Shannon Ables's Blog, page 336

This & That: No. 139

Blog
~Accidental Icon

A style blogger that I am eager to introduce to you is a woman who embraces her age, exudes immense timeless, chic style and doesn’t apologize for knowing and standing confidently in exactly who she is. Motivated by the desire to offer readers a destination that she couldn’t find anywhere on the web, Lyn offers “an urban, modern, intellectual aesthetic” that speaks “to women who live what I call ‘interesting but ordinary lives’ in cities.” As a woman of experience, her blog illuminates that indeed life, a quite stylish life, really does get better with each passing year. Stop by and be inspired.

~The Art of Manliness

Don’t worry, I do realize that the majority (okay, probably 97%) of TSLL readership consists of women, but for years I have enjoyed the blog The Art of Manliness. First of all, it’s always a good idea to see anything from different perspectives, and secondly, the blog offers wonderful content regardless of your sex. I recently read this article and was engrossed as I am a bit obsessed with Winston Churchill, but this article as well caught my attention most recently.

Decor
~Target Threshold Safvieh Bar Cart

Whether you are someone who enjoys entertaining for crowds of people or enjoys having intimate gatherings, having a prepped and ready-t0-use bar stocked with your preferred liquor, wine and utensils is a wonderful decor essential to have on hand. Small home or large, there are bar carts available, and since I am looking to add just this element to my great room, Target’s Safvieh bar car caught my attention. A smaller version for a lower price is their classic bar cart, so depending on the size you need, if you like this style, you are set. (Note: 15% off currently as well)

~Shopping
~Nancy Meyer’s White pima cotton chemise

As I mentioned in my book, lingerie truly needs to be worn for ourselves, and if there is any additional benefit, fabulous. As long as my bed is plush and warm with the proper linens, wearing a chemise is my preferred choice of sleepwear, so when I found this luxurious, yet simple chemise by Nancy Meyer, I pounced. So should you (black is also available).

Television
~Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce

As I mentioned on my Twitter feed last week, if you are a fan of SATC, you should be watching Bravo’s scripted dramedy Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce. With the camaraderie between actors Lisa Edelstein, Janeane Garofalo, and Beau Garrett, each of their characters either in the middle of a divorce or having gone through one, they help each other along in comedic, yet truthful fashion (as real as LA can get as that is where it is set). Based on author Vicki Iovine’s “Girlfriend” series, Bravo has a hit on their hands, and while I may have came to it late (it premiered on December 2nd), I have been able to catch up this holiday. Airing each Tuesday night at 10pm, tune in, pour a glass of wine and enjoy (yes, the fashion while not at SATC heights, is still full of inspiration as well). 

~Downton Abbey, Season 5 Premiere

Finally, after much waiting and seeing peeks on pinterest of scenes as the UK has already enjoyed season 5 this past fall, the states will be able to view the premiere of the new Downton Abbey season this Sunday, January 4th on PBS. Need I say more?

~recipe for Soy Lemon Flank Steak with Arugula~

The new year finds me waking up on the Oregon coast as I couldn’t think of a better place to begin 2015 as it is calm, back to nature and, I must admit, my dogs are in heaven. And while I wish I could stay a few more days, I am simply thankful for the time that I’ve had here.

As the holidays are officially behind us now, how are you feeling? Are you rejuvenated or do you have a holiday hang-over? Hopefully the former is your reply, but either way, 2015 is here and it’s going to be amazing. How can I say that? Because you and I are both going to be living with intention (back to simple, remember?), and as we move forward with purpose, we are more likely to unearth beautiful events, people and memories.

If you are like me, the weekend is the tail end of my holiday, so that means two more days of relaxing, reading and catching my breath. Here are a few articles I thought you might enjoy as you revel in these last final hours:

~4 motivating TED talks to help you keep your resolutions

~Mind shift – 15 Things Exceptional People Think Every Day

~Gut Check - 5 Signs You’re Settling for Less Than You Deserve

~A round up of Marc & Angel’s top posts from 2014 – 20 Quick Reads that Will Change the Way You Live, Work & Love

~Riddles worth solving from LifeHack – Answer These Riddles and You Will Find the Answers to Life

~Speaking of Life & Love - 20 Ways to Recognize a Good Partner

The Simple Sophisticate podcast returns on Monday, so until then, bonjour!

