Lately I'm Loving...

1. JOGGING. I've been trying to do a power walk/jog around my apartment complex and surrounding area either in the morning to make myself get going on days I don't have class, or at night before dinner to relax and sleep after having coffee. I'm loving it, and I want to keep this up! No schedule, just when I can. (photo credit). 2. THIS QUOTE. Just perfect. (photo credit). 3. BRALETTES. This is the perfect lounging/sleeping bra! The lace band underneath gives pretty decent support, and it's so soft... I already have two! 

4. LEOPARD DRESSES. So cute! Shop it here. 5. THIS WEDDING. I would love a picture like this, especially with Kyle being a firefighter! (And no, we aren't engaged, but I know he's the one :) ). 6. PREMIER DESIGNS JEWELRY. I am just loving my company right now! I had a wonderful talk recently with my Premier Mom, and I'm setting some awesome goals for myself... I just feel like the time is finally right for me to shine! (The picture is a throwback to meeting our founder Andy Horner at National Rally in 2012!) 

7. SQUAT LIKE... This tank makes me laugh, and it's so true! lol! Found on Etsy. 8. EATING RIGHT. Not that I was eating really bad before, but I'm trying to really keep up with my clean eating cleanse that I did with my roommates. I am feeling less bloated, more "fresh" (if that makes any sort of sense), and I have more energy. Eating more fresh foods has been the key, and more fruits that I was eating before. I've also been avoiding gluten better that I have in the past, as well as rice and wheat. (photo credit).

Happy Monday!

--Caroline

Simplicity & Minimalism

The other day, I found myself sitting (unexpectedly) at Firestone Auto Care waiting for my car to be looked at. After checking emails, and fiddling around on my phone, I turned to their magazine collection and picked up the March 2014 issue of Ladies Home Journal.

That was a great decision, a fantastic decision. And let me tell you why.

While thumbing through, I came across the article "The Joys of Living Small: Three Families Share Their Tiny Houses" (read it here). Thinking it was an article about designing for small spaces, I naturally started reading, and I can tell you it wasn't about designing for small spaces. It was about so much more, and truly got me thinking.

I have always had a knack for organizing, a love for purging unused items. Yet I continue to have a lot of stuff. If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you probably have read about my many challenges I've attempted to curve my spending: my Post-Birthday Shopping Challenge, my Fit2Shop Challenge, and my most recent No Shopping In February Challenge. But this Ladies Home Journal article, and the subsequent research and blog-reading I did, has got me thinking about why these challenges haven't helped my habit. 

In the article, Dave Bruno's 100 Thing Challenge was mentioned. Curious, I typed it into google, and came across his blog and information about his book. Fired up about the negative effects of consumerism here in the United States and the ability to fight it by leading a simple life, the words on his blog by both him and his contributors lept off the page right at me. (literally, I swear! lol). I got to thinking about why I like clothes, why I like to shop. I got to thinking about how I don't want to be in debt for the rest of my life, how I don't want to pass down negative traits to my (very future) children. I thought about how I want to be able to afford travel & experiences for both myself now, and in the future. 

"Temporary and fleeting things..." is a compelling way of wording it...

(Take a look at Dave Bruno's blog here, watch his TedTalk here, and read another blogger's version of the challenge here.)

Additionally, I came across the blog INTO MIND, written skillfully about minimalistic capsule wardrobes, and finding your style. The articles that really spoke to me were "How To Build The Perfect Wardrobe: 10 Basic Principles"  and "10 Wardrobe Building Projects for Sunday Afternoons." 

Even though I wrote about how to do a closet clean out not to long ago (read here), I can still learn much from both articles "Closet Cleanout: The Only 10 Pieces of Clothing You Need" and The Order Obsessed's blog entry archive, "Category Archives: build + edit a wardrobe." They both outline some unique ideas I've never heard of that might actually push my de-cluttering skills! 

Due to my research and readings, I have decided I would like to make a change. I believe that why my previous challenges and closet-clean-outs have failed to stick is that they 

1) only affected the physical buying of clothes, not the mental thought processes or emotions involved with shopping.  

2) did not encourage me to think about my personal style or my favorite pieces and why they are my favorite pieces

3) they only acted as temporary changes, not lifestyle changes.

4) I was far too easy on myself!

Check back soon to see the results of my research! I'm excited to finally push myself like never before when dealing with my wardrobe which always seems to grow.

Do you have the same problem? How do you deal with never-ending clutter? How do you feel about the 100 Things Challenge?

--Caroline

Five Friday Favorites

Well another week has gone by... where is February going?! Anyone else feeling like this year is just flying by? Regardless, here's what happened in my world this week...

1. Monday night I attended an amazing Premier Designs Jewelry training that just left me with so much love in my heart and a loss for words on my lips. (read more about that here.)

2. All week the weather in Tallahassee has been absolutely beautiful! I love this spring time sun so much! If only I had time to go lay out and enjoy it...

3. For a field trip to a cabinet making shop in one of my interior design classes, I paired a simply peachy v-neck with a maxi skirt for a cute, put together, and oh-so-comfy look!

4. In my furniture design class, we are hard at work on our children's chairs! I'm rolling right along on mine... I have the seat struts almost complete!

5. And I put together this spring-espe ensemble for a Premier Party!

I hope your week was wonderful... Anyone doing anything fun this weekend? I'll pretty much be working out/in the furniture design studio/studying all weekend!

--Caroline

Let Go, Let God, & Bad Habits

Today, I hope you don't mind getting a little deep and spiritual...

Those of you who know me personally know that I've been struggling with an amazing job opportunity thrown at my feet related to my studies. Those of you who know me personally also know that I already have a lot on my plate: family, school, long distance boyfriend, a growing (finally!) Premier Designs business, sorority life, and a passion for blogging in my spare time. The past week I've been in a personal struggle... why did I even think I could fit this in? Should I make it work? It would look great on my resume... Why do I keep adding things to my plate? I've done this before... Long story short I clearly have a case of "eyes bigger than the stomach" that just won't heal. 

How I've gotten through it was talking to God. I grew up going to church, but in my adult life I have become significantly closer to God, a lot of which has stemmed from being in Premier Designs, a Biblically based High Fashion Jewelry company. So this past week I've been asking Him what to do, thinking He put this job in front of me to take but confused at why because He already has me doing so much else. Finally yesterday I said no more, I physically don't have time this week to even think about it. It was the practical response, but I got my spiritual answer later last night.

I went to Premier training, which I willing drive an hour to because I just love those ladies so much. We had some people missing, so it was small and intimate, much more personal. I've been to lots of great Premier trainings, but this one was definitely in the top 5. I was just overcome with this reassurance about turning down the resume-boosting job, and overcome with the feeling that Premier is really what I'm meant to do right now. 

I don't know how else to explain it, but I just got this feeling last night that everything was right in my little world, that now I'm back on track. I've learned a lot recently about just giving in and trusting in God. He has a plan, and let Him work His magic over you and bless your life. When you do, amazing things happen!

How has God touched you? How have you gotten through tough decisions? Do you over-book yourself like I do?

Thank you for letting me share a bit of what's been going on in my life! Have a happy & blessed Tuesday, my lovely readers!

--Caroline