LATELY...

Wow. It's been since January huh?? Well, I'm still here and it's my hope that you are, too. How have you been?? So many of you sweet people have asked me what's been up and I guess I have a few answers to that question. The short answer is that I've been nowhere. I've just been doing my same routine most days - work, cook, eat, sleep, read, hanging out with my friends and my family, managing my house and my health, browsing (and sometimes posting to) social media, and doing some traveling. In the midst of all of that, I guess I've been contemplating the fate of this space a little more than usual. But before I dive into that, let me give you a health update - because that might give you a little more insight as to why it's been quieter around here...

If you recall, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in March of 2016 - March 8th to be exact. You can read more about that here, here and here. Once I was diagnosed, I dove into this unknown, scary, and really uncomfortable world of learning how to control this symptoms naturally (i.e. without medication) through diet and lifestyle changes. Well, I am SO excited to say that my disease is in remission! I actually learned that back in early February, but I honestly didn't believe the results - despite the fact that I had been consistently feeling better and better. It had been less than a year at that point since I had been diagnosed and per my doctor and my research, remission could happen - but usually not that soon. But I had another test last month that yielded even better results, so I believe it now. I am in remission. I remember getting in my car right after I got the results at my doctor's office feeling like I had just won what has mentally and physically been by far the toughest battle of my life. I've always known that hard work pays off, but this honestly takes the cake...

So how did I get to this point in less than a year?? Basically it all came down to consistently eating a clean diet and keeping a self-care regimen. I kept doing the same things I mentioned back in this post - over and over and over again until I started to feel better. I quit eating gluten, dairy, processed sugar, wheat, soy, eggs, and some nightshades- all foods that a Food Sensitivity test yielded I was sensitive to. I didn't and still haven't slipped up not one single time. I meditated every single day (and still do). I formed a team of doctors and specialists that included a naturopathic doctor, a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, and a massage therapist who essentially helped me put my body back together. I saw all of them except my naturopath almost weekly for about 8 months. I took (and still take) supplements that supported my thyroid and certain vitamin levels - and I never missed a single day of taking them. I stuck to nighttime routine and sleep schedule most nights. And I prayed every single day that God would give me the strength to not give up (which I wanted to do HUNDREDS of times) and for the energy to get through long days that consisted of work, multiple appointments some weeks, LOTS of meal planning and cooking all of my meals, and all of the other random things that just needed to be dealt with on a daily basis. And He came through as always...

That gets me to how I'm doing and feeling today...

Physically, I feel the best I've felt in a really long time - even before my symptoms were really apparent. Most of my symptoms are gone and have been gone for quite some time. My random anxiety and constant fatigue have dissipated, my hair has stopped falling out, I sleep well most nights, and my intense brain fog has lifted. I can certainly tell a difference in how much quicker I can think and how well I remember things compared to this time last year. I still have heart palpitations when I don't get enough sleep or when I'm a bit stressed about something, but they are far less than they used to be. Because of those crazy things called hormones, I might have one or two migraines a month. I used to have on average 10-15 a month just a few years ago, so one or two is certainly tolerable. I've also seen a lot of positive changes in my skin, hair, nails, and body since I've changed my diet. Do I feel amazing everyday? No. But I'm not 18 anymore either...

Mentally, I've got some work to do. Getting sick like that just freaked me out. And you might imagine that all of the work I've done over the past year to heal has left little time and energy to really enjoy life. Getting well has been like a second full-time job - one that I didn't really have time for in the first place. And while managing the disease now doesn't take as much time now as the healing process did in the beginning, it still takes time. In order to keep this disease at bay, I still have to be very careful about managing stress and what I eat. I still see my chiropractor weekly. I see my acupuncturist and massage therapist monthly. Blood tests with my naturopath are done quarterly. But the food is the biggest part. I've added back some foods into my diet, but might never be able to have gluten, dairy, wheat, soy, some grains, some nightshades, or processed sugars again without the possibility of a reoccurrence of symptoms. Time will tell. But being a foodie and not being able to eat whatever I want has been depressing - literally. Going out to eat, which was one of my favorite things to do, is now quite stressful sometimes. Food really heals- and my journey is a true testament to that. But eating this way is hard work sometimes! I often feel like I live in my kitchen. While batch cooking fresh food a few days a week is so good for you (and the food often tastes so good and fresh!), it can be so time-consuming and tiresome when you don't have help and work full-time. Don't get me wrong - I'm so incredibly thankful for where I am now, but I'd be lying if I were to say that my new routine is always easy. It's definitely not.

