For the month of September I plan to document daily steps I have taken towards a chic, elegant and healthy life. My goal is to keep uppermost in my mind the kind of life I want to live. I will be focusing on all the small things I do each day that lead me towards my goal, rather than away from it.
Here are today’s mini-chic accomplishments:
Had a thrifty and healthy lunch – leftovers - some mince and bean chilli with cottage cheese on top and a salad. I had some cottage cheese to use up and I pretended it was sour cream. It was still white and creamy so I think I got away with it.
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Read through Anne Barone’s ‘AnneMail’ during my lunch break with a cup of tea. I especially like the thoughts shared in the most recent reader letters – Chloe and Renee. I may just try Renee’s idea of replacing 1/3 of a bottle of body lotion with olive oil. I can imagine how divine that must feel on the skin.
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Did some decluttering in my head. Sometimes I feel frozen when I try to get rid of things. Today I thought about various areas (mostly wardrobe and sewing/knitting room) and planned to donate quite a few things. It makes it much easier when I come to do it. I’ve already sifted through the items in my mind.
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Having an early night. I might talk about having an early night, but often I do ‘just a few jobs’ and it ends up being the usual time or later. I don’t want 7 hours of sleep, I want 8 or even 9.
I really relish my wind-down time too, so that means heading into the bathroom earlier to wash my face so I can do it in a relaxed and thorough manner and enjoy the massage of my night cream rather than just throwing it on.
Then I can have a quarter-hour of reading a calming magazine, book or printed-out article (French Chic of course) before turning back the covers.
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If you feel like you want to make September a chic month for you as well, please join me. You are welcome to share your mini-chic accomplishments for the day (or the previous day if you read in the morning) in the comments section. It would be lovely to have you along for the ride!
Image from Home Design LOVE
I've gotten into the habit -- based on your suggestion some time ago -- of cleaning my face and prepping for bed hours before tuck-in time. It really does make a difference to do these things while still alert, rather than ready to crash face-first into the bathroom sink!
ReplyDeleteGreat job with decluttering, I finished mine on the weekend and left all the stuff for Community Living to pick up this morning. Felt great to drive away this morning knowing that "stuff" will be gone later! I was a bit ruthless with my purge, I finally got rid of items I had saved 2 or 3 times previously.
ReplyDeleteSleep is precious to me too Fiona and I do not always sleep deeply if I have been too active before bed.
ReplyDeleteNight cream is tres chic and I love that you take time applying it mindfully.
It's morning here and the chicest thing I have done so far is to read your blog!
Dear Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI learned a little while ago the wonderful thing that is olive oil.. it's so versatile and you can use it for so many things! I think I need a good moisturizer for my face... recommendations?
Being able to declutter your head is an amazing skill to have. I really need to get better at it. I, too, often find myself frozen. but then it tends to spiral down into a confused ball of stress thinking about everything I need to get done... I think I need to become stronger mentally. That's more chic, I think :)
I'd love to know how the olive oil works out if you add some to your moisturizer.
ReplyDeletebravo for having a thrifty lunch. I like to think how much I save just by eating at home. it makes it all the more satisfying.
LuxeBytes, I just couldn't get into the early facewash, but now I do it not long after dinner. It starts my relaxing wind-down time.
ReplyDeleteLR, well done! Some items escape one sift only to go with the next one. I often ask myself why, but one time when I was ruthless on the first go it felt a bit funny, almost like I'd had stuff taken from me. Maybe multiple declutters are better for the mind.
Hostess, for the last three days I've started noting the time I turn the light out and the time I get up to see how many hours I really will sleep over, say, a week. I think it will be interested to find out!
Aspen, you have different some brands to us in New Zealand so couldn't recommend a brand, but I generally go for the thickest and most creamiest one for night (without alcohol or mineral oil in it) and a lightweight and matte-ish one with sun protection for day. I've been trying less expensive ones and they are fine.
Stephanie, I'll update once I try the olive oil moisturiser. Before we opened the shop and I worked in the city, I bought my lunch five days a week, plus coffee/muffin/lollies for snacks. It definitely would have added up, and we had a small fridge at our office, same as at the shop. I could have easily taken lunch, even on the bus!