Showing posts with label while knitting. Show all posts
Knitting doesn't happen in a vacuum here in SMH-land. Instead, I'm always reading something (thanks to my Kindle) or watching something (thanks to Netflix). Here's a short list of what I've been reading and watching lately.

READING
Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber. My friend Kelli read this recently-ish, and I loved her review and immediately picked up a copy for myself. The book didn't disappoint, if you're into religious biography. Which I am.

Montessori Inspired Activities for Pre-Schoolers: Home projects for 2 - 6 year olds by Jo Ebisujima. Since we're all home together full time right now, I want to be doing more intentional schooling with Owen, and eventually Lou. This book has given me some great ideas, and even though it says Montessori, the activities don't require any special materials (which Montessori sometimes does). Which is nice, because we're strictly a markers and blank paper kind of crafty family.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Re-reading this one, because this winter I am in need of the spiritual jolt this book offered me the first time I read it. Thankfully, I am feeling it again already, reminded as I am to find beauty and love in every aspect of my life. I don't know what it is about winter (the cold, the snow, the freezing down to my bones ...), but I seem to always forget to look for beauty and love. 

WATCHING
House of Cards, season 3.

The Blacklist: Season 1. I keep thinking I'm not going to watch another episode of this show, thanks to the crazy amount of violence happening in every episode, but then I find myself queuing up another one on Netflix while I knit away. I feel like I know a few of the more spoilery plot points already, and I'm waiting for those to be revealed before I decide if I truly loathe the show or if I actually like it and am just embarrassed that I like a  show with this crazy level of violence. I guess it's not a crazy level of violence, but for a non-cable show? I'm consistently surprised at how graphic it is.

Note: Links are Amazon Affiliate links. When you click on one, if you end up purchasing something from Amazon I'll receive a small commission. I use that money to buy young adult fiction books I'm starting to collect for my future classroom library! Plus, I'll share them in future posts.

WHILE KNITTING | VOLUME V

Mar 3, 2015

AND THE WINNER IS ... Katie Probert! I've messaged you on Google Plus, so please respond via e-mail!

Fellow Asymmetrical Press author Josh Wagner recently published Shapes the Sunlight Takes, and I got the chance to read it right as it was hitting the shelves.

Shapes is the story of Lexie, a 15 year old outcast who believes she can see the future. When she has a vision that her best friend's brother Derwin and her secret crush Mirielle are meant to have a love child together, Lexie fights to find the balance between delusion and reality, attempting to make sense of her past, present and supposed future.

I'm constantly amazed at the quality of writing from my fellow Asymmetrical writers, and this book is no different. While I was never a teenage lesbian, I was a teenage girl, and I'm impressed at just how well Josh hops into the mind of one. All the struggle of coming-of-age, pressed together with the supposed visions Lexie fights to control, help make Lexie one of my favorite teenage characters in some time.

I struggled to find the lines between Lexie's delusions and reality, reminding me of when I first read The Bell Jar. I spent half that book feeling almost twinned with the heroine, only to discover she was, in fact, completely crazy. Lexie is so genuine and honest, it's hard to remember that she may, in reality, not be completely sane and thus totally non-credible in her account of the events of the novel.

Lucky us, Asymmetrical Press is giving away a free copy of the book to one commenter today! Simply comment (be sure you log in with your name/e-mail - no one else will see it, but that way I can contact you!) with the book you're reading now, or one you recently finished. I'll pick a winner Sunday night, post back here to this space, and then e-mail the winner!

Shapes The Sunlight Takes, By Josh Wagner // GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Feb 10, 2015

Knitting doesn't happen in a vacuum here in SMH-land. Instead, I'm always reading something (thanks to my Kindle) or watching something (thanks to Netflix). Here's a short list of what I've been reading and watching lately.

So, I started this list before Christmas, and then the reading portion of my life got away from me as Lou got an ear infection that wouldn't quit. So I'm sharing these now.

READING
A Tale of More: The Complete Series, by Colin Wright. A young man stuck in a small town with a voice narrating his life (none too nicely, I might add) begins to see his life change as a film crew comes to town. Whisked off to LA, Cain finds life very different as he navigates not only the voices in his head, but the strange array of characters that begin to surround him. A bit sci-fi, this series of ten novellas looks at what might happen to the world if humans made a technological leap towards bettering ourselves by ... bettering our actual selves. Loved it!