With all of that being said, here is where I think I stand with this blog. Now that I am physically healthier, I want to start enjoying life with my leftover energy and free time as opposed to being in front of the computer all day at work and all night to blog- then behind the camera most of the weekends to shoot blog posts. I also want to start exploring that whole "finding your purpose" thing (which is a whole other story). Today, my heart says to keep blogging in addition to working on all of that, but my mind says to stop. However, a week ago, the opinions of my heart and mind might have been the opposite. I still love writing, photography, design, and food, but I've realized that those things can't be a priority anymore until I figure some other things out. I've always heard that sickness can quickly and completely change your priorities and how you think and feel about certain things that you once thought were so damn important and necessary. I now know that to be so true. Anyway, I'm not sure if/when my heart and mind will ever be in alignment, but here is what I will do in the meantime:

I will blog here when I have something really special, personal, and original (to me) to share... 

And by special, it could be a life update or a photography project (food or life related) that I really want to share and have time to tell you about. It might be monthly, every two months... Or I might be go really crazy sometimes and do something once a week or every other week. I honestly have no idea. One thing I do know is that I recently went on trip to one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. I'd be crazy not to share the photos I took with you here. So I will - and soon! In the meantime, you can always find me on Instagram. I do often share little updates there. I sometimes also do random InstaStories of things I love, things I'm doing, and recipes that I'm making. It's easier for now (and often more fun!) to share things with you there.

So that's what's up for now! I want to thank each and every single one of you who have reached out to me to see if I'm still around. As you can see, this last year has been a little tough, so getting lovely messages from people I've never even met before were double heartfelt and I'm so appreciative... :)

Dress: Max Studio (under $100 and is so comfy!) | Coin Necklace: vintage, similar here | Shoes: Topshop (old), similar here & here | Sunglasses: Banana Republic (old), similar here

Images by my amazing brother

SIX INTENTIONS...

We are already 18 days into the new year, so it's perfectly acceptable to still be thinking about goals for the year right?? Well I've been thinking and here is what I've come up with regarding my thoughts on 2017. I'm not making any official resolutions. I'm not going to come up with a "word" for the year. I'm barely wanting to make any official goals. All of those things are great things to do, but I'm just not into that this year. Last year was incredibly challenging and full of so much change. Change is good, but quite honestly I'm exhausted from so much of it. However, I know that change is always good. I learned a lot of new things about life and about myself. And in ways, I feel like I became a somewhat of a different person - a better one. I'm more relaxed in many ways, I'm more willing to just go with the flow, and am really coming to a place where I'm secure with my imperfections and comfortable with who I am. So this year, I'm not putting any pressure on myself to make any one specific CHANGE or word happen. Of course I want to do things like maintain my health, continue to grow as a person, learn new things, etc. But those are goals that I have every single day.

But I wouldn't be human if I didn't have a list of things that I wanted to accomplish outside of my everyday goals. So this year decided to come up with a simple list of "intentions" - kind of like a to-do list of sorts. They are simply things that I intend to do this year. They are simple and might not seem super exciting, but that's ok. If they happen - fabulous. If they don't happen, well that's fabulous, too. No pressure - because I think it's the pressure that we put on ourselves that can sometimes keep things from happening. Here goes...

1. Update this blog. - It's very long overdue, I know. My life has changed a lot since I first started this blog and even since the last re-design, so I'm really thinking about the future direction of this blog and how the new design will reflect that. That's honestly been the holdup...  One thing I know for sure is that no matter what, the new design will have a peaceful, clean aesthetic, and will be easy to navigate. That's what I love and what I think most of you appreciate, too. Any feedback on what types of content you would like to see more of here would be a big help in the process, so let me know!

2. Start doing yoga consistently - at home. Pilates and long walks are my favorite workouts, but it's always good to mix things up. One thing that I've learned about myself is that attending a 1 hr workout class for anything here in the city can take about 2 or more hours of time to do when you include getting ready, traffic, parking, etc... That is enough time to talk myself out of going to do something new. Yoga is something I've started doing at home, usually at night before bed, and I want to get more intentional and consistent with it this year. I'm liking this YouTube channel, but let me know if you have any favorites!

3. Update my kitchen. If there was a bed in my kitchen, I might sleep in there a few nights a week. That's just how much time I spend in there. Since I'm quite acquainted with my kitchen - and will be a lot going forward - then I want some nice non-builder grade stuff ya know? No oak cabinets, no boring backsplash, no faux granite countertops, no poor lighting, no poor storage, etc. I just got an AMAZING dishwasher, so just that alone has me excited to update everything else. If you've been reading my blog for a while, then this is probably the 3rd time you've heard me mention a kitchen update (remember this post??). Sorry! Life keeps getting in the freaking way, but fingers crossed that it will happen this year.

