Playing the game

Two weeks ago I embarked on an adventure to help me get the clutter in my house under control. To date I have chosen to remove 105 items from my home. They range from clothes, to trash, to jewelry to random things that I never should have kept. The photo above represents days 8-10. 

In going through the piles of things I've learned a lot about myself.

I squirrel things away for a rainy day. For example that bow up above is a barrette I made from a dress that I remade into something else. I'm never going to wear it but I felt the need to repurpose it, which is good thing to do, but I also need to learn when to let things go.

I went through a phase where I bought jewelry because I felt since I was fat that I didn't deserve to wear good clothes. Yeah, that does not help my self esteem. 

Day 11-12

I hold on to things that were gifts even if a) I never use them and b) they don't hold good memories anymore. Some of the things I kept were over twenty years old. I finally had to give myself permission to let go. 

Day Thirteen

While I am trying to clear things out I also had to recognize that not everything has to go. On day thirteen I tried to get rid of a hat that I really like and I realized that I wanted to keep. So, I swapped it out with something else. 

Day fourteen was a pile of other people's stuff that I'm returning (so I didn't take a picture). It was interesting how the universe conspired to help me clear out some other things. 

I still have a couple of days worth of stuff piled up in the bedroom and then I'm moving on to the storage room. That's going to be interesting. While this endeavor has been great it's been challenging living with piles. I've got piles of things to return, to take to charity, to sell or to give away. Overall though I feel good. 

Originally published 10/16/14

Dark and stormy interiors

Today let's look at pretty pictures that suit my mood. The above space from EST Magazine via sfgirlbybay has so many lovely shades of grey. I think what makes this space work is the lighter gallery wall, the different textures and the hints of nature. 

This house in Mexico pays homage to the homes history but adds it's own contemporary twist. Plus that wall color and the print on it are simply stunning. 

This next room, via French By Design,  also has a very traditional feel, but it is lightened up considerably with the modern furnishings and that amazing art. The rug and sheepskin are cosy and inviting and help balance out the dark paint on the wall.  

The following room is not nearly as glamorous and styled as some of the others, but it is the one that makes my heart go pitter pat. It's a lovely space full of collected and eccentric finds. That chaise makes me want to curl up with a book. 

Oh how I wish I had a room with tall ceilings and windows and where I could place my Victorian couch. In the meantime I'll steal that paint color, which is very similar to the color in my bedroom. Image via decor8.

I like that the room below mixes grey and brown, which is similar to what I've done in my living room. I find the two colors pair well together. Plus that mirror is simply stunning. Also via decor8.

If you are too afraid to commit to the darkness then paint one wall. Via sfgirlbybay. 

If I could paint the walls in my living room I'd definitely be looking at these pictures for inspiration. In the meantime I'll bring dark color in through pillows, rugs and throws. 

Originally published 10/9/14

Clearing House

I feel like I'm a hoarder with minimalist tendencies or maybe a minimalist with hoarder tendencies. My space is relatively clear of clutter, but don't look in the kitchen pantry, the closets or the spare room downstairs. I grew up in a family that appreciates vintage goods and so they seem to follow me home and I'm a Cancer, which means I'm a homebody. Then I became an interior decorator because I want people's homes to be their haven, except a home can't be a haven when you can't open the closets!

As I see it, there are two main problems with 'too much stuff'. One it costs money to buy stuff. Usually when I am looking for something to buy it is to suit a general need, but occasionally I find myself shopping to fill some sort of emotional void. That's just not healthy. The other problem with having too much stuff is that you find the stuff starts to control your life. 

The first thing I do when I'm helping someone design their space is ask them what's working about the space. One of the most common complaints is that there is stuff in the room that doesn't work, doesn't belong there, or was a gift they don't like and so they tucked it in the corner. We chose the items that are functional and that evoke an positive emotional response to keep in the room and we clear out the rest. Something I needed to apply to my own life. 

When I saw that The Minimalists were playing the Minimalism Game this month I was so ready to play. You take one item out of the house on day one, two items on day two and so on until on October 31st you are removing thirty-one things from  your house. 

Day One- Blousey shirt that I never wear because it is not my style and it needs to be ironed. I hate ironing.

Day Two- A tie that I wore once ten years ago and an earring. Yup, one earring that I held onto for over a year in hopes that it's mate would show up. Yeah, that's not happening. 

Day Three- I started cleaning out my dresser drawers. Two necklaces and a ring that I no longer wear. 

Day Four-A yellow cap (to what I don't know), a set of curtain hangers, a store rewards card (these are all saved on my phone) and another necklace I no longer wear. Why is this stuff in my dresser?

Day Five- Vintage jewelry.

Day Six- More vintage jeweler and another tie. 

Day Seven- Yet more jewelry. 

What am I doing with all of this stuff I'm getting rid of? A couple of things will go in the trash like the random yellow cap and the rewards card. Other items will be donated (mainly clothes). I'll be posting things I am giving away (if you are in Chicago it is free, if you are not in Chicago I just ask that you pay postage) to my Instagram account. Some things I will be selling. 

Week one was relatively easy and I'm still cleaning out my bedroom. I'm getting a little nervous about the final week though. Wish me luck!

Originally published 10/3/14

Fall Fashion for the curvy girls

Last week's post had some great Fall fashion inspiration, but I realized that just because you've got some curves going on doesn't mean that you can't rock vintage clothes. There are clothes available in larger sizes- sometimes you just need to do a little more digging. Actually, I would prefer if you didn't get that green velvet dress because I am coveting it! 

