FRAME le garcon jeans
EVERLANE ryan tank
JAMES PERSE sweatshirt | older version, the newer one has long sleeves. FINALLY.
EVERLANE slouchy knit cardigan | men’s size medium, sold out, link goes to women’s grey
RAG & BONE aston boots | true to size, $269 at The Dreslyn after 25% off, size 40 for $258 at Neiman Marcus
3.1 PHILLIP LIM Ryder bag | mine is large, small version at Azalea for 20% off with code GRECHEN20, mahogany large on sale at La Garconne for $588
Happy new year!! It’s here, isn’t it? I entered 2015 rather quietly, since I was sick, but that’s also the way I like it. I tried to be thoughtful, and reflective towards the end of 2014; I started setting a few goals and made some “plans,” but as I was in the midst of scheduling everything for the year, and writing “on this date I will have reached this goal”, etc., etc., I recalled that all too often, even “the best laid plans” end in tears. And of course remembered the oft quoted “life is what happens when you’re making plans.” So I stopped. And I decided to just be who I am. Right now. Everyday.
Each day is a new beginning and an opportunity to start where we are – to forgive ourselves for whatever we might have done the day before and move on to today. I realized while I was sick and forced to sit around feeling miserable, that the only thing that is important is that we are here. And that each moment is a gift. (no, I wasn’t heavily medicated LOL)
So, now, it is up to me to choose what to do with each day. As I mentioned before, I did start making plans, and tried to figure out what I want to achieve, work on, accomplish, etc., etc., in 2015, but came to the conclusion ultimately, that I just want to work on being me. Whoever that is each moment.
To that end, I have set a few “goals” and come up with a few things I know I need to do/not do to really be the best person I can be.
- Become more lean and fit. I’ve become rather pudgy this last month and it’s uncomfortable for me. Not to look at, I’m quite happy with the way my body looks, but since I entered my 40s, I’ve noticed that I’ve put on fat in places I never did before (my waist), and it doesn’t feel like me. I know…cry me a river, but I’ve always carried most of my excess weight in my hips/butt/thighs, and now, not only am I carrying it there, but also around my middle. Finally, I want to be rid of ALL the excess, just to see how it feels. It’ll be REALLY hard, I want to lose 35 more pounds. I’m up for the challenge.
- Buy less. My first weight loss milestone is on March 16th, so I’ve told myself I won’t buy any clothes until then. Except if I find a nice blouse that fits within my budget, and is not silk; I’d like to wear something other than t-shirts more often. But that’s it. *wink*
- Write more. I want to be a writer. I know, I am a writer, more or less, but I’d like to write more. Maybe a book? Do more freelance? I don’t know, but I am going to start the practice of just sitting down to write an hour a day – not including what I write here….
- Shop more…for other people. This is the year I’m going to finally start my personal shopping/wardrobe styling/closet consciousness service. More on that as it unfolds.
So there it is. I think this is the path towards being the best me that I can be. These are the things that feel right.
Onward!
Oh, and in case you got this far and want to know my thoughts on the Rag & Bone boots, I LOVE THEM. I’ve hardly taken them off since I got them; I find a way to wear them with everything, which isn’t very hard. I’m glad I took my true size. There are still some places to find them on sale, but there are very few sizes left (I linked two I found above).
Yaaaa, what is it with turning 40 and getting pudgy in the middle? I’ve never had issues with my waist line, but now I can clearly see less and less definition .. ugh, so sad! So yes, more fitness .. I’m considering cross-fit. Go big or go home as they say .. lol.
I’m also trying to wear more blouses .. I have tons, but I’m a graphic t-shirt fiend .. lol.
Monica.
MonicaP´s last blog post ..Easy Spirit Pedrina Heeled Booties
Happy New Year!! And glad you are feeling better. I love all of the plans you have laid out for this new year and I can’t wait to see them unfold (especially the last one because that seems like something I would love to do but am not sure I can make a living out of it). Normally, I am all for making resolutions once the new year hits but I’ve decided not to do any this year. I’m not exactly sure why now but I feel like I’ve come to a good place in my life and although there are some things I wish were different (career, love life, etc), I just want to work on being and feeling my best. So instead of resolutions, I just want to explore and discover what makes me happy, the goals/ideas will work themselves out I’m sure. 🙂
Glad you are feeling better – happy belated new year! Your goals are very similar to mine (except for the writing part) and I hope that framework helps create enough structure to keep you on track, without creating undue pressure to be a certain way at a certain time, etc. Each moment truly is a gift, and allowing ourselves to just BE is a very meaningful way of taking good care of ourselves (something I’m trying to do more of this year.) Best wishes for success on your other writing ventures! I think you truly have a gift with words, because you’re not only very articulate, but you also seem so REAL in your writing. If you’ve never read it, you might check out Anne Lamott’s book “Bird By Bird,” which I often give to aspiring young writers. Your plan to sit down and write for an hour each day is very much in line with her advice, so the rest of it might resonate with you, as well. I look forward to following your journey in the coming year, and wish you all the best in both your personal and professional endeavors!.