4. Continue to make my spiritual practice a priority. I have/had health issues, and can get anxious, easily overwhelmed, impatient, and easily irritated by others. I'm far from perfect. Just being real... The only thing that has provided consistent relief of those things is having a daily spiritual practice. I learned that last year thanks to all of the changes... :) I've always been spiritual, (i.e. church, praying, and random reads of the Bible), but never spent time with God on a daily basis until last year. But now I meditate every morning, listen to spiritual podcasts in the car every day (Joyce Meyer's podcast is my fave) and do my own bible study every night (including weekends!!). All of those things have worked wonders in terms of calming me down, and shutting my mind off with things get crazy - which in turn has made me a happier, healthier person, and has reduced my anxiety. I for sure plan to stay on top of that this year!

5. Increase my 401(k) contribution by 1%. One of the best things I've learned from my parents is to save. And then save some more. So I do. It's really hard sometimes, but it must be done. Saving in general for emergencies is important, but saving for retirement is even more important- especially these days. I'm seeing firsthand with some of my older family members how expensive things like healthcare becomes with age. It's quite alarming and I don't foresee things getting easier or cheaper. Even though I'm a long way from that, I want to stay on top of things. So I have actually already increased my 401(k) contribution by 1% - and plan to keep doing that each January for the next few years in addition to contributing to my Roth IRA. One percent doesn't seem like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things it will make a huge difference.

6. Find a new charity to support. Since I don't always have the time to volunteer, I try to make it a point to contribute financially to an organization on a consistent basis. Each January, I research a new charity to support during the year. I keep a list of causes that are important to me. I pick a cause from the list, research different charities that support that cause (I use Charity Navigator), then pick one or two to donate to each month during the year. If I ever have kids, this will be something we do together as my way of teaching them how to give back. Last year, I chose St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which will honestly keep getting my support. The work they do is incredible...

Pictured: Coat: Banana Republic (old), similar versions on sale here | Sweater: Banana Republic (old), similar here and here | Jeans: Banana Republic | Booties: Zara (old), just got these, though and LOVE them! | Clutch: Clare V. | Lips: Nars "Fire Down Below"

MY FAVORITE $10 NATURAL PERFUME OIL...

So I'm still in the process of parting with toxic beauty products - specifically the products that I use every day. I'm so close to being done! I've switched out my soap, most of my facial products, and my body moisturizer (mainly coconut oil mixed with an all-natural lotion). I even found a good natural nail polish... Next up: perfume.

Perfume is something that I wear every day. I honestly don't feel complete without putting it on before walking out the door. It's something about smelling extra fresh that makes me feel like I'm ready for the day. A few months ago, I was watching Kristen Bell's interview with Giuliana Rancic during the Emmy Awards. Giuliana kept talking about how good she smelled. Kristen said she was wearing Amber oil that she picked up from Whole Foods for $10! So naturally I picked it up on my next trip and grabbed the last bottle they had. They said they had been selling out since that interview... Crazy. 

I have to say... I LOVE it. It's a woodsy, yet fresh and sweet scent all in one, which makes it a great scent for fall. I just roll a little on my wrist and on my chest and I can still smell it at the end of the day. Since it's an oil, it mixes with the pheromones and heat of your body and creates a slightly different scent than the one right out of the bottle - but it still smells amazing. If you aren't close to a Whole Foods, then you can find it here on Amazon. 

Image by me

I'M WEARING MY FAVORITE FALL TRENCH COAT...

Coat: Club Monaco (all of their trench coats are on sale!)| Dress: ASOS (old), similar here, here, and here | Sandals: J.Crew (old), similar here and here | Clutch: Kate Spade (on sale!) | Bar Necklace: Argento Vivo | Ring: Tiffany & Co. (vintage Atlas collection) | Sunglasses: Le Specs | Watch: Michael Kors

Happy Monday! I planned to tell you about my fall reading list today, but a when there is a good sale, plans must change! The sale involves my first love when it comes to clothing - and that is trench coats. Some people collect china. I collect trench coats. I started collecting them in college and I haven't stopped. They are so classic and can be dressed up or down. The accentuate your figure when they are all nice and belted up, which can make you look like a million bucks - even though you might have only spent 5 minutes getting dressed...

This draped soft trench is one of my absolute favorites. It's super soft and lightweight- yet keeps you just warm enough on a cool day. The dress I'm wearing is a a simple $20 t-shirt dress - yet the coat makes it look like it's something way fancier than that. That is the beauty of a trench coat! 