Images: (2)

The post This & That: No. 139 appeared first on The Simply Luxurious Life®.

Back to Simple in 2015

“Out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge.” – Winston Churchill

It seems to me that we experience the greatest pleasure after having not savored such a pleasure for an extended period of time, yet knowing based on previous experience, what it is to swim in its goodness. A bite into a buttery pain au chocolat at Poilâne in Paris after having been away for far too long, the caress of a loved one’s hand on our skin, an hour free of responsibility and full of calm after a busy week has come to an end, the sight of the ocean and smell of the salty waves as they waft over the sand after having been land-locked for too many months on end, or simply a decadent night’s sleep uninterrupted and naturally aroused by our body’s sleep clock. These are such pleasures that are only a taste of what are worthy of savoring especially when we have been deprived of their presence.

At the heart of The Simply Luxurious Life is not only the desire, but the need for simplicity. To get back to the basics of living well which requires of us all to who seek such a life to rid our lives, our minds and our bodies of the excess, the unnecessary.

And so I find myself, while beyond satisfied to have reached a long sought after goal with the book’s publication last month, vigorously seeking a life in which I can savor more fully what a quality everyday life can be. Over the past two weeks during my holiday break, I found myself cherishing the simple moments of either sipping a hot cup of tea, conversing with a good friend in long conversation, reading a purely pleasurable novel, gazing out the window on a snowy morning or snuggled up by the fire watching a favorite film, beyond intoxicating. And in soaking up such moments, I was reassured that indeed this is the life I have been wishing to cultivate. This is the life I have worked to curate so that I can be my best self, not only for myself but for those I love.

Now, per Churchill’s quote above, it is often the case that we must strive through complex, demanding or exhausting times in order to arrive at a full appreciation of a simple way of being.

So to be clear, in order to get “back to simple”, we must first have experienced the contrary concept – complexity, complicated, elaborate, superfluous, convoluted, cluttered, difficult, unclear, etc.

Most definitely, the goal over the past five years here on TSLL has been to bring more simplicity, thus bringing a more luxurious way of living into our everyday lives, but this year, the driving intention is to return to simplifying our lives in every aspect. From relationships to food to tidying up the home to entertaining to our attitudes as we go about reaching our full potential.

Why get back to simple?

To allow what we cherish most in our lives to shine and blossom into what it is capable of when not strangled by extra demands, negative thoughts, and the “should”s in life that really do not improve our lives
To bring more moments of absolute joy and contentment
To slow down our lives so that we can fully appreciate and enjoy this one and only life that we have

How do we get back to simple? Here are just a few specific ideas to jump start this way of living in your everyday life:

1. Be honest. Tactful, but honest.

2. Choose relationships over things. Build trust, give respect, learn to communicate effectively, be appreciative no matter how small of action it may seem.

3. Eat real food. Savor the food you eat. Eat well, but in moderation. Don’t deprive, have a glass of wine, put the real butter in the recipe and don’t skip the pancetta.

4. Select bud vases instead of large bouquets to bring a touch of Mother Nature indoors without breaking the bank.

5. Refuse to view advertisements. Rely on your DVR, apps, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime to save time and eliminate persuasion.

6. Style a uniform attire that flatters and functions ideally for your life. Purchase separates in different colors, shoes of the same style in different textures and designs, and choose jewelry that is simple, yet complementary.

7. Cook at home.

8. When in doubt, be kind. 

9. Use one credit card and pay it off monthly. If you can’t, stop using it.

10. When hosting a cocktail party, offer two drink choices plus water. 

11. Choose to set intentions rather than goals. Remind yourself of your intention each morning.

12. Less texting, more talking. Tone, pauses, pacing, all are missed when we don’t hear or see the other person speak the words they wish to share.

13. Break free. Step away from past hurts, stop assuming the worst and put your best positive energy out there. People, including yourself would much rather spend time with a sincere optimist, than a cynical realist.

14. Find time to spend more time with nature. Walks, hang a bird-feeder in your yard or outside your window, open a window, let the sunshine in, get off the beaten path and explore.