I’m right there with you on that start where you are. Somehow I thought I had it all figured out, but need to acknowledge some setbacks and get on track.
My goals–
1) Obsess less about clothes and shopping. I felt like I’d made a lot of progress in 2014 with identifying my style and making better purchases, but still managed to just complete a big wardrobe purge. Or maybe I just need to accept that I really prefer having a smaller wardrobe that I turn over more frequently. I think I’ll start out by not buying anything for the rest of January and see how that goes. Fortunately store inventory is all pretty picked over and there’s not much to be tempted by, so it’s a good time to start.
2) Get back to healthy eating and exercise. Not just because I want to lose weight, but because I feel better and happier when I do that.
So no big or really specific goals, but taking it day by day. 😉
what happens to me, is as soon as i think i’ve got it all figured out, it turns out that i really don’t…and i need a huge reality check. i get too arrogant, i think.
i need to do your #1 also, and more about this tomorrow (i read your comment while i was walking through the mall, and it got me thinking…), but so far – although it’s only 1/6 – it’s been pretty easy for me to stop obsessing so much about clothes. even while being tempted by them.
man…i know. it’s been really hard for me to come to terms with too – it’s so strange for me to carry any weight around my middle. and i know it’s very unhealthy to have extra body fat there. so i’m really going to try hard and eliminate it this year!
oh…try cross fit and let us know how it works for you! i thought about it also.
that last one is the one that scares me most. i have been determined to do it for more than a year, but am way too chicken to actually make it happen. i’m so afraid of it. which means i MUST do it. right?? that’s the way the universe works…if it’s really scary, it will be worth while in the end. that’s what i’ve heard anyway 🙂
here’s to feeling your best. that’s the most important thing, and all we have, really. it’s so amazing how everything changes when we don’t feel physically and mentally strong.
oh, thank you!! i read bird by bird actually…and i loved it! i was reading it around the time ozzie died late 2013 though, so i probably didn’t absorb as much as i wanted, but i remember a lot of her advice – it’s very practically actually, and makes sense. plus i just LOVE her style of writing, she’s so REAL. sort of what i aspire to be i guess!
any other advice? books to read?
I’d also recommend Bird by Bird. Anne Lamott is a BIG favorite of mine! As for books to inspire writers, I gave my eldest daughter Reading Like a Writer, by Francine Prose, which is highly recommended for aspiring writers, although I haven’t read it myself.
Congrats on finding YOUR boots! They are so great, and well worth waiting for.
No defined resolutions here, but just a general feeling of the need to become re-engaged with life. We’ll see where that takes me…
Hi Gretchen –
Ditto the new year greetings from me, and I hope you’re feeling better.
Your goals list is inspiring. The shifting of energy and focus from certain areas to others is a common theme for me. From here, just going to try to be gentle about it and as you wrote earlier, take it a bit at a time – and jump in sometimes too if possible!
On the shopping front, sticking to basics there. I’ve ordered a couple of Everlane’s silk blouses hoping that they might work, tho knowing there might be a likelihood of returning them due to length. I’m barely 5 ft and really wish they’d offer petites — and maybe recognize many of us might not be as long and lean as their modeling staff. Nothing new in paradise there!
Enjoy the journey!
Lily
PS – Yes, the blouses will be big shirt or tunics on me if they pass the test … if 🙂
thank you lily! i’m feeling so much better!!
i love that you said to “take it a bit at a time” but also jump in sometimes if possible – i think that’s so true, and important. i tend to mostly just jump in with both feet and get completely overwhelmed, instead of taking it slowly. so this year, i’ll take is slow, and start just where i am. so far, it’s working out nicely 🙂
i do remember the everlane silk shirt being a very nice length on me, and i’m 5’3″ – so it may be a bit longer on you than you’d like, but not TOO long, like most things are. let us know how you like them!
thanks for the recommendation, i’m going to try and get that one too…
i love that – getting re-engaged with life. that’s perfect, i think.
Hi Mamavalveeta03 –
Anne Lamott is great. My husband’s given me three of her books including her latest, Small Victories – Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace.
Cheers,
LP
Glad you’re feeling better!
Yeah, do that too in the jumping in now and then.
Thanks for your take on the blouses – will report back.
-LP
Thx, LilyP! I don’t have that one. My husband gave me one of hers, too!
oh, that one’s in my queue at the library…