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 the small things I do each day that lead me towards my goal, rather than away from it.
I don't know if I'm finding it easier to stay in a chic zone because I'm focusing on it (the whole three days since I started), or because sometimes it just comes naturally. Don't you wish it came naturally all the time? Perhaps the more I focus on it, and the more I consciously practice it, the easier it gets to do it most or all of the time. Perhaps.
Here are today’s mini-chic accomplishments:
Shaved my legs and underarms in the shower. The ideal me does this every couple of days. The other me sometimes whispers 'they're not that long and you haven't got time'. The ideal me replies 'They are that long and it only takes five minutes'. And it does.
--
Had homemade soup and rocket salad for lunch. And ate plenty of fresh fruit - today involved apples and pineapple.
--
Kept posture in mind and often pulled my shoulders up, back and down (in that order).
--
Decluttered four magazines into my donation box. I aim to add a few items each day and drop it off when it's full.
--
Had two chic sightings. The most exciting one was at the supermarket. I recognised a young woman I remembered as working at one of the makeup counters at our nearest mall. She has short silky blonde hair and is very slim. She was dressed in a classic style - dark skinny jeans, ballet flats, fitted jacket over a slim fitting top and carried a bowling bag over her wrist.
The way she walked and held herself and her confidence made you want to look at her. She was just so polished - her grooming, her clothes. When I passed her I felt happy that my trolley held only good things. Imagine the shame if it was full of rubbish!
--
Tonight at a friend's fortieth - casual drinks and a barbeque at home - I ate only at dinner (no snacks), had two drinks and plenty of water. Tomorrow I will be slimmer and fresh-minded.
--
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!
Since we're so far behind you, I'll share about yesterday (okay?)! I went to an art opening at the gallery that will be showing my work and I met very cool people. Here's the chic part: I didn't drink. Just kept my head about me. It was marvelous--and I felt better.
ReplyDeleteMy chic bit for today: went to the gym again. Will now shower and use a body scrub that I got for my birthday a year ago and thought "I'll never use that"..well, now I will!
ReplyDeleteLoving this series.
ReplyDeleteA good reminder that others see what you put in your shopping cart! I confess that I often peek to see what other people buy at the grocery story - and am usually appalled at the junk. Usually, the appearance of those people match their purchases. I'm now going to be on the lookout for chic people to see what they're buying.:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the posture reminder! I've set the table: white linen table cloth (Bill's grandmother's), white lace table cloth on top (my grandmother's), 30 year old Noritake china in silver, grey and lavender pattern (Sweet Leilani), silver cutlery in art nouveau pattern (Spring Glory by International Silver; bought second hand from Replacements, Inc., decanters (from the flea market) with water in each reach for everyone, the centre ready for food to be served. It was so pretty I took photos!
ReplyDeleteFiona, this is so inspiring! For three days I've avoided junk foods, for me that means crackers (my number one trigger food), cookies, and chocolate. I know that chocolate isn't technically junk, but.... it can really set me off. I feel so much better already.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Chic September idea. I always love your writing.
erina
Enjoying this series so much...
ReplyDeleteyesterday the chicest thing I did was put my hair up in a casual up do with a few pieces left falling out...
I felt quite feminine.
I laughed at the bit about feeling relieved what was in your shopping cart. So many people buy processed junk these days, it's ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteThx for posture reminder as well, I will have to memorize the order! lol
I think your chic days sound so relaxing. I imagine you completing each mini accomplishment at a leisurely pace :) and you know what that means... chic-ly relaxing and accomplishing vicariously for me! with a straigh posture of course. thanks Fiona!
ReplyDelete~ Lenna
ps on the food front, I did have the opportunity to pick some wild blackberries yesterday and will be