This is Part 2 in a series of posts about my trip to Italy in 2014. {Read Part 1/Roma here}
Calabria: Days 6 and 7
Leaving Rome, we headed south, 5 hours by train, to the region of Calabria. Both of my grandfathers immigrated to the United States from Calabria. Unbelievably, their towns happen to be only 30 km apart. Prior to leaving on our trip I was able to connect with family and plan time in each town. My cousin Elena, spoke English and was an immense help! While in Rome my rusty Italian served us well. In southern Italy it was a totally different story. Very few residents spoke English and all of them spoke in a regional dialect, so it was almost impossible for me to communicate. Aaron can tell an extremely funny story about my conversation with a cab driver in Cosenza. I mistakenly asked for a 50 km cab ride instead of a ride to the train station. Funny now, extremely stressful in the moment.
Click through to read more about our time in Southern Italy:
We have distinct seasons here in the Pacific Northwest. With a shift in weather, comes a shift in wardrobe. I see this time as a perfect cue to clear out my closet.
I have had several of you ask me for help with your closets. The hard part is knowing where to start. In our busy lives, a formula is always welcome. While I have not written a best seller, I am pretty good at clearing out my closet.
If you remember, I created a storage system when I gave my closet some love. Clothes and shoes that I am not currently wearing find a home in storage containers for a few months. Clothes move in and out of my closet based on the season. You may not have this system in your home, but the process will be the same. Every article of clothing must be closely considered. Does the item stay or go? This is where it gets really difficult.
Here are the things I consider:
Fit
Simply, it must fit. For me I can’t keep something that doesn’t fit anymore. This is sometimes painful and sad. {Please note, I’m not talking about it being a bit snug because that can change by the week or day.} If you aren’t sure, try it on and look at yourself in the mirror. Does it flatter your shape? Do you feel good in it? Does it button or zip easily? If the answer is no to any of those questions, it is time to let it go. If you have recently lost weight and the piece is too large, please don’t wear it anymore. Either have a tailor alter it for you or pass it along. You deserve clothes that fit you well.
Condition
Carefully inspect each piece. Is it in good shape? Is it missing buttons or is the hem coming loose? Some problems are easy to fix and will give life back to your clothes. However, sometimes it is just time to say good bye. Even if you absolutely love a blouse, you can’t wear it if it has a large stain. Sweaters don’t look great once they have lost their shape. Shoes get old. I recently just gave away two of my most favorite pair of pumps. They were past their prime and starting to look a tad tacky. Was I sad? Yes. Did they need to go? Yes.
Style
Yes, it is true. Everything eventually comes back into style. However, it usually takes twenty years or so. Are you really going to hold onto that pair of jeans until they are back in fashion? I hope your answer is no. There are true classics and they can be great from year to year. However, it may be time to update your black pants or blazer. If you tend to buy trend pieces, you need to be extra critical. {I find that these pieces only stay in my closet for a couple of years.}
Do I wear it?
This should be your final question, always. Do I wear it? Honestly. If you don’t wear it, what is the point of keeping it? Buyers remorse might be involved here, but you just have to get over that.
If you have done your job well, there is a pile of clothes that need a new home. I make two piles: charity and consignment store. If you believe that someone else would pay money for a few items {usually name brand}, consider taking them to a consignment shop. You earn a little cash and this often times makes the process easier. Off brands or older items can quickly and easily be given to a thrift store or charity. Put them in your car right away so you don’t second guess yourself.
If you have questions, please leave a comment or shoot me an email denise@whereisjune.com. I will help in any way I can! You can do this!
Happy Friday! It has been a fast-paced, busy week. With school and kids’ activities in full swing, life is a bit of a blur. Weekends are always a welcome respite. What are your plans? I am hoping to switch my closet over to fall and squeeze in a movie matinee.
A round-up of things that inspire and interest me this week:
1. A friend is leaving for New York on a red eye tonight…..wish I was going with her.
Life is beautiful, white and bright, and perfectly curated. Well, at least it is for the creatives, hipsters, and the cool kids on Instagram.
So, how perfect is Socality Barbie? A brunette, bombshell of a doll posing in all the cool Northwest spots, making your life look sad and depressing. And totally making fun of all those living an authentic life and snapping shots of their artisan coffee. Created by a Portland based photographer, choosing to remain anonymous, Socality Barbie is totally off the hook with over 1.2 million followers. {Just two weeks ago, she only had 7,ooo!} Personally, I laugh out loud every time a new post pops up in my feed.
Socality Barbie is a fantastic Instagram account satirizing the great millennial adventurer trend in photography. It’s an endless barrage of pensive selfies in exotic locales, arty snapshots of coffee, and just the right filter on everything. Anyone who’s flipped through an issue of Kinfolk gets the aesthetic. And it’s everywhere on Instagram.