WATCHING
Snowpiercer. Fueling my inappropriate obsession with Chris Evans, this dark movie tells the story of the haves and have-nots, riding a train around the world on repeat as the only survivors after environmental disaster. Good movie, hated the ending though.

Dr. Who. We're back to watching episodes, but are STILL only on season 4, so DON'T TELL ME ANYTHING. Love it, as always.

Gone Girl. Finally, Zach and I got to watch this! Now he's as much like WHAT THE WHAT?!?! as I am!

The Unknown Known. Interesting documentary about Donald Rumsfeld's time in politics.

Also, I'm almost done with Gilmore Girls. So there's that.

While Knitting | Volume IV

Jan 12, 2015


Knitting doesn't happen in a vacuum here in SMH-land. Instead, I'm always reading something (thanks to my Kindle) or watching something (thanks to Netflix). Here's a short list of what I've been reading and watching lately.

READING

Considerations, by Colin Wright. Full disclosure, here. Colin is a dear friend, and so I make it a point to read everything he writes. The fact that he's a phenomenal writer doesn't hurt, for sure! Considerations is a collection of shorter essays, focusing on stretching our views on the world around us. We all have set perceptions, and Considerations asks us to think about those, maybe look at things a different way, and consider whether our beliefs and perceptions need a bit of tweaking, or even a full upgrade. Considerations has good thoughts on a wide variety of subjects, and definitely pushed me in a few areas

30 Days Of Doing by Colin Wright. A companion piece to Considerations, this 30 day e-mail series has been incredibly thought-provoking, and I'm so glad I made the purchase. Colin suggests you do more than simply read each day's e-mail and then file it away, and so on most of the days I took the time (sometimes even just five minutes was enough) and really worked through what was being offered. While I'm not making any huge life changes right away, these e-mails have definitely helped me focus in on a few things, sharpen some ideas, and see a bunch of next steps.

Insurgent (Divergent Series), by Veronica Roth. Okay, I totally get why everyone thought this was the best book of the three. I love how everything happened all at once, from the collapse of everything Tris knew, to the coming of age of all the characters, to the cementing of relationships and belief systems.

Allegiant (Divergent Series), by Veronica Roth. After flying through Insurgent, I assumed I would fly through the final book in the trilogy as well. And I read it fast, but not as fast as I'd thought, mostly due to all the crying. It is a heavy book, filled with the ending of one way of life while making room for a new one. Many people I know thought this was the worst of the three, but I simply think the ending of any book series will leave you filled with emotions - and this one is no exception. I really did cry though the last 50 or so pages, and while I was saddened a few things happened the way they did, the book ended exactly as it needed to, which is the best compliment I can give the last book in a series.

WATCHING

Divergent. I read the book months and months ago, but have lagged on reading the second book in the series. I waited so long, in fact, that I knew I wouldn't remember half the book if I didn't either re-read it, or watch the movie. I chose movie, and I'm glad I did. While I know whole chunks were left out, I loved the movie, how it portrayed the book, and how the characters were developed.

Bones: Season 9. We're caught up with what's on DVD, thanks to Netflix, and what a way to end last season! Don't spoil anything for me, though, because I don't know what happens on the season that's on now!

Football. Nebraska had a great season, but don't say that around anyone actually from Nebraska. We fired our head coach after he got another season of 9 wins (the only other current college coach to go seven seasons in a row with nine wins? Nick Saban.), and have now hired someone everyone's super unhappy about hiring. So it's been a contentious time, for sure. But I'm not as invested as some others are, so I enjoyed the season a ton!

While Knitting | Volume III

Dec 10, 2014


Knitting doesn't happen in a vacuum here in SMH-land. Instead, I'm always reading something (thanks to my Kindle) or watching something (thanks to Netflix). Here's a short list of what I've been reading and watching lately.

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children) by Ransom Riggs.This is the second in a series about a group of children with very peculiar abilities, their caretaker (Miss Peregrine) and the battle for the survival of their kind.

I read the first book (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) several years ago, but it had been long enough that I re-read the first installment before diving into this book. I'm glad I did this, because I would never have remembered so many of the little nuances that set up the second tale in the series.

Full of time travel, mystery, fights for the survival of a group of people, and more, this book showcases why I love young adult fiction so much. A good YA writer can tell tales with very sophisticated themes, weave in great moral conundrums and help grow readers through words. Definitely pick it up!