15. Always have signature thank you notes on hand. (My favorite.)

16. Stock your “company cupboard” with favorite teas and coffee blends for guests who stop by for a short visit. 

17. Keep a stocked bar or wine rack if you need something stronger for an unexpected guest. 

18. Opt for white dishes.

19. Choose being well-read over well-known. The former offers invaluable information in which you can control, the latter is out of your hands.

20. Choose experiences over things.

21. Err on the side of being a Romantic with only a foundation of a realist. (capitalization chosen on purpose)

22. Treat your body like the precious treasure that it is. Polish, polish, polish so that it, and thereby, you, can shine.

~SJP in action~

Each of these topics will be an area that will be explored as 2015 begins. You will notice that only a few of the above include fashion or clothing, and while I will never get away from style as it is a form of powerful communication, I will be focusing more on inspiration (Tuesday’s Style Inspiration) and separates that you can bring into your wardrobe so as to add to the overall quality and versatility to your capsule wardrobe. I will encourage you to invest so that you can relax when it comes to clothing. In other words, when you purchase an item knowing the cost per wear will be a wise investment, you can relax knowing you look your best, you don’t have to be shopping each weekend and your bank account won’t be unnecessarily stretched as you will know what to look for your style.

What will this year’s blogging schedule look like?

Monday – Motivational/Inspirational post/podcast (always how to live a simply luxurious life, sometimes style, entertaining, decorating, but always a great way to kick off the week). Posted live on the blog and The Simple Sophisticate podcast on iTunes.
Tuesday – Style Inspiration
Wednesday or Thursday – Thoughts from the Editor, extra news and inspiration that catches my attention and I can’t wait to share.
Friday – This & That, (the latest books, music, films, sales, articles, etc)
Weekly Newsletter –  delivered every Friday to subscribers, full of the past week’s posts, first-to-know TSLL news, plus an extra dose of inspiration exclusive to subscribers (learn more and how to sign up here)

Without question 2015 will be full of ways to curate a life of quality, so you can revel in what you have placed at the top of your priority list. It will be a year that will require purposeful attention and clear intention, but in doing so, you can then let go and let your life mosey where it wishes. And as it goes along the path that you have nudged it along, amazing, beautiful, often seemingly magical events will occur.

I look forward to hearing about your journey along the way and sharing mine with you as the year unfolds. May your new year begin auspiciously, and thank you for choosing to stop by The Simply Luxurious Life. Bonjour.

~Start the new year off with the basic tools for building your own simply luxurious life with the purchase of Choosing The Simply Luxurious Life: A Modern Woman’s Guide (available in paperback and eBook format at Amazon and Barnes & Noble). 

~POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~To a Simply Luxurious 2012

~What a Simply Luxurious Life Looks Like to Me

~Why Not . . . Make This Your Year?

Images: (1) (2) (3)(4) (5)(6) (7) (8)(9)(10)(11) (12) (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)

The post Back to Simple in 2015 appeared first on The Simply Luxurious Life®.

2014 Top Why Not . . . ? Posts

The Why Not . . . ? weekly post that appeared each Wednesday for the past four years while wrapping up this past September, has blended into Monday’s weekly podcast – The Simple Sophisticate. However, it is still one of my favorite questions to ask and forever will remain so – Why Not . . .?.  Life is about living it, not sitting passively by watching it unfold as it will. We must dance with life. We must be an active participant. And while we will never quite be sure how it will work out, we must at least be involved.

And as for the chosen pic above, yes, why not . . . learn to surf? Perhaps I’ll master stand-up paddle-boarding with my pups, but at least it will be a start, and who knows where it will lead.

Below are readers’ favorite posts from the past year (simply click on the image to be taken to the full post), but if you’d like to see all 36 posts from 2014, click here.

 Why Not . . . Accessorize the Living Room?

Why Not . . . Style a Desktop?

  Why Not . . . Make This Your Year?

Why Not . . . Create a Dining Room for Conversation?

 

Image: (1)

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2014 Top Decor Inspiration Posts

One’s home is a place of refuge, respite and sought tranquility. Our sanctuaries refill, restore and refresh us so that we can step back out into the world offering it our best selves. For nearly a year, Decor Inspiration shared beautiful homes from around the world. As you will see, clean, creative aesthetics captured my attention. And while this post is no longer regular, from time to time I still plan on sharing homes that catch my eye and fit the definition of simply luxurious.

