A well-made white button-up shirt is always on my list to find and share. And since I found something, I wanted to share. Shirtini offers many different styles and colors, but it is their Great White Shirt that I am focusing on today. Without a dart, this 100% cotton shirt offers longs sleeves, four-inch cuffs and an elongated shirt-tail to ensure remaining tucked-in. For less than $150, have a look. You may have just found the shirt you were looking for.

 

~discover my favorite looks so far from NYFW here~

~recipe for Salted Caramel Filled Molten Chocolate Cake~

The fall season begins with new schedules, routines and even the weather seems to have noted that we need to not be teased by too terribly warm and beautiful weather as we step back inside and get the necessary work done. And as the seasons shift, New York Fashion Week kicks off the month of fashion. Marissa Webb’s spring 2017 collection above is a beautiful array of unapologetic modern feminine tops and designs with a touch of hipster chic, and I cannot wait to see what else is in store from other fashion talents.

I don’t know about you, but when life shifts like this I need a bit more rest, so I am looking forward to taking it easy this weekend. Below are a few articles you might enjoy, and may you have a lovely weekend. Until Monday, bonne journée!

~5 Popular Myths About Success That Need to Be Ignored

~The key to a happy relationship? Learn how to not compromise who you are . . . read more here

~7 Principles of Life That Everyone Knows, But Only A Few Follow

~7 Differences Between Professionals and Amateurs

~One simple trick to being happy

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A “Wanderful” Idea for the Walls

The power of bringing our personality to our homes is a careful balance. We don’t want to overwhelm the room with too much “us”, but we also want to personalize our space. British interior designer Ben Pentreath shares a slight change on the picture wall idea. Why not move the items closer? And why not, as you will see with many of the images below, fill the frames with pieces of a map? A map of a city you love?

The last picture in this post captures Pentreath’s very own living room in London that was featured in House & Garden UK earlier this year. Observe the antique map of the Thames running through London and how the proximity of each frame intensifies the collage. Look for Pentreath’s new book English Houses to be released in October, and learn more about this new approach to wall decor in The Wall Street Journal’s article here.

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Why Not . . . Choose a Work Week “Uniform”?

“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” —Plato

Diane Sawyer in her crisp white button-up top, collar popped; Ina Garten in her custom made dark-hued tonic top; Diane von Furstenberg in her loose eponymous shift dress, Emmanuelle Alt in her skinny black pants, slub tees and blazer finished with simply marvelous chic heels.

All of these women have their signature uniform. They may change up the color, they may change up the accessories, but the formula remains the same. Why? Because it works. And it works very well.

New York Fashion Week begins today officially and as we watch the fashion elite walk the Manhattan pavement, being captured by street style photogs at Lincoln Center and sitting along the runway, it’s important to note that most of us don’t have the job requirement of looking different each day regarding the outfits we choose. In fact, the beauty, for those of us who strive for simplicity, is that we can choose a primary “uniform”. And today I would like to demonstrate how the luxurious part of choosing a work week uniform can very much be part of this simplistic choice.

A weekend uniform is something I wrote about in 2010 when Rachel Zoe’s first book came out. My ideal is skinny jeans, a simple tee or camisole, a trench, ballet flats and I am set for any casual outing, but what about the work week? Do you have a uniform? A go-to general outfit that not only do you feel confident in, but you look your best?

Those who are passionate about the fashion-end may not gravitate toward this idea, but I would argue even they could make a work uniform of their choosing, unique each and every day. After all, the goals of selecting a work uniform are to establish a professional presence (based on your job’s expectations) and allow you to do your best at your job (not confining mobility or reducing confidence). With that in mind, you could probably ask my students what my work uniform was and they wouldn’t have to think twice before sharing because I do have 2-3 set outfit constructs that I adhere to nearly without fail. These have changed over the years as I have grown into my style, I’ve been able to purchase more quality pieces and I’ve become more clear about who I am and needed less to “try-out” various styling ideas.

So, what is my work week uniform? Stay tuned and I will share at the end of the post. Now, the benefits of incorporating this fashion concept into your everyday work routine:

1. Fewer choices in the morning = more willpower

What seemed like a trifle piece of information in an Atlantic profile piece in 2010 of President Obama has become a piece of information shared widely by not only fashion mags, but self-help gurus around the internet regarding how to approach daily routines, and even how to be a better leader. A navy suit every day for nearly every occasion eliminates an unnecessary decision, thereby not depleting our finite reserve of willpower. And since willpower is vital for making good decisions and performing at our best, knowing what we’re going to wear in the morning just eliminates one decision that helps kick off the day on the right foot.

2. Look your best

Once you have taken the time to observe what works well with your figure, your curves, and have chosen a uniform that you want to wear in some form or fashion each day during the work week, you will look your best. The time it takes to discover what your uniform is, that reveals your signature style, is worth the investment, and each time you slip on your pencil skirt or pull on your perfectly tailored trousers that hit at just the right spot above your ankles, you know you are going to shine every time.

3. Exude confidence

#2 is the cause for #3. When you look your best, and you are certain of this, your confidence is apparent. No worries about tugging or shifting or walking a certain way. Instead you are walking tall and striding strong. And that confidence is magnetic for many wonderful reasons.

4. Investment purchases make more sense

The gift to your budget is that when you know what your signature style is and therefore your work uniform, you know exactly what is worth purchasing. If a classic white collared button-up blouse is a regular item, you will understand that purchasing Saint Laurent’s silk crepe shirt while expensive will be an item that you will wear many times and for many seasons. Therefore the cost per wear makes it a wise purchase.