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The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change by Adam Braun.So, I knew the basics about Pencils Of Promise before reading this book. I'm in love with their mission, and am proud to say I'm helping build 7 schools through their fundraising efforts. That said, I didn't know the origin story behind the organization, and knew next to nothing about the founder, Adam Braun. So I was excited to dig in and read, to learn more.

Let it be said up front, I am a sucker for a feel-good story that ends happily. And so it should be no surprise that I cried no less than seven times while reading. Kids getting schools, education, and a sense of hope and promise they didn't previously have? Clearly, there were tears. Loved it, and I've already given away a copy, with more to be gifted this holiday season!

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7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker. Okay, so if you don't really find social justice your cup of tea, skip it. But if you love you some Jen Hatmaker, loved her book Interrupted, or are looking for a way to challenge yourself to live a bit lighter in the world, and are ready to recognize just how much our priveledged lives are built on the backs of others, this one's for you. I've already been simplifying my world, but this book has set a new standard, and has challenged me to dig deeper and let go of even more.

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Still working my way through Gilmore Girls, Breaking Bad, and Bones. Nothing new here, so not writing more about them!

While Knitting | Volume II

Nov 24, 2014



Knitting doesn't happen in a vacuum here in SMH-land. Instead, I'm always reading something (thanks to my Kindle) or watching something (thanks to Netflix). Here's a short list of what I've been reading and watching lately.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green.This is the same author who wrote The Fault in Our Stars, which I loved immensely. This one, however? Not as much. The story of a just-graduated boy named Colin who loves girls named Katherine, it is a coming-of-age story for sure. But then, in the epilogue, the author lays out what he believes is the true moral of the story. And, here's the thing. If you need to spell it all out for me at the end, you didn't do a good enough job of explaining it through your storytelling. Which means you didn't do your job well enough as an author. Had this epilogue been left out, I would have probably liked the book a bit better.

Grey's Anatomy: Season 9. Yes, I know. It was probably never very good, and I'm several seasons behind. But man, do I love the heavy-handed drama. And I love just how frequently these doctors fall in love with each other, while always seeming to perform such ridiculously rare and life-altering procedures. Pure trashy television gold!

Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity by Jen Hatmaker. I'm pretty sure we all fell in love with Jen Hatmaker and her family, thanks to their HGTV show. I hadn't read a single one of her books, however, so I picked up Interrupted. This is my kind of faith, folks. Real, scary, dirty and rough. Taking the words of Jesus seriously, leaning into the reality of just how blessed we are, and just how much we take that for granted.

Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas.We've been going back and forth between these two on Netflix daily, with the Christmas movie winning out almost every time. Kids after my own heart - they're already excited for Christmas, too!

The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memoir by Dee Williams. What a phenomenal writer! I bought this assuming I'd be reading about Dee's foray into tiny house building, and there was definitely that, but this amazing book is full of Dee's spirit and life as well. You can feel her smile as she tells her story, and on more than one occasion I decided I must take her out for a beer and be her friend. What a lovely soul, and such a joyous read!

Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series Collection. I never watched this on television. I know, don't stop reading! I'm so excited that the entire series is on Netflix now, and I've been watching whenever I can get the chance. Even if it takes me years to get through it, I'm already loving it!

Gone Girl: A Novel by Gillian Flynn. I CANNOT EVEN. That is all.

Note: Links throughout are Amazon Affiliate links. If you click on a link and then purchase anything, I receive a small percentage as commission.

While Knitting, Vol. 1

Oct 23, 2014


The Flute Player by Shawn Mihalik

From my Amazon review:

The tale of a young man tasked with playing the flute every morning and every evening, to keep his entire village from feeling too deeply the trials and tribulations of everyday life, Mihalik's "The Flue Player" takes us into the world of Oliver and his begrudging calling.

Charmed and otherworldly from the first words, this novella is impossible to put down. It reads almost like a parable, with sentences packed so full of meaning I cannot wait to open it back up and dig deeper. Would that I could buy this for every single person I know! 

the flute player by shawn mihalik

Mar 19, 2013

Rounding out my Millburn-Nicodemus reading list was their non-fiction work Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life.

One look at my Kindle collection will tell you I've read quite a few books on minimalism. It has been an on-and-off passion of mine, to learn more about minimalism and to try my hand at it. I have attempted (and failed) several times to live a life with less stuff so that I can actually live a more meaningful life. The truth is, I never could get past the whole "toss all your crap and live out of a backpack" thing.

Until I read this book.