Shop some of my favorite lightweight trench coats below - and check back on Wednesday for the big fall reading list! 

I'M WEARING WIDE LEGS AND A LITTLE SUEDE...

Top: Banana Republic | Pants: J.Crew (old), similar here and here | Sandals: Banana Republic | Bag: Zac Posen (I like this bag and this bag, too) | Necklace: Banana Republic (old) | Bracelet: Kate Spade | Sunglasses: Le Specs | Lips: Nars "Fire Down Below

So I'm sitting here on my lunch break writing this post- wearing those wide-leg pants. I wore them last week, too. And the week before. They are just the most comfortable things ever and I am so glad they have made a little comeback! In case you haven't noticed, I love to wear black, so I paired these here with a simple black knit top and added a little pop of color with those suede block heels for a complete wear-to-work look. 

A quick word about those sandals...

They are so comfortable!! My feet are quite thankful that block heels have made a comeback, too. Note that I had to go a 1/2 size down from my regular size for the perfect fit in these. 

Oh and the bag!! That bag is everything. It's my everyday bag and it fits my whole life (which is a lot) with a little room to spare. I've had it for a while, have carried it everywhere, and it has held it's shape and still looks new. Now that's a good bag... 

WHAT I'M WEARING + LOVING+ APPRECIATING...

Faux Leather Jacket: Zara - runs small! (similar here and here) | Shirt: Gap | Jeans: Old Navy | Heels: Banana Republic | Sunglasses: Le Specs | Watch: Michael Kors | Lips: Nars "Fire Down Below" | Nails: OPI "You Callin' Me A Lyre"

Hi there!! What's going on?? I just got back from visiting family in my hometown. It's always good to see family and I always sleep so well when I'm home!! Anyone else get the best sleep when you are in your homeroom?? Anyway, I also shot a few outfit posts for ya while I was there. And these posts peeps are extra special because they were shot and directed by my little brother. He's been teaching himself the ins and outs of fashion photography over the past few years and I have to say that I am one proud sister!! He's so good with the camera and knows exactly what to tell me to do to get the best shot. I so APPRECIATE him! I hope you guys like these next few outfit posts as much as I do...

One random thing... I'm LOVING the new show "This Is Us." This just might be the best family drama I've ever seen on regular cable. The actors, writing, and plot are so very good and creative. I think I cried (in a good way) the last 20 minutes of the first episode. I rarely do that when I watch a cable TV show for the first time... It's definitely worth catching up on if you haven't seen it yet. 

About that outfit I'm WEARING... I got that whole outfit for about $160 (minus the sunnies). I didn't want to spend a gazillion dollars on a moto jacket, so I went to Zara and found this one. It's inexpensive, but great quality for the price. It also has a little peplum detail in the back that I love. I got the jeans for $22 during a 40% off sale at Old Navy - and I wear them ALL the time! They are so comfy! And those heels... I'm a sucker for slingbacks, so I picked these up during a 40% off sale, too. They have really good padding in them, which makes wearing these all day very doable! 

FOUR FAVORITES...

{All of my shoes these days have to be cute, comfortable, versatile, classy,  stylish, and long-lasting. Otherwise - I don't by them. I've learned that meeting those requirements means that I have to make a bit of an investment, but I'm never disappointed when I make the investment. I've been on the lookout for a platform sandal for the summer that meets my requirements and I think these are cute! I love the leather (adds to the longevity), I have tons of outfits I could pair these with (versatile), the ankle straps add a little style, and platforms are incredibly comfortable to me. }

{Our annual family beach trip is coming up soon, so I'm hunting for a new suit to come along with me. It's a family trip, so I don't want anything that's "too much," but I do want something that's stylish and classy at the same time. This suit has been wishlisted... 

{Speaking of vacations, I had to point out this recent find. If you are an avid traveler who has mastered the art of only carrying one bag irrespective of the length of your trip, then you know that finding the right carry-on is of utmost importance. This carry-on by Away Travel looks like a good one! It's durable, properly proportioned on the inside to please the most systematic packers, and it even has two built-in USB chargers! Love that... }

{Lace bralettes are everywhere these days and I love them! But they can be quite pricey! I recently found this reasonably priced bralette that is super comfy (i.e. not itchy) and versatile. You can wear it under a blazer, a light dressy jacket on a cool summer night out, or wear it as a little nighty to bed... }

LATELY...

{My new everyday bag, which is probably one of my favorite bag purchases to date. It's quality, classic, and so convenient for all my random stuff that I "need" every day! }

Hello!!!! This is a blog post! Can you believe it? I have to start off by thanking each and every one of you who reached out to me regarding the last few blog posts. I was completely blown away by your support. So many of you shared your personal stories with me along with wonderful suggestions on how I can get through this. I'm so thankful for you. I'm still getting used to my new diet and trying to get enough rest. But, I am feeling better and have more energy as time goes by, so things are hopefully on the up and up.

