this is what i do

oh heyyyyy i do still exist!!!!!! Sorry all. I keep meaning to put on some fresh clothes and take my own picture but I for  1) don't feel very good in my clothes at the moment (as i have told you all before) 2) have like NO time to take my own picture I spend all day every day taking other peoples pictures and editing them the idea of doing my own is DAUNTING.  SO finally I met up with a new photographer friend. She is so fabulously fantastic and I am pretty sure we are new BFFs I snapped a bunch of photos of her and she did so of me too.  I also happened to actually buy a new shirt this same day when out with my girl Kristin. And I am obsessed with it. All fall I have just been wanting to live in oversized shirts in black/grey at least this one has a little zazz with the zipper on the side.  So if you guys are missing out on me you can follow along on my photographic journeys on my  Photography Blog | Instagram | Facebook Page for Photography If not thats cool too. Just thought I would give you the option :D Also check out Alycia's work who did all of these amazing photographs. I LOVE her eye and her editing style is so fresh and fantastic i die (she also gets to take photos of a LOT of really pretty people and the fracking Red Wings so I am a bit jealous)  ~Outfit Details~ Shirt: from JB & Me  Necklace: Bud to Rose | From Threads on Eighth in Holland Get it HERE  Jacket: My mom's Vintage Leather Jacket Pants: American Apparel | HERE  Boots: Doc Martens (i have the ones made in England) | HERE Bag: Vintage Douney and Burke  

THE PURGE - Part II (results)

Well here you have it!! The results of my first PURGE PARTY on Thursday. I invited a bunch of local ladies to come and peruse my givings away and had a blast doing it.  I struggle with letting go and doing it this way really helped me. Knowing it is going to someone who will get enjoyment out of it and actually use it even for just a minute felt great. Plus I loved watching everyone rave about things and fill up their bags.  I served a delicious girly drink that was really fun to make and spent a lot of time socalizing and seeing people I have not seen in awhile! It was really a great evening and I am so happy with the results. Are you curious to know how much I got rid of? I am excited to tell you either way! Because YES I counted so here it goes: Sweaters (65 to start) - 28 gone!!!! Other Clothing (277 to start) - 148 gone!!!! Accessories (48 to start) - 29 gone!!!! Shoes (12 to start) - 8 gone!!!! Also I got rid of a bunch of books but I forgot to count them!!! NOW all this stuff heads off to my LOCAL thrift store (not goodwill, actually it will go to where I used to work) to help support my local peeps.  NOW - What I got really really excited about was seeing the ladies I invited posting themselves in their new digs on facebook. They let me upload a few photos to this post to share with you guys!  Here is heather rocking her new hat, bag, shoes and jacket all from the PURGE! Isn't she looking freaking fantastic!  And Tiffanie is wearing her new vintage dress and hat from the purge as well! In my opinion I would say the ladies were definitely satisfied as well as myself with the results of the purge. I feel lighter and like I can now really get into my closet space and start organizing. I am planning on doing more purge like things as I progress but It is a slow process for sure!!! And a special thanks to my parents for letting me take over their house for the PURGE my stuff is still sitting in the living room (in bags now) but I am heading out to hand it over and hopefully someone else will get more use out of these things!!!!

THE PURGE - PART I

(photo credit not found...Google is smelly)

I have a confession. I am a Class 2 Grade A hoarder of vintage clothing. While touting a 'slow' lifestyle I just have kept holding onto things that I do not wear, do not want or that do not fit me. I have entire room dedicated as 'second closet' which I can now barely find anything in because the shoe organizer is overflowing and the racks are packed full, piles of sweaters and pants I don't even know if they fit!  So I have decided to start removing unnecessary clutter from my life. Not only clothing but books and decor as well. I just have so much stuff. I am hosting a PURGE party (not a swap..i don't want anyone's stuff) this week to kick off my PURGE. 

Yesterday I started going through everything deciding what to give away and realized I have great attachment to many of these items for a variety of sentimental reasons. Maybe it was a gift, a purchase when I was down or feeling sad. Whatever the reason I have come to the realization that by letting the item go I am also letting go of what is holding me back. Having all this stuff around is making my mind cluttered and unfocused. 

I started by just quickly piling into YES or NO. Put everything I thought I might want in one pile to everything I immediately said no to in another. This was hard...i tried to second guess myself many times but kept telling myself my INITIAL reaction is what I would stick with. I think by doing a purge instead of just automatically donating the things to a wonderful charity I know I can maybe see some of these items in the future on my friends and family. For some reason this idea really helps me which is where the purge begins. So let the purge begin. 

(this will become a series of posts as this is not a ONE TIME fix all of things but rather the beginning in a huge process...LETS DO IT TOGETHER)

slow your day

Life has transitioned into a crazy whirlwind lately. I quit my job because of stress and a lack of personal growth within it and have been perusing multiple dreams of mine. Within the past few weeks I have learned to become increasingly self-motivated and efficient but sometimes I feel like I am running full steam and some nights I hit the hay and feel over exhausted.  I keep reminding myself to SLOW DOWN. I don't mean to do things slow but yet to savor the little moments of stillness. Really take in the precious time with my dogs, the people I am working with, the quiet moments with a good book. Sometimes its really hard to live in the moment but the more I make an effort the longer (in a good way) and more fulfilling my days seem.  This day I enjoyed a cup of tea and the last of a great series (Matched by Ally Condie) and some time with my pets while avoiding the frigid and windy weather outdoors. I am trying to savor more moments like this within the chaos.  So in your busy hectic schedule this week try and savor a few moments, maybe its a warm shower, taking your dog out for a walk or quality time with family and friends. Try to redirect your thoughts not to what you are doing in the rest of your day/week/life but on the exact moment that is happening now. Something magical happens when you stop and take it in, time seems to slow down and these quiet moments don't seem so short. Slow Your Day! :)  ~Outfit Details~ Cardigan: Thrifted Lacoste | Hope's Outlet Tshirt: TICKLD Jeans: Old Boots: House Shoes/ Thrifted | Shelby's Place (i never wear these out...well sometimes when im lazy)

national nothing day

Hello to you January 16th! And apparenlty also National Nothing Day! 

Apparently just by writing this post I am going against the entire theme of this day according to one of my favorite websites, Holiday Insights. They describe this day as: This day is an "un-event". The expectation is that we do not create or otherwise promote this day. In other words, we do nothing. And, to say anything more would contradict the purpose of this day.

It is also described as a day to provide Americans with one National day when they can just sit without celebrating, observing or honoring anything.

Apparently this day was created in 1973 by Harold Pullman Coffin a newspaper dude who apparently just wanted to NOT CELEBRATE ANYTHING that day. In America we do observe a lot of holidays so I am a big fan of celebrating the holiday where you don't celebrate holidays. Ok... I am confused but I love the message. 

Seems like the right kind of day to celebrate for a Slow Movement blog! So plan on doing nothing today. I have the day off and am doing a photoshoot with a favorite photographer of mine and my dogs so that is my 'nothing'. 

Make it a great nothing day and see you tomorrow with an outfit post!