Joshua and Ryan frame the whole idea of minimalism in a different way.

Or maybe they don't, and I just heard the message completely differently this time. 

It's not so much about throwing out your stuff, or living out of a backpack. Minimalism is a lens through which to view every bit of your life. If whatever you're looking at (an old book, the unworn clothes in your closet, that blog you read every day even though it doesn't give you anything back ...) doesn't build into and lift up your main reasons for living, then it's not worth having around.

Mind. Blown.

I've been wandering around for a week now, physically and mentally hitting the delete button. The number of blogs I follow is down below 30. I'm looking at every single thing I own and asking "does this positively affect my main things?" and if the answer is no, I toss it. (Gone immediately went all the nail polish and most of the make-up.)

My main things? My family. Cherished friends and loved ones. Knitting hats and giving them away. Seeking out and being a witness to the greatness of love that exists all around us in the world. And not much else.

Do my old high school yearbooks do anything at all for these main things? Probably not - they're hitting the recycling bin on Tuesday. What about those girl-versions of lumberjack shirts that I thought I HAD TO HAVE and then never really wore (I wore one of them once, the other still has the tags on it)? Gone. The stack of jeans? Gone. The blogs that I read out of habit, despite their lack of edification to my soul or my craft? GONE GONE GONE.

I never plan to live out of a backpack, and I will probably always have more stuff than would lend me to minimalism in the most "typical" sense. But the idea that I should suss out my main things and let NOTHING stand in their way?

Life altering.

reading // Minimalism: Lead A Meaningful Life

Dec 13, 2012

I've been privately courting a little love affair with The Minimalists for just under a year now. It's all one-sided of course ... they are not in love with me the way I am with them, but I am loathe to call it "stalking" because ... well, because I loathe the word!

After being introduced to the pair via  Colin Wright (as a suggestion for some Hats On People folks), I kept right on reading. Their blog, their books, their tweets ... anything I could get my hands on. Here are two dudes doing the whole minimalism thing just a bit differently than the myriad other folks trying to bring you the idea of "own less, live more" on the internet.

And they do this difference well. Yes, the espouse letting go of all the crap in your life, but theirs is a message of purpose and meaning. It's not just "get rid of your stuff so you can make money writing about getting rid of your stuff"; they talk about passion, about focus, and about the easiest way to truly be the best version of yourself.

It's all the stuff we all really need to hear, we just didn't know what station to tune in to.

After publishing several non-fiction books together with Ryan, Joshua Fields Millburn presented his first solo non-fiction work A Day in the Life of a Minimalist to the world, and to rave reviews! I snagged a Kindle copy and devoured it - here are my favorite bits.

>> the entire chapter "I Don't Need Much"

>> the entire chapter "18 Minute Exercises" - reminds me of 30-day shred, which I am in the throes of battle with.

>> Your purpose gives you the leverage you need to keep going, especially when you reach a roadblock. Without this leverage, it’s easy to get excited about a new idea but quickly fall flat on your face because you no longer know why you wanted your outcome in the first place (i.e., you’ll lose interest). You might have that initial ambition, but you must also find enough leverage to take you the distance.

>> Gift-giving is not a love language any more than Pig Latin is a Romance language. Rather, gift-giving is a vapid, pernicious cultural   imperative   in our society, and we’ve bought it (literally) hook, line, and sinker. We’ve become consumers of love.

>> “Of course it’s unreasonable, dummy!” The older man snapped back. “Being unhappy and discontent is completely reasonable within our society. We see it every day. Being reasonable means lowering your standards. Being reasonable means doing what everyone else expects you to do. Being reasonable means living an average life. But I’d rather be extraordinarily unreasonable and content and happy. I’d rather live a meaningful, albeit unreasonable, life. Get unreasonable and everything’s possible. Forget about being   reasonable— being reasonable got me into the same pile of shit you’re in now.”

>> We are but dogs, leashed by fear, thrashing in the collars of our own obligations.

>> There will, however, be a new kind of authentic marketing in the future. As we consumers continue to get wiser, as we realize we needn’t be fooled by the manufactured unrest promulgated by pop culture, we will begin to find value in genuine people and brands who actually have our best interests in mind. Thanks to the Internet, this shift has already started. There are brands like Charity Water who actually want to help people. There are individuals who want to add value to people’s lives. There are organizations who want to commit to contributing first, not focusing on money as the primary driver for their actions.