Have a look at the entire year of Decor Inspiration here.

Paris Perfect

Grandeur at the Beach

The Good Wife’s Great Space

Underdone Style

A Beautiful Conversion

Image: (1)

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2014 Top Motivational Posts

Living a simply luxurious life brings with it an understanding that rather than being handed a roadmap of how we should live our lives, we must determine and create the roadmap for ourselves. A roadmap tailored to our values, interests, experiences and talents. This is not an easy task to assume, as it is indeed a choice. Many people, organizations, societies, would gladly hand out a map that would align with their needs and wants rather than your own, but the only great life, Diane Vreeland reminds in the quote I include at the bottom of the blog, is the one we know we want and we make it for ourselves.

Each Monday, whether on the blog or on The Simple Sophisticate podcast, inspiration for how to build your own unique simply luxurious life was shared and has been since 2010. Below you will find readers’ top posts from the past twelve months, but if you would like to view all of the 51 posts shared, click here.   To read the entire post for 2014 top entries, simply click on the image.

 

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TSLL Celebrates 5 Years

 “If you trust in life, unexpected awesomeness will come your way.” -Anonymous

Every once in awhile, we need to celebrate those milestones that while they may not be entirely understood by others, are quite significant to us. Such is the case on this day each year for me – December 26th. And per my preference, especially after enjoying the holidays with loved ones, I carve this day out for myself (and my dogs).

Each year on this day I count myself very fortunate, blessed and indebted to you, my readers. Five years ago today The Simply Luxurious Life blog began without one ounce of an idea of where it would lead. And the most important place it led me was on a journey to curate a life that is uniquely my own allowing me to feel comfortable being myself as each day’s journey prompts me to feel giddy to get out of bed. And isn’t that what we all seek? To be excited to wake up and live each day?

On the blog’s two year anniversary, I posted these thoughts, and I must admit, my admiration and gratitude while at the top of my list still has only multiplied. It is the readers of TSLL that continue to humble me, to teach me and remind me that life is as beautiful and amazing as we wish to make it. And the good news is, we can make it absolutely magnificent with the everyday choices we make, the relationships we build and the activities we pursue as we fill our days.

With the culmination of the blog being turned into a book this year, a tremendous goal has been reached, but as I’ve said before, with the publication of Choosing The Simply Luxurious Life: A Modern Woman’s Guide  it is my primary hope to give you the tools to build the life of your dreams. While the foundation of a strong sense of self, financial astuteness, a clear purpose and direction will be common components for everyone, each of us will continue to build a life that is unique to us. And that is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.

So what will year six bring on the blog? To be honest, that is why I’m excited, I know, but at the same time, I don’t know. A mirroring of life, no? So I will share with you a glimpse that I spotlighted on Instagram yesterday. Simply a quote, but a reminder that it is an examined life and choosing to be brave that will leave us most fulfilled at the end of our days.

And now, a day of private celebration. I must admit, I do love such days. What will mine look like? Have a look, and be sure to carve out time for those moments of celebration you no doubt have achieved as well.

A tidying and freshening up of the sanctuary so as to relax and mosey about the house as I please waiting for any inspiration to blossom (or perhaps just a nice nap). 

A refusal to look at the clock and lose myself in a book (or two).

Enjoying a long, leisurely morning with the newspaper and my calendar making plans with friends for the days ahead and planning, planning, planning . . . 

Contemplating taking advantage of the many after-Christmas sales to replenish my lingerie wardrobe as well as other capsule wardrobe items (try these destinations for great sales: DVF 50% off, Ann Taylor use code ANN60 for 60% off, Lord & Taylor use code AFTER to save an additional 20% after sale reductions, Nordstrom’s end of season clearance, Matches Fashion an extra 10% off sale items for today only EXTRA10E, lingerie from Net-a-Porter, J.Crew use HOLIDAYTIME to save 30%, and Joie use code HOLIDAY25 to save 25%.

Melting into a bathtub full of warmth and bubbles and perhaps sipping a glass of wine as well.  

A feeling of hope and gratitude as 2015 prepares to unfold. 

Here’s to living a simply luxurious life, each in our very own way. Bonjour.

Images: (Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Fall 2014) (2) (3) (4) (5) (5.5) (6)

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