I couldn’t finish this post in time to hit publish on Friday. But since I’m in charge, I can post it on Monday instead. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Our weekend centered around Little League playoff games. Sadly Little Man’s team suffered a crushing loss yesterday, so he is done for the season. We also saw Wonder Woman. You really MUST see this movie. I pretty sure I have seen every superhero/comic inspired movie produced in the last 8+ years. Wonder Woman is by far the best. Hands down. I loved the action, the spirit, and the story line. Plus, the kick-ass women were entirely inspiring! Hope you all have a great week.
A few things that inspired and interested me last week:
I am inspired by companies and brands who support a cause as part of their mission. It is lovely to know that a purchase has a greater good. In a continuing series, I will highlight these companies and the amazing causes they support. Like always, if you know a brand that I should feature – please leave a comment or message me directly.
FEED is a company that helps feed children in need around the world. It was started by Lauren Bush Lauren in 2007 in response to her travels and seeing hunger firsthand. Every FEED product is stamped with a number that signifies the amount of meals or micronutrient provided with its purchase. You know exactly what the impact your purchase will have in the world. Many of the meals provided are a school lunch, which for some children will be the only meal of the day. With a school lunch provided, attendance increases and kids are in school more often. The ripple effects are endless.
A few of my favorite products from the FEED site, but it was quite hard to choose:
While there are no specifics finalized, we have purchased airline tickets to Nashville ….so this trip is finally happening. As I began my search for lodging I stumbled upon The Wendell Home. This Airbnb home is a minimalist’s dream come true. I seriously cannot stop looking at the pictures. {I’ve included a few here, but you must look at all of them in the listing!}. The home gets a 5-star review, which isn’t surprising! A couple of my travel mates are not sold on staying in a house instead of a hotel {including my husband}. I love the idea of staying in a neighborhood and exploring shops and restaurants off the main tourist strip! All the other stuff is just a Lyft ride away. I may just book it and surprise them. I mean, how could we go wrong with this house?
Hoping to catch some live music at The Bluebird Cafe and see the Grand Ole Opry. Any other Nashville suggestions?
It’s a three day weekend. The weather is going to be amazing in Seattle and are planning to bum around in our own city! We are hoping to go for a hike, grab some pizza, ride the Seattle Great Wheel and explore the Public Market. Spread out over three days, with a little pool time thrown in for good measure, it sounds like heaven to me. Have a fun weekend!
A few things that caught my attention this week:
1. Socks with heels. These sheer stockings give me all the heart eyes!
2. Have you see this IMomSoHard video? They are all of us looking for a swimsuit.
3. The trailers for I Love Dick on AmazonPrime are pretty funny. I mean…Kevin Bacon.
What feeds you? We consistently give: as wives, as caregivers, as employees, as bosses, as daughters, as sisters, as friends. But what feeds you – so that you can continue to give? The adage of “carving out time for yourself”, is a tired track being played on repeat. But dammit, it’s so true! I’m hoping by sharing some of the ways I feed my senses, it might spark something for you. Maybe it’s revisiting an old passion or trying something you have never done before.
What feeds me? Dance Church. It is my everything. What the heck is Dance Church? It is a dance party, just like at the best clubs, but in athleisure instead of your hottest get-up. Bare feet instead of stilettos. Coffee after instead of shots before. Workout instead of hung over. Oh my gosh, it’s a my dream come true. Founded by Kate Wallich, Dance Church happens every Sunday morning and Tuesday night. It is a 90 minute dance workout, however it’s not choreographed. Kate leads the class and cues movements, but so general in nature that you can move however you please. There is every type of person represented and that is what makes it so awesome! The room at Velocity Dance is dimly lit and packed, so you have to like being in close proximity to others while sweating. The playlists are out of this world {Think RiRi, Bey, Drake, Bieber,}. I walk out of there on a high every time. In my 20’s, there was nothing better than dancing into the wee hours of the morning. Dance Church gives me everything I loved: music, movement, and infectious energy.
Would you give Dance Church a try?? Read the personal account of a first timer.
PS: The mirrors are covered, there is no front, and no one is watching you! And church has nothing to do with it.
Long time readers might remember when I gave my little closet some love. Well, my quest to simplify my closet and wardrobe continues. The book, The Curated Closet, might change my life. Ok, that might be overreaching. Nonetheless, this beautiful book is a guide to finding your own personal style and building your dream wardrobe. One chapter in particular jumped out at me and I think it’s a great place to start. A closet detox. One must purge before one can rebuild. I’m actually really good at this, but I know others find it really difficult. Maybe the easiest question is to ask yourself, “Is this piece working?” It’s a broad question, but one that gets down to it. {Here are a few other ideas to think about when clearing out a closet.) Once you detox, you will need to do something with your clothes.
In an attempt to reduce clothing waste, I’ve been researching ways to re-purpose my old clothes in thoughtful ways:
Ok, this isn’t a donation, but it’s a great option. ThredUp is an online consignment store. They will send you a large bag {postage paid}. You load up the bag with clothes that are new or like new and send it back. You are paid for some items right away and others you will be paid once the item sells. The site is amazing and I plan to shop it once my hiatus is over. Yes, you could take your clothes to local consignment store and that is a great option. But honestly, this method fits into our lives easily. More questions? I found their FAQ very helpful.
Take an old pair of denim to a Madewell store. The company partners with Blue Jeans Go Green to recycle jeans into housing insulation. Plus, they will give you $20 off a new pair of jeans. Win-Win!