View my full reading list here.

reading: A Day In The Life Of A Minimalist

Nov 28, 2012


Back in June I set a goal to read 10 new books before my next birthday. I have since reached that goal ... and surpassed it! Thanks in large part to having a Kindle, I can now read just about anywhere without having to lug a book with me - this works perfectly for when I'm knitting and can't hold a book without losing my page!

Below is a list of the books I've finished reading since June, along with a note or two about each!

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. First in a series of six.
The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott. Second in a series of six. 
The Sorceress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott. Third in a series of six.

I'm loving this series so far! I'm knee-deep into the fourth book, and while they aren't as good as the Harry Potter series (what is???), I recommend them for sure!

The Tower, by Chris Guillebeau. (free PDF!) Lord knows why I waited so long to read this. It spoke to where I'm at right now in a huge way (as all Chris' stuff does) and I'm already implementing pieces of it!

Untether to Evolve, by Ev Bogue. So much good info in this book! While I will never be as untethered as Ev is, I love his take on life and find many practical applications for my own.

Shakespeare's Landlord (Lily Bard Mysteries, Book 1) (Lily Bard Mystery)by Charlaine Harris. This was a hard book for me to finish. An unexpected (and super graphic and violent) gang rape scene halfway through meant I put the book down for some time. I'm glad I came back to it, and may just read more in the series.

My Exile Lifestyle by Colin Wright. His first book on traveling full time. Colin is a storyteller in a way most folks aren't. I'd read just about anything he wrote (and do!) for this reason alone!

Impossible: The Manifesto by Joel Runyon. Butt kicking, good read.

Iceland India Interstate by Colin Wright. I swear I didn't read this book just because I'm in it for a paragraph!  Colin was the impetus for the Hats On People project, and reading this book was a fun look into a travel period in his life I happened to be part of.

This I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart by Susannah Conway. Quite literally the best book I've read so far. It changed how I view myself, my past, and how I'm moving forward in my life.

Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricksby Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Finally reading some of her work. Genius - funny, truthful, and full of her soul.

Truth by Nina Yau. Brilliant and conscise discussions of living in your own truth.

Minimalism: Essential Essays by Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn. I like this version of minimalism; it's concise and yet accessible.

The Case of the Soggy Wallet (Holmes Detective Agency) by Molly and Kristen Wright. Loved this book! Young adult fiction at it's finest, I can't wait for the next installment!

I'm going to keep on reading as I knit, mostly in the evenings while football is on, and after Owen has gone to bed. I look forward to updating more regularly with what I've read because of this!

(view my entire reading list here)

reading lately

Oct 9, 2012

Love.

That's a word Colin Wright says (a few times, actually) he doesn't use. But it's one I use, and so I will use it again and again when talking about this book!

While living in Iceland for four months, Colin met a lovely Icelandic lady named Jóna who "who tests his ideas about relationships and becomes a partner-in-crime across three continents."

A nice and concise description (part in quotes ripped from Amazon) of a memoir that spans well over a year, three continents, a bus trip, an unlikely long-term romance ... and quite a bit of sex.


Iceland India Interstate is a quick read - I managed to finish it in two of Owen's naptimes! Don't let that fool you though, as Iceland India Interstate is also packed full of amazing stories.

I think if you were to ask Colin, he would call himself an entrepreneur, a world traveler, and a life-experiementer. I would also call him a consummate story-teller. As he weaves his way across the globe he pulls you along - many times I felt as though I was standing in the room or on the street right next to him as the events he was sharing unfolded.

I may be a bit biased about this book. After all, Colin mentions me and the hats I made for him and Jóna in the midst of one of his chapters! I didn't know this, and was tickled when a mutual friend e-mailed to tell me as much. But even with this bias, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story!

(a note: Links above are affiliate links through Amazon. If you click on them and then purchase this book - or anything else during your Amazon stay - I receive a super small portion of the sale. When this happens, I use the money to buy Kindle books just like this one.)

