Wardrobe simplification: a challenge
Posted: March 28, 2018 Filed under: Clothes, Reducing waste | Tags: no shopping challenge, reduce consumption, reduce waste, sandals, shoe repair, sustainable fashion, wardrobe simplification Leave a comment
Back in January I set a small challenge for myself. No shopping for clothes, or shoes for 6 months. I’d love to do a whole year but I’m a bit chicken.
A few weeks into the challenge, a special date night came up. That is typically the kind of thing that sends me running for “something new”. Sure, “new” might mean thrift shopping or resale but it’s still adding something to my closet that was previously not there. Resolved to stick to my challenge, I hunted around my closet, got myself dressed and headed out to enjoy an evening with my husband. My “date night” outfit was nothing special yet, I felt beautiful and very myself: black jeans, white t-shirt, black blazer, and shoes, that are older than my first born child.
We sat down to dinner with beloved friends, chatting and laughing through each course, then as I was leaving the bathroom, the heel of my shoe caught on the bathroom door. There was an audible “snap” and my previously buckled sandal, slid off my foot. Hmmmm, I’m in the middle of a restaurant, do I try limping back to the table and keep my shoe sort of on my foot, or do I just grab it up and walk with one bare foot? (I went with limping, it was awkward.) I returned to the table with a frown thinking my night was now over. My husband assessed the situation and successfully MacGyver-ed my sandal back on my foot with some handiwork and a band-aid! Our evening continued with two shoes on my feet the entire time.
Not ready to consent to the death of my sandals, I later set off to the cobbler to see what could be done. It was an easy, inexpensive fix and my 13-year-old, resoled twice, sandals continue to trot on.
Without this challenge, I undoubtedly would have purchased something for my date night, would have tossed my old, broken shoes, and then spent hours looking for something new. Thanks to this challenge, I had a nice conversation with the cobbler, saved myself the time and frustration of trolling the internet for sandals and realized my date night clothes don’t need to be very different from my daily clothes.
Anyone else doing challenges like these to reduce their consumption?
Spring Skin
Posted: March 5, 2014 Filed under: Health | Tags: benefits of staying hydrated, Chocolate Sun, Darling Magazine, dry brushing, Moo Goo, Natural Self Tanners, sandals, Self Tanner, Sseko Designs, sunless tan, True All Natural Self Tanner for Face and Body 1 Comment
image via Sseko Designs
I wore sandals out to dinner this weekend! Sandals! It’s the first time my toes have been uncovered in months, there is something about wearing half a shoe that’s instantly relaxing. Digging through my shoes to unearth my sandals got me thinking about changing some other things around as the winter season lifts and we shift into spring.
Dry brushing, you know I’m a fan. Something I’ve changed in the routine is dry brushing before my morning exercise. Could be my imagination, but I swear I sweat more (a good thing), also it fits into my routine easily to slip off the PJ’s, brush all over, slip on clothes (exercise worthy or not) and get on with my day. This also helps make it more of an everyday thing.
Moisturizing, I have a habit of not using enough. I now realize, it’s like medicine – if you aren’t using the correct dosage, you won’t get the intended results. No more skimping on my lotion, the experts say to slather it on like you are frosting a cake – this goes for SPF as well if you are lucky enough to be getting that kind of sunshine!
Fake Tanning, I’ve been hiding my face from the sun for years but now I’m starting to give the rest of me more shade too. This makes the thought of shorts…….less fun. So this year I’m planning to try a few sunless tanning products. I’ve written before that putting stuff on your skin is the same as putting it in your mouth. Here are a few brands that passed my criteria: Chocolate Sun, Lavera, The True All Natural Self Tanner for Face & Body, MooGoo
Hydrating, this is obviously not seasonal thing but as the days get warmer I need to be even more vigilant about staying hydrated. Think of it like magic juice, because a well hydrated body is really a magical thing – supple skin (read less appearance of cellulite), better cardiovascular health, cleanses toxins, muscles and joints work with more ease, oral health, aids weight loss – Yup, drink UP!
For more ideas on welcoming spring, check out Darling Magazine, it’s a really, really, really cool site.
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