A Little Summer Warmth

Well, it has been awhile! I’ve missed you all. I needed some time to get use to my new reality. It hasn’t been easy. I have a full time job, I now home school my kids, and I’ve taken on a lot of other responsibilities I usually outsource (such as cleaning my house). The amount of laundry has somehow multiplied. I also spend way too much time in my own kitchen. Overall, I’ve been through a range of emotions and I still struggle but I have also made peace with my current situation. I know this is temporary and I am also doing my best to “self-care”. I do yoga, take walks, and force my kids to play soccer with me outside as much as possible. I color… at this point, maybe more than my kids.

I know that you have also had to find your own way around this new reality. We are all meeting new challenges in unique ways. But I think we can all agree that one of the things getting us through this is each other. My family and friends have remained close… through email, phone calls, texts and social media. Those connections have meant everything to me. I hope you have also found a similar outlet.

When we get back to our '“new normal”, what will it look like? I have so many questions. But one thing I’m certain of is that retail will be changed. We have already heard about retailers filing for bankruptcy. We have seen brands dropping prices. We have gotten a little more comfortable with “online” shopping. Even when retail re-opens we are likely to shop differently.

Our retail needs have changed. I will most likely not be heading back into my home office for quite some time. I suspect that there are others in a similar position. As such, “work clothes” are no longer on my radar. I’m much more interested in purchasing “lougewear” or “activewear” for my work from home situation. I wonder how may of you feel the same way and how that might impact the retail landscape.

It’s finally memorial day weekend and the weather here in New England is improving. Being outside is lifting my spirits and I hope it does the same for you! Let’s try to see the upside as much as we can. And let’s focus on things that will help us to feel better if not our best.

Now for those of you who have pressed pause on shopping but are thinking of adding some additional pieces to your wardrobe, there are still Memorial Day sales to be had. Here are a few of my favorites to inspire you this holiday weekend.

J. Crew Embroidered Cotton Poplin Top

J. Crew Silk Tunic

J. Crew Eyelet Flutter-Sleeve Top

Vineyard Vines Island Eyelet Tiered Swing Dress

DOLAN Collection Tiered Maxi Dress

Manuela Embroidered Midi Dress

Corey Lynn Calter Doriane Midi Dress

A New Reality... (Time to Clean?)

Over the last couple of weeks I have had so many interesting conversations with friends about what we are currently experiencing. Perspectives on this situation vary enormously. So much depends on a variety of factors.

What is your current working situation? Is your job at risk? Do you have children? What ages are they? Do you have school aged children who are e-learning? Do your kids need supervision during the day? What level of supervision? Do you live in an area where you can easily get groceries and other basics? Are your supermarkets missing the items you need/want? Do you find yourself cooking a crazy amount of meals? Are you trying to care for a child (multiple children), hold down a job, clean a house, make meals and do laundry all at the same time? Do you have an aging parent? Do you have a family member with a pre-existing condition?

There are vast ranges in the amount of stress we are experiencing. We are worried about the health of our loved ones (not to mention ourselves), the state of the world, the state of our job, all the way down to what’s for dinner! Just thinking of all of this is exhausting!

Then you start thinking about your physical health. So many of us are maximizing at home workouts combined with getting outdoors when we can. I am committed to finding time in my day to get in a workout. In some cases, I feel like a workout is not enough and I need more. Yoga is the morning to calm my nerves, a run in the evening to get out all my anxiety. All that anxiety then weighs on my mental health.

I know you are all feeling varying degrees of this. I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone. We’re all just trying to take one day at a time and remember to breathe. For some of us there is more down time that others. I don’t find much during my week but I have been able to clean out a few piles and organize a couple rooms. I call this progress!

One thing I have been trying to do is find activities that distract me. I’ve taken to watching old episodes of “I Love Lucy”. I’m trying to read more. I color with my kids. Anything that I think might relax or distract me… I’m in!

I’ve been asked if I would consider hosting a virtual closet clean out. This sounds amazing. If you find you have an hour or two or would like to dedicate an hour or two to cleaning out your closet and would like to have some help, reach out to me. It’s spring after all! Spring cleaning should be in our bones this time of year. Let’s clean out your closet together and feel a little lighter when it’s done! If you prefer to take on this task yourself, here are a few suggestions.

• Take everything out of your closet. You need to start fresh.

• If you are on the fence about an item, try it on. You need to see how it fits on your body. Especially for an item that you have owned for awhile but haven’t worn lately. Your body changes so items will fit differently over time.

• Use a full length mirror. If you don’t own one, seriously consider the purchase. It’s so worth it! You need to see how you look from head to toe in any outfit.

• Don’t keep an item because you think it will look good when you lose weight. It has to look good now or it’s time to let it go.

• Be strategic about how you put items back in your closet. Think about how you get dressed in the morning and organize your closet to make getting dressed as simple as possible.

This is very trying time but I find comfort in the idea that we are not alone. We are in this together. Exercise helps. Talking to friends and family helps. Keeping active helps. Find what helps you the most and hold on to that. This is an amazing opportunity to be strong together.

Time to get comfy

So now that we are practicing “social distancing” will you be living in your PJ’s? I know my kids LOVE to stay in their PJ’s as long as possible. And on the weekends when we don’t have plans, I’m happy to let them. But even though we’ll be home over the next several weeks, the kids are still expected to e-learn. And I’m expected to work from home. Like many of you, I have no idea how this is going to work. I’m fairly certain there will be a large amount of wine and coffee involved.

But one thing I do think we’ll need to figure out how to do is place some structure in our day. This might be my best chance at getting in a few working hours. One thing I notice with my kids is that they’re less likely to stick to a schedule if they are lounging around all day in PJ’s. But if I get them to brush their teeth, put on clothes, and comb their hair, they seem to be more mentally ready for the day ahead. I think this makes sense. It’s a way for them to pull themselves together and get in a mindset. This works for adults too!

Just because they’re getting out of PJ’s doesn’t mean they can’t be comfortable. My kids insist on being comfortable. Sweatpants, track pants, under armor t-shirts… my boys live in this stuff. I also have my share of sweatpants, track pants, leggings and jeans that I find to fit the definition of “comfy”. And when I work from home, I put on an outfit. Even if that’s just leggings and a tunic sweater, it’s still an outfit that I purposefully put on to go about my day in. Like my kids, I find I’m most productive when I’m dressed for my day.

So even though we’ll be at home for the foreseeable future, we’ll still be getting out of those PJ’s and into something purposeful. After all, we still have things to accomplish and we’ll do our best to get them done. And doing them in a cute comfy outfit couldn’t hurt.

J. Crew Cropped Hoodie

J. Crew Relaxed Jogger Pant

Anthropologie Varley Manning Pullover

Spanx Faux Leather Camo Leggings

Lou & Grey Signature Softblend Drawstring Pant

Athelta Breezy Tank

Athleta Mindset Sweatshirt