reading // Iceland, India, Interstate

Jul 3, 2012

100startupI've read almost everything Chris Guillebeau has written. His three manifestos; his blog. His first book, The Art of Non-Conformity , got several read-throughs.
When Chris toured around for his first book, I helped host the Omaha meet-up and was pleased when we innundated him with treats!
And I am proud to call Chris my friend.
So when he started talking up his latest book, The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future, I knew I had to get a copy and read it as well.
People, this book DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. If you've ever wondered if you could take that idea of yours and turn it into a business, this book will give you the step by step instructions for doing so. If you've never thought of yourself as an entrepreneur but love the thought of making a little extra money off your passion, this is the book for you.
If you just like reading case studies of folks who are living their dreams, this is the book for you.
If you are like me, someone who has no desire to be an entrepreneur and yet wants to spread a message, this book can also help you!
Chapter by chapter, Chris lays out how he believes anyone and everyone can find security, passion and excitement in doing what they love, and for very little start-up cash. He profiles hundreds of folks doing this very thing (including Megan Hunt of Princess Laserton fame, and a fellow Omaha gal), and gets them to share intimate details about what makes their businesses click.
I filled half a notebook with thoughts and ideas while reading this book - it's that good. Some of those ideas have already been put into play here on the blog (and in my shop), and many more will be given space in the coming months.
Pick up a copy at your local bookstore, for your e-reader, or through Amazon - you won't be disappointed!
*note: Some of the links in this post are Amazon Associate links. I make a small profit off purchases made through these links, which I use to buy books!

reading: $100 Start-Up

May 28, 2012


In the last few weeks, Owen has decided he LOVES books. He loves to flip through them, he loves to have them read over and over again, he loves to pick out which one he wants read to him next.

Below are a few of the books we've been reading on repeat lately:


one. A Cuddle for Little Duck
two. Pat the Bunny
three. I Love You Through And Through
four. Goodnight Moon
five. Kiss Kiss!
six. Star Wars: Heroes

What are some of the books you love reading with your little ones?

* All links are affiliate links through Amazon. If you click on one, and then purchase that book (or anything else for that matter) through the link, I earn a small portion of the sale.

reading lately // with Owen

May 2, 2012


The story of a teenage boy who discovers the stories his grandfather told him may not be so fantastic after all? Love. Photos sprinkled throughout that were borrowed from real collections? Double Love. An author with a name like Ransom Riggs? Sold.

Recommended to me by my mom, this young adult book tells the story of a typical rich American teenager who, after a life changing event, begins to realize his life is not as normal and boring as he might have thought it was.

Lyrical sentences combined to suck me into the story within a few chapters, and by the end I found myself clamoring for a sequel, which I cannot imagine will not be written. There are stories still to tell in this young man's life, to be sure.

"I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was."



My friend Chris has a new offering available for sale this week - it's called Publish Your Best Seller. For those who have ever wanted to write a book but aren't sure where to start, this is the place!

reading // Miss Peregrine's Home For Unusual Children

Jan 12, 2012

The No-Brainer Wardrobe, by Hayley Morgan of Tiny Twig Goes Out On A Limb.

Learning to dress for my style sensibilities, my current job (SAHM) my body-type, and most importantly WHO I AM is a goal of mine. This book, simple and a quick read, has given me a jumping-off point for the next few months of culling, figuring out, and maybe a bit of shopping.

MY NOTES//

build my wardrobe out of ESSENTIALS first, then ADDITIONS, and finally FINISHERS.

pick out clothes for my wardrobe based on my life right now, which is a SAHM. i can dress well and still be someone who chases after kids and spends most of her days with a baby and/or in the house.

Go-To Outfit: Have an outfit I can throw on and feel amazing in, no matter how short I am on time. Hers involves black skinny jeans and grey riding boots - what can I find in my wardrobe that’s like this?

I like that her go-to outfit isn’t a complete outfit at all, but a base - her skinny jeans and riding boots. She can add any top to this and feel great.

Triangle Shape // more detail and interest on top, neutral on bottom. I already do this by default when I wear darker wash jeans, neutral shoes, and layers/color in my tops. Continue this trend.

// Steer clear of skinny jeans and thigh-skimming tops! They actually accentuate my hips! I can get a skinnier boot-cut pant, and get the same sort of look! (that photo of Nicole Richie in her boot-cut jeans, white tee, black jacket and scarf can be my inspiration, even if she is NOT the same body-type as me)

My action steps: go through my closet and let go of the things that don’t fit with my current lifestyle. Box up what I want to save for when I eventually head back into an office, and donate the rest. Keep only the 50-60 pieces that I will get excited about wearing every day in my current job as SAHM and home manager.

Start getting up early, taking a shower, and getting ready for my day. It’s fine to get ready at 10am like I do now, but I’m betting I’d greet the day happier if I got up at 6am and showered and dressed before Owen wakes up at 7am!

reading // The No-Brainer Wardrobe

Jan 5, 2012

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