Thankfulness

 

Do you struggle on Monday's? Lets be honest, who doesn't. If you think about it though, how much of the struggle is real how much of it is just expected. Have you conditioned yourself to be unhappy and get exasperated easily? Keeping a positive attitude is one of the biggest challenges in daily life, but often it is as easy as a choice. As unromantic as it is often-time thankfulness is as hard and easy as a choice. How are we going to decide to view what has happened to us today? Are we bummed that its Monday or are we thankful that we have a have a job, a home, a family?

Life is hard no matter how you slice it, lets try and make it easier on ourselves and those around us today by deciding to be thankful.

As a first step, have you heard of gratitude journals? They are exactly what they sound like, a journal to record what you are grateful for. The entries can be incredibly simple such as listing what you are thankful for  (coffee and chocolate in the afternoon) or more profound, isn't that the best part about journals, they will take it all! If you are interested in learning more about gratitude journals Ann Voskamp wrote an amazing book about her journey to gratitude and  the challenge of recording her blessings called One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. It has greatly encouraged and challenged me, if you haven't already read it I would highly recommend it.

So as we head into the rest of the week would you care to join me in deciding to be happy. Take the first step and notice something around you and be thankful for it.

Here are a few things I am currently thankful for:
1. A silent moment
2. Green trees to look out the windows at
3. Sweet baby kisses
4. Coffee and chocolate (did I mention that already? :)

 

 

Organized

 

 

Who's down for a good dose of honesty here?

I have a slight obsession. At least that's what I tell myself. It might actually be more than slight but lets pretend its not that bad shall we?
So this obsession, it is with office supplies, shocked? Bored already? I know, its odd.

It started when I was little, say about 6 or 7.
I was home schooled growing up and one of the highlights of the year was when the box of new books came. Mom and all of us kids would gather around together and open it, smell, pick up, and look through all of the new books. They were always so fresh, full of new possibilities. Clean and organized, somehow full of hope in their own way. 
One year, overcome with emotion I even wrote a poem about the joy and wonder of a fresh new notebook, it might have even had some tear stains on it (just kidding.. maybe).

I have a feeling this weakness is somewhat genetic. When we were young, all of us siblings would take turns riding our bikes into work with Dad. One of the highlights of the day was getting to walk down to the campus bookstore and look at pens with him. Then when we got back to the office he would let us go through his drawer and two mugs already filled with pens and let us pick one to bring home. Dad is still the expert on pens and always has the perfect one for any job (look below for his suggestion for the perfect all purpose pen).

Its from this deeply ingrained love of all things organizational and paper related that I decided to start this blog and adjoining Etsy shop. To be able to record, and file my love of all things organized. While I don't have anything added just yet I have a whole notebook filled with product ideas and a few in the works. All are customizable, clean, and intertwined with my other loves, fashion, home design, cooking, and of course organizing. So while I work on finishing up a few designs and posting them, here are a few of my current favorite office supplies from around the web. I hope they excite and inspire you as well! :)

 

Customizable Moleskine Notebooks

Ideal Moleskine Accompaniment

Beautiful Pens

Great Twist on the Classic #2

Perfect All Purpose Pen
 

Photo Source

Finding Your Personal Style

With summer in full swing there are a plethora of adorable sun dresses, shorts and tanks floating around. Sometimes it can be overwhelming between all of the options shown in-store and on blog land. How do you define, and then stay true to your own personal style?  

Knowing how to choose a piece that you will love for more than a season is a difficult task, but developing that skill is one of the key steps to building a wardrobe of interchangeable staples that can easily adapt to different trends.

One of the first and perhaps hardest steps to finding your own style is to stop looking at others. Too often we compare ourselves with others. It’s a lifestyle that is encouraged by social media, tabloids, and our own insecurities. It does us no good to copy the styles of others if while we are wearing it we feel out of place and self-conscious. Ladies it’s time to step up and be yourself! No more apologizing for style, your shapely calves or anything else! You are beautiful just the way you are and its time you start believing it.

So our first step is to stop comparing ourselves to others, and to start figuring out what you like, what looks good on you, and what you feel good wearing. Next, why don’t you take a week or a few days and go through your closet. Try and pick out those pieces that you absolutely love. The pieces that make you feel great. Try and notice any brands or designers that seem to be mainstays. While you’re going through your closet why don’t you pick up a few things from around the rest of your home, a favorite pillow, that lamp that just has you written all over it, or even a mug that makes you smile every time you use it. Style isn’t limited to your wardrobe after all!

Your third mission now that you hopefully have a little bit of self-confidence built up log back into your Pinterest account or break out a few of your favorite magazines, but only look at what you have pinned, or dog eared in the past. Try and take note of any trends, colors, styles, and overall tone of the pictures.

Now that you have done a good bit of self-research try and compile it, you could start a notebook, another pin-board (physical or on Pinterest), a file, or anything you would like. Have you heard of Polyvore? For the technically savvy it can be a great program, and its free! The point is to compile all of the information that you worked so hard to gather so that down the road if you are feeling uninspired again you can simply look back through your personal style guide and have a place to start afresh.

Want a little more help? I have a degree in fashion merchandising and design and one of my passions is to help woman feel confident in their own skin. I would love to help you find your style and build a wardrobe or home that shows that off. If you are interested in getting a fresh perspective on your wardrobe or need some help with deciding on what to add to your wardrobe feel to email me at doublegracedesigns@gmail.com with what you would like or check out my shop for a personal style portfolio.