With that said there are some fabulous shops on Etsy that are selling gorgeous clothes.

Here's a little sampling:

Sometimes tan can be tricky, but this little number has a lovely peach undertone to it, which won't wash you out. I'd suggest adding a bit of color either with a scarf or the wine red tights from Sock Dreams. 

I love vintage secretary dresses. They make me feel so very efficient. This dress would pair well with the sweater below. I think it should be just draped over the shoulders. 

This mini skirt is super cute. Don't be afraid to show some leg! Since we are heading into fall I'd pair it with rust colored tights and some boots. 

This short dress from the 80's is gorgeous. With a pair of colorful leggings it would transition perfectly into fall. I'd go with peacock or even mint leggings to jazz up the black and white. This would look good over skinny jeans with some booties too. 

I tend to wear dresses and skirts, but I have noticed while trolling vintage fashion that it is a little more difficult to find pants. 

I noticed that most of the items I posted are kind of neutral, but there are tons of colorful options out there. My days of wearing all black are over, well, most days.

Originally published 10/1/14

Checking In

I've talked a bit about my struggles with depression and also how I am working to combat those old demons. I think I put this out into the world because writing about it is cathartic for me and my hope is that if anyone else is struggling they may find some solace or inspiration from my story. 

In the beginning of the summer I cleared my calendar to have some breathing space and that was awesome. I'm back to an overstuffed calendar, but this time around I'm putting good things on it like working out and weekly meetings with my friend Christina to check in. With that said though I am feeling overwhelmed so I need to continue to keep some space on my calendar for myself. 

I am on a pretty tight budget right now, which can feel kind of limiting, but there are so many things to do that don't cost money that I'm trying to see the positive. The flip side though can be limiting. I've been trying to not buy clothes for many years and it reached a point where very few articles of clothing and the fact that I was wearing ripped pants at work made me realize I needed some clothes. 

Since I gained weight I felt like I didn't deserve anything and I think I was just trying to hide. This weekend I went through my closet and removed anything ripped, stained or ill fitting (which was a good third of my clothes). It made me take stock of what I had and see the gaps that needed to be filled. Like the fact that I only owned two shirts and one of the shirts has holes in it. Going through this excercise made me want to embrace my quirky sense of style and to stop hiding. 

This past week I felt pretty good and super productive. I finally took my certification test and passed with flying colors. I am now a Certified Interior Decorator. I'm looking forward to helping people make their homes a happy space. Sunday morning I started out pretty motivated, but completely lost steam in the afternoon. I'm trying not to beat myself up because I didn't get everything done that I wanted to. C'est la vie. 

The good news though is that I feel well rested and ready to tackle this week. Onwards and upwards my friends. 

Originally published 9/26/14

Fall Fashion

Taking a break from interiors today to talk about my very favorite season- Fall. I adore wearing tights and wool skirts (one would think I was a Catholic school girl!). Finally being able to wear boots and have campfires with s'mores makes me happy...I may have just gotten a little carried away!

First up we have a lovely cape made out of upcycled materials and handcrafted by me. It's perfect for days like today that are warm enough that you don't need a coat, but there's still a bit of chill in the air. 

This 40's Wool Dress from Lost Girls Vintage is stunning and while it is vintage it doesn't feel dated. 

I would recommend pairing the dress with these tights from Sock Dreams and you will be super stylish. While the tights may seem a little risque, when worn with a relatively conservative dress they become much more appropriate for the office. 

I admit that every fall I start perusing what Sock Dreams has available. 

I think you could finish this outfit off with a pair of the short boots that are so 'in' this season. 

Lost Girls Vintage has only a part of their vast array of goods in their online shop. I highly recommend that you stalk them on Instagram or Facebook to see where they are going to pop up next. 

As an aside, if you are looking for vintage cowboy boots definitely find out where Lost Girls are going to be popping up. They have a fabulous selection available. 

Giant Party Vintage is another Chicago seller who has an awesome late 70's/early 80's vibe going on. Follow her on Instagram where she posts new finds.  

This teal blazer paired with the grey shirt is really cool. I think it would look great with a pair of boyfriend jeans. A little bit dressy mixed with a little bit casual. 

 

While the evenings are cool the days and the days are still warm, I recommend this lovely dress paired with a sweet granny sweater, oh and maybe tights. 

What are your go to's when the season changes? I've got a capelet I've been wearing for years and a pair of brown boots that I keep getting resoled.

Originally Published 9/23/14

Bits and Bobs

I was going to do a blog post on how to style a coffee table, but my camera battery won't work and I can't get the pictures off of my camera. I've got tons of ideas and pictures to take and my 50 mm lens is not working. I'm trying to transfer over to a new website platform, but I haven't figure out how to transfer my blog over yet. 

I'm not sure if was because I had a busy week or I just needed to avoid all the things that weren't working, but I took a nap on Sunday. I did not get the things I wanted to get done this week, but sometimes stepping away from the problems means you can move forward later. 

I'm hoping to get my camera working again. Finger's crossed. It's kind of an integral part of what I do. I have some amazing vintage finds that I need to shoot and list, including a gorgeous rug. I really need to list the rug and sell it before I decide to keep it! 

The picture is a close up of the cloche on my coffee table and in it are items I found laying around my home. The round cardboard item is a spool from some vintage French ribbon that I couldn't throw away and now it's found a resting place. The sweet embroidered pin is from a shop off the beaten path in Istanbul. The 'dream' rock was a gift from my life coach. Now I just need to go make my dreams a reality! 

Here's hoping that this week is more productive. 

Originally published 9/22/14