Happy Monday, Everyone! Over the past week or two, I’ve made some changes in my life. Not huge changes, but a few small tweaks that have made a big difference. It started with a simple idea of keeping a variety of chopped fresh fruits and veggies in the fridge. Each Sunday evening, I wash and cut oranges, bell peppers, carrots, celery and blueberries, then store them in clear containers. Being able to reach for healthy snacks at a moment’s notice has completely changed the way I eat. Don’t get me wrong–I’m still eating main meals, munchies, and even dessert. But having fresh produce at the ready has given me a way to supplement the other stuff, cutting down on the amount of junk that I take in on a weekly basis!
Then I decided to adapt this idea of “clean living” to my closet. It was time. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had two dressy events to attend and one park picnic to enjoy. But the night before each event, I was up for hours trying on clothes because I had nothing to wear. Not “I don’t like the way this looks” nothing to wear. More like, “this doesn’t fit, this now has a hole in it” nothing to wear. Shopping has never been easy for me. And my closet was cluttered with items that would literally never see the light of day again. So I made a big donation pile and downsized by 50%. So liberating! Plus, now there’s more room for additional finds, such as vintage and retro items, which I love shopping for (but don’t do nearly enough). [image above from Eco Green Globe]
Funny how a couple of changes can spark even more updates. For example, now I’m taking ownership over the fact that a woman my age should have at least a few clothing items to throw on at a moment’s notice. You guys know my love of shopping malls built in the ’80s, right? I walk at one such mall at least once a week, with my eyes on the marble, neon and brass decor. Time to start looking at the clothes on the racks too! Today on my walk, I bought the dress above. I think it’s a good place to start! I’ll be sharing more of my wardrobe endeavors in the weeks to come.
One reason I need to step it up in the fashion department: I routinely neglect clothes for interior design projects! On that note, my new outlook on life has helped me open my eyes to the areas of my home that could use a piece of art, a new coat of paint or a touch of simplifying. My latest project (for the bedroom) involves a canvas, some teal paint and some small grey-black tiles. I’ll be sharing the results in a couple of weeks.
And I intend to spotlight the work of current product and interior designers who continue to inspire me with their retro-meets-modern creations and clean-lined aesthetics. One of my absolute favorites–Rafael de Cárdenas. Yes, I’ve featured this talented interior designer on Mirror80, including his interior design firm, his shopping picks and his awesome apartment. At the top of this post, we see his geometric design for the OHWOW Gallery in Miami. For more on Rafael de Cárdenas, check out my recent article for Decoist, which includes many more amazing images of the designer’s work!
Have you ever made one change that has sparked a variety of additional improvements and ignited your creativity? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below…
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