Anyway, I dusted off my camera over the weekend to shoot a few things that I'm loving at the moment. Gosh I miss my camera! Hope you all have a good week and thanks again for your thoughts and prayers!

{In all honesty, my love for fashion has increased since my diagnosis. I've always loved clothes, but since there is no such thing as gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free clothing, then I love clothing even MORE now! As long as it fits, is almost more of a need than a want, and is in my budget, I can have it. That makes me happy. This skirt is a new colorful addition to my closet. It was 50% off and I just couldn't pass it up... } 

{Once I started resting a lot more (a requirement of my diagnosis) I quickly realized that I needed to up my pajama game. These pajamas my friends, are the most comfortable pjs I've EVER owned. They are super soft and are the exact same size and texture after I wash them. I swear I'd wear them each and every day if these met my business casual requirement for work. So very good. }

{And while I've been resting, I've been reading. "Lies & Other Acts of Love" by Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of my latest reads and it was a good one! I loved Kristy's first book, "Dear Carolina," (see my review here), and she sweetly sent me a copy of her new book a few weeks before it was released. It's a beautifully written novel all about love, relationships, and the power of family. That's my kinda read... It's the perfect summer read if you are looking to load up your Kindle!

{I have a college reunion coming up and needed a pair of heels to go with this simple dress. I saw these Sarah Jessica Parker heels in the store and immediately bolted to them. I've wanted them since they first out! Lucky for me I nabbed the last pair in the store. And they were and still are on sale!! And they are so comfortable. Go a half size down from your regular European size if interested!}

{And yes. I still love flowers... :) }

I'M WEARING... BEACH ATTIRE

One of my favorite memories from my vacation was practicing photography with my brother. We both love photography (he is so very talented at it!) and it was just fun for me to be able to talk camera-talk with him. One afternoon on our way to the beach, we stopped so he could take these photos. I know I've already talked about what I'm wearing in this post, but I wanted to put these photos on the blog to show you how I styled it all up- and most importantly to have a visual memory of how much fun I had working with my brother. This was our first time doing a shoot like this together and he told me where to move my head, where to put my arms, where to sit, where to stand, how to stand - everything. One of my fondest memories of our childhood is of us building cities on the dining room table made entirely out of legos - and today he's all grown up and telling me what to do. I couldn't be more proud of him... :)

A few notes: The peasant top runs REALLY large, so I wore it as a cover-up. If you wear it as a cover-up, go one size down. If you want to wear it as a regular top, then go two sizes down. The swimsuit ran small for me. I actually went two sizes up so it would fit my top and backside, but I sacrificed a good fit on my waist. It might be different for you though!

Madewell Peasant Top | J.Crew Swimsuit | Target Panama Hat | Madewell Straw Beach Tote | J. Crew Denim Shorts (old) similar here and here | Serena & Lily Turkish Beach Towel | J.Crew Bracelet | Dolce & Gabanna Sunglasses | Gorjana Chloe Necklace

I'M WEARING: THE LAST DRESS OF SUMMER...

Well friends, it's 8:30 PM on Sunday night (last night) and my Weather Channel app says it is 68 degrees outside. Fall is near. Praise the Lord!! I'm so excited. Even though I'm excited, there are a few things I will miss about summer. I'll miss fresh summer fruits and vegetables (there's nothing like them...), long summer morning walks, dining al fresco, and dresses. Summer dresses...

You might have noticed that all of my outfits in these last few outfit posts have been dresses. I love them. I love that they comfortable. I love their versatility. I love that wearing them allows me to sleep about five minutes longer on days that I wear them. It takes less time for me to get dressed on those days... This dress is one of my favorites. I thought it was the cutest thing ever when I saw it in the store, but hesitated to try it on because wearing a bra wasn't optional. I don't have "wearing a bra isn't optional" assets, but the fit of the dress is very supportive, so no bra is necessary. That makes me love this dress 200 times more. I hope that wasn't TMI, but I myself always wonder how people make backless dresses work. Anyway, this little lady dress makes me slightly sad summer is on its way out, but I'm so ready for fall. Bring it on!

Dress: Zara | Heels: Banana Republic (old), similar here and here | Bracelets: Gorjana, Stella & Dot | Stacked Rings: Banana Republic (old), similar here | Watch: Michael Kors | Lips: NARS Fire Down Below

Images by Paula Coldiron