The woman behind the account is a wedding photographer in Portland, Oregon, who wishes to remain anonymous so to preserve Socality Barbie’s authenticity. She created the Instagram about three months ago to poke fun at all the people hashtagging photos with #liveauthentic and #socality. The homogeneity of their authenticity and universality of their socality all but demanded satirization. “People were all taking the same pictures in the same places and using the same captions,” she says. “I couldn’t tell any of their pictures apart so I thought, ‘What better way to make my point than with a mass-produced doll?’”
The descriptions make the pictures ridiculously funny. Take 5 minutes and read a few. I promise it will totally make your Wednesday!
Oh, and who can forget the hashtags? #liveauthentic #thatpnwlife #finditliveit #communityfirst
Next week it is officially fall and I can feel it! The weather took a hard shift and the very cool mornings make it undeniably so. But every season brings its own delights. Fall ushers in cozy blankets, lazy Sundays and delicious comfort foods. What are you up to this weekend? Our little family is recovering from a very long two weeks, so low key and healthy are all I am looking for.
Inspiration surrounds us. This is what inspires me this week. Remember, love big! It’s in the details.
1. A fall hike on a piece of the Pacific Crest Trail. I watched Wild again and the PCT is right in our backyard.
2. Suede booties. Wear them with cut off shorts now and a pair of skinnes later.
I thought it was about time for a new mom uniform. My husband and I are spending the weekend in the Washington wine country for a little fun. It has been two years since we have done any wine tasting, so it is a total treat.
The anchor of this uniform is a simple, black tank dress { I also loved this dress}. Light weight and flowy, it is great in warm weather. Everything else is just an accessory. How fun is that? I’ve learned that having your hands free is key when wine tasting. A cross-body bag would work, but I am pushing my fashion comfort zone and going for a fanny pack. {Stay with me.} With all that sun, a wide brimmed hat and sunnies are essential. A pair of wrap-around ankle strap sandals show off a fresh pedicure in white. A leather bracelet and a bold feather pendant give interest to a fairly simple outfit. Every uniform needs a pop of color. A bold orange lip in an iridescent sheen finishes off the look.
With the boys still home with me for summer, our field trips need to meet two requirements. The trip needs to be kid friendly {obviously} and active. This week we took a trip to the Seattle Bouldering Project {SBP}. My boys love to climb at this gym. Since most playgrounds these days have a bouldering wall, they are extremely comfortable with the hand and foot holds. I appreciate the welcoming feel of SBP. There are some serious climbers and they are always so upbeat and kind to the boys. A couple of months ago, I went with a friend to climb and actually really enjoyed it. She showed me the ropes and I wasn’t so intimidated. Plus, it is a fantastic workout. This last trip we all climbed together.
While climbing with the boys this time, I realized all the amazing life lessons they are learning while climbing. In just a short amount of time I saw problem solving, team work, perseverance, resiliency, camaraderie, and patience. The boys watch the more skilled climbers if they are have difficulty with a climb. They observe a strategy and then put it into action. Quite amazing really! While not a reason for the field trip, it sure is a huge plus!
The hours make it easy to pop in any time during they day. You literally need nothing. They rent shoes and you can borrow chalk. Just remember to wear clothes that allow you to move and climb.
{Just look at the face! Pure determination. Gotta love that.}
The boys and I took an excellent field trip to Artist at Play in Seattle Center. Nestled behind the Experience Music Project, it is an enormous playground fitted with ropes, slides, towers, slides and ladders. Any kid that loves to climb will totally dig it! There is a small section for small children, but it is definitely geared for older kids. Younger kids will need some assistance navigating the ropes. My kids disappeared in 2 seconds flat, so if that makes you anxious you might visit once September arrives and the crowds of tourists diminish. I suggest having your kids wear shoes and socks, not sandals or flip flops. This will allow them to climb easily, plus the turf under the structure was extremely hot.
Add a little bit more fun by riding the Monorail and grabbing a bite to eat at the Armory.
This is my favorite weekend of the summer. The Blue Angels buzz our little island over and over and over. They amaze me every year! Big W and I are taking the kayaks to the lake for a front row seat today. What are your plans?
A few items that inspired me this week. Remember, love big. It’s in the details.
Who are these babies pictured -so happy {and tan}? Man, they look insanely happy, don’t they?
This picture was snapped just days after we returned from our honeymoon. We are celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary today. Fourteen years is a pretty good run.
Here is what I know after 14 years:
1. I would still pick the same guy.
2. If you didn’t receive {birthday, Valentine, etc} cards before you were married, it is never going to happen.
3. Saying nothing is sometimes the best course of action.
4. Getting the last word isn’t important, as long as, deep down, you know you are 100% correct.
5. Just let me be in charge. It works better that way.
Love you babe! Can’t imagine navigating this crazy world without you.