Donate professional clothing, shoes, accessories, and outerwear to this amazing charity. This organization gives impoverished women professional attire to secure employment. This a perfect place to donate “work clothes” you no longer need!
4. Local Women’s Shelter
Find a women’s shelter in your city that is in need of clothing for women and donate directly. Mary’s Place in Seattle is wonderful option to directly impact women in our area.
Do you have other ideas on how to donate consciously? I’d love to hear from you.
I’m trying to adopt a new mantra: Fewer|Better. While I have talked before about curating my wardrobe, I’m working hard to be more thoughtful about any purchase, clothes or otherwise. A year ago my absolute favorite pair of sandals broke for the last time. (I had already repaired them twice!) Forced to throw them out, it’s been a months long search to replace them. Using the Fewer|Better principal, it’s obviously taken longer than most humans would give it.
While I’m still waiting for the perfect gladiator sandal, I finally decided on a minimal pair from Madewell. A change in direction is always a good thing. Add a sweet pair of oversized, blush sunglasses and a straw hat and it’s an instant vacation. COME ON summer! We can hardly wait until you get here.
My little family is scattered in three directions and 2 states this weekend, but the sun is out and OMG have we been waiting for it! Thanks for all of your kind and thoughtful feedback this week. It was amazing to hear that you had missed Where is June? and are willing to take another ride with me. I hope you have a great weekend. Put this song on repeat and turn that shit up! xo
This week the things that interest and inspire me include articles to read and Podcasts to listen to:
1. Flower Flashes brighten the day of New Yorkers. The Flower Bandit strikes again!
2. My love of Podcasts continue….this time with Katie Couric. {My favorite episodes are interviews with Sheryl Sandberg and Ina Garten}.
I have placed myself on a shopping hiatus. At {almost} 43, I am sort of stuck stylistically. First, let me reassure you, I don’t prescribe to any notion of “dressing your age”. Women absolutely don’t need to be told what they can and can’t wear. For me, it’s more a change in my attitude towards clothes and fashion. My life is quite simple and I don’t need a separate work wardrobe. Other than workout gear and casual apparel {jeans and tee}, I’m still finding my way. So, instead of buying more of the same and creating more clothing waste, I am just taking a break for a while.
The idea of Fewer, Better is a great principal. It is the philosophy behind the brand Cuyana. “We believe in style over trends, in quality over quantity, in loving your closet. We believe that fewer, better things lead to a fuller, better life.” Oh my gosh, YES! Less stuff. Their design aesthetic is clean, simple lines and tailored silhouettes.
I had never purchased from their site, but was recently gifted this amazing leather pouch. It is the perfect color blush and made from soft, supple leather. I have used it as a clutch on a night out and in my carry-on to hold my headphones and Kindle. I can tell that it is going to last and it is beautiful to carry. I will be happy to support this brand in the future. Investing in fewer, quality pieces is a step in the right direction.
PS:// I love their Lean Closet movement and I am putting this weekender bag on my birthday wish list.
I have been thinking about, planning, postponing and drafting this post for many months. If you have been a reader for the past few years, you surely noticed my absence in posting regularly-or posting at all. A brief history of Where is June? starts with the blog being a private, “just between friends” space to share my small victories and shortcomings as a mother. Somewhere around 2011 I decided I missed writing and I thought blogging would be a fun outlet. My blog became public on Blogspot. As I began to write and post more frequently, I started to obsessively follow other blogs. The community was creative and intoxicating. I read books about successful blogging practices, attended a conference, learned to take photos, purchased my own URL and Where is June?, as you see it today, was born in 2013. I found success with growing readership, collaborations with companies, and a shout out in a Better Homes & Garden round-up. It felt great. Until it didn’t.
I lost my way. While I really wanted to find a niche and somehow make money by writing and blogging- it was out of reach. Or at least it felt like it. I am the first to admit I do not have an entrepreneurial mind set (I started as a business major and made a quick switch after one year. Undeclared was better than one more business class.) Should I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone? Probably. Could I have asked friends and acquaintances for business advice? Absolutely. BUT…I didn’t.
If I wasn’t going to monetize the blog, what would it be? I dream of fashion, but I am not a fashion blogger. I try new recipes all the time, but I am not a food blogger. I love my kids desperately, but I am not a mommy blogger. Working out feeds my soul, but I am not a fitness blogger. Nothing makes me happier than planning a trip, but I am not a travel blogger. Home design is an obsession, but I’m not a designer. I enjoy creating layouts and taking pictures, but I’m not a graphic artist or photographer. If I’m not any of those things, what the hell am I doing? So I stopped.
And now I am ready to start again. {Thank you for reading this far. You made it through all the rambling} I have decided Where is June? can be anything I want it to be. {It does seem obvious, I know.} I don’t need to follow any rules or any specific model. As the posts begin to pop up more frequently, I hope they are inspired and a bit different. I want it to feel like a conversation you might have with your girlfriends while sharing a bottle of Rose. Nothing forced. Just me sharing with you, just like I would with my friends. The pictures will probably be from my iPhone and the layouts won’t be perfect, but I promise the writing will be real. It will be authentic. And most importantly, it will be me.
I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading. If you have ever shared one of my posts, you are a lovely human. Here is to more great posts and to building an online community of friends.
PS// I’d love to hear what you have enjoyed reading here on the blog in the past. Leave a comment below or direct message me.