5. A simple change makes a big difference

Now the idea of a uniform does not mean you are wearing the same exact clothing each day. Rather it means you stick to a pattern. Perhaps A-line skirts and simple crew-neck sleeveless shell tops paired with ballet flats are your preference. If that is the case, you will have 2-4 skirts you love in your closet that can pair interchangeably with a handle of different, similar styled tops. The shoes too will be different, but the heel height, for example, would remain the same. Another example, if sheath dresses are your favorite and work well for your work environment, you may be a fan of Black Halo, DVF, and Ann Taylor. And so it isn’t the same dress everyday, but it is the same silhouette and each day a different flattering color, neckline and/or design detail.

With any uniform you choose, the accessories will make and immediately change the outfit: the shoes, the broach, the earrings, necklace, belt, and don’t forget the scarf. The accessories can be a lot of fun to shop for. As was mentioned in yesterday’s Style Inspiration, a handbag can make a powerful statement, so have fun finding one that you love and that completes whichever outfit you choose to wear.

6. Focus on what is important

When you aren’t worried about your outfit, when you know you look your best enabling your confidence to be sound and assured, you can focus on the task, the job, the people that you are working with. Style is the vehicle that enables you to live the life you want;  it isn’t the reason to live your life or why you make the money you make (unless you work in the fashion industry). Maximize the power of this invaluable tool, but if you aren’t head over heels about fashion, don’t worry. Simply choose a uniform that works and stick to it. Keep it simple.

7. Become your own brand

A few years ago I shared an episode of the podcast about how to become your own brand, and part of your brand is your wardrobe. Even more so, if you have a uniform, your uniform becomes associated with you. What statement do you want your clothing to make? Much like the tone of someone’s voice, your clothing can set a tone as well. Sloppy or smart? Effortless and chic or loud and aggressive? None of these are bad depending upon the work you have to do and the impression you want to make. So what do you want your brand to be?

My brand has always been to achieve a simply luxurious approach to dressing. Quality clothing that works for me and simplicity that allows my work and personality to shine. I am not saying that has worked all of the time, and I know since my twenties, I have evolved, but at the core throughout all of these years, my goal has been the same. For quite some time I have been wearing pencil skirts, silk blouses and heels. I also have become a fan of the blazer, camisole, fitted jeans and ballet flats, boots or heels. And don’t forget the wrap dress. As you can see I have about three uniforms that I usually gravitate toward and what my closet provides. In ten years time this may change, but for now I love it, I trust it and I love to tweak it a little here and there. For example, the midi length is an exciting change that I am wholeheartedly embracing when it comes to adding new pencil skirts.

Whatever you work uniform becomes, have fun coming up with it, listen to yourself, honestly look at yourself in the mirror and then invest in your wardrobe gradually. It will be worth it for more than just the compliments and more so for how you feel and the productive life you will live.

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~Why Not . . . Accessorize the Work Week?

~Why Not . . . Create Your Own Signature Style?

~Why Not . . . Build a Capsule Wardrobe on a Budget?

~Shop TSLL Capsule Wardrobe here (hand-picked items for All-Season, Fall and Spring wardrobes)

~Shop TSLL 2016 Fall Shopping Guide here

 

 

Image: source

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Petite Post: New York Fashion Week S/S 2017

Every Sunday one of my weekly rituals is to snuggle up on my sofa, pour myself a hot cup of tea as I surround myself with the Sunday newspapers. One of my favorite sections in The New York Times is the Style section (surprise! surprise!), and it was this weekend that I learned some exciting news about who will now be navigating the house of Oscar. Oscar de la Renta that is.

The loss of Oscar de la Renta in October 2014 caused a bit of a great abyss in American women’s upscale, formal apparel and left very big shoes to fill. And it was the hope of his then design director Laura Kim who had worked with Oscar for more than a decade that she would be chosen as the creative director of his atelier. That was not to be so as Oscar’s son-in-law Alex Bolen chose Peter Copping.

Perhaps it was a gift, as often life offers even when at first we think we’ve been snubbed. After finishing the final collection and leaving the house on good terms, Kim left with a design assistant, and at the time her fiancé, Fernando Garcia and began their own design, Monse (see below a few finds at Net-a-Porter).

With their connections, talent and savvy, the fashion world quickly took notice with their first collection Spring 2016. In May at the Met Gala, Sarah Jessica Parker donned one of their designs (see below) and Amal Clooney as well in Cannes. Then Alex Bolen returned with an offer, as their relationship with Peter Copping was ending, and they were looking for a new creative director. And the rest is history.

Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia (no longer engaged) will debut their first collection for Oscar de la Renta in February 2017 (A/W 2017). They will continue their fashion brand Monse which offers a more deconstructed, yet feminine approach to fashion (see runway looks below). I am excited to see their Spring 2017 collection which will take place this Friday at 4pm (eastern). In the meantime, it looks like the Oscar de la Renta designs we had come to know and love, may be returning.

~looks from Monse’s Resort 2017 collection~

~Amal Clooney in Monse this past spring~

 

~Sarah Jessica Parker in Monse at the 2016 Met Gala~

              ~Kim & Garcia after their first collection for Monse in Fall 2015~

SHOP MONSE below:

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Images via InStyle & NYTimes

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