I Tried Twisting My Shirt

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The buttondown gets top billing for most versatile wardrobe piece, and for good reason. Today I was feeling creative and decided to try something a little different with my shirt styling. I twisted it and tucked it in over a simple tank to create more of an open blouse look. I don’t usually tend toward artsy styling tricks but today it just felt right. It felt a little more special (and definitely more casual) than buttoned and tucked. I try not to be too fussy with my styling since I hate adjusting my clothing all day long. But, I can say that this twist held up to a photoshoot I did this morning and it didn’t drive me crazy! After the shoot my family and I took a quick trip to the zoo, and I swapped the shoes out for Birks but still felt very cool mom.

aritzia striped pink white and blue buttondown twisted and tucked into blue indigo rudy jude jeans with a denim jacket layered over shoulders, blue slingback heels, and a cognac osgoode marley crossbody bag
aritzia striped pink white and blue buttondown twisted and tucked into blue indigo rudy jude jeans with a denim jacket layered over shoulders, blue slingback heels, and a cognac osgoode marley crossbody bag holding can of la croix
aritzia striped pink white and blue buttondown twisted and tucked into blue indigo rudy jude jeans with a denim jacket layered over shoulders, blue slingback heels, and a cognac osgoode marley crossbody bag
aritzia striped pink white and blue buttondown twisted and tucked into blue indigo rudy jude jeans with a denim jacket layered over shoulders, blue slingback heels, and a cognac osgoode marley crossbody bag
aritzia striped pink white and blue buttondown twisted and tucked into blue indigo rudy jude jeans with a denim jacket layered over shoulders, blue slingback heels, and a cognac osgoode marley crossbody bag

Outift details:

Shirt: Aritzia

Tank: Arq

Jeans: Rudy Jude

Denim Jacket: Levis

Shoes: Vintage

The Unlikeliest Style Source

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Maybe it’s because I spent a few too many summer afternoons in a Midwest garage that hosted adult parties to the tune of rock and roll, maybe it’s because my signature move was to be a “pleasure to have in class” and I’m on a life-long journey to subvert this version of myself, and maybe it’s just because it’s simply that good, but one of my biggest sartorial influences is that of the 80s punk rocker.  In this very specific case, a la Johnny Ramone.

Roberta Bayley

Is it me or does this look just as wearable right now (or even more so?) than the year it was taken?  

Facing an un-rock-and-roll day of editing and minutiae, I decided to at least let my outfit have some fun.

black tank and jeans white sneakers outfit
black tank jeans white sneakers drinking iced coffee

A Bit on Self Care

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Some Friday thoughts after a particularly good journaling session this morning:

The relationship between feeling good and looking good are so interconnected for me. I started working out to feel good in my body after four years of child-bearing and recovery. The truth is I wasn’t consistent in exercise even for years before that and I noticed my sense of self begin to drift. It was so easy to throw myself into my work, taking care of my kids, and other projects that taking care of myself felt so distant that I eventually just put it last. It became a box sealed so shut tight that opening it felt intimidating and scary.

Last fall I just kind of ran out of gas for living that way. Truth be told, one of the fire-lighting moments was seeing a client of mine in a very similar life situation out there really living her best life. I thought if she can do it, so can I.

Taking better care of yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally, is the boldest act of courage and self-love you can make. It’s not easy and remains a daily decision, but I can say that I feel better than I have in a decade and growing in all areas of my life (which is the actual real good, icing-on-top, more-than-a-side-effect gift of the thing).

So if you’re reading this and feel like you could use a little boost in putting yourself first (it. is. not. selfish.) know you’re not alone and that I’m on your team!

I’ve been loving pieces from Knix because they empower me to feel good, move freely and look good all at once. This is the luxe lift bra and leakproof boyshort. Both are incredibly comfortable and performed equally well lounging, wearing with everyday clothes, and exercising. The bra is particularly miraculous.

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EMILYANNEKEENEY_10OFF

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For the Fall Nights Ahead

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We’ve been living in our house for about a year and a half now and this was the year that we decided to tackle our yard and garden. Our house is 110 years old, which for Seattle, isn’t uncommon! However, that meant that most of our time and money and effort has gone to renovating the inside (check out our primary bathroom renovation here). This has left the poor garden in the dirt.

With some help from professional landscapers, we’ve been working with our very mature garden to keep the good and cull out the not so good. As a native Midwesterner I never could have believed the trouble that blackberry causes in the PNW!

To get me going, I planned a birthday garden party (anyone else need a deadline to get projects done?). For weeks, I spent nights after the kids’ bedtime driving out to Lowe’s and spreading mulch and weeding and laying pea gravel and installing garden lights and and and — it totally became a different garden. Now we’re focused on a courtyard we have on the side of the house. It’s going to be the perfect place to host bonfires and to sneak out with my husband on chilly nights while the kids sleep upstairs. Swoooon!

Since we’re basically starting with an empty slate I pulled together a mood board. We already have the black bench and the fire chiminea is coming! The rest are roundups (mostly from World Market) that are on our wishlist.

Stay tuned! Can’t wait to show you once we get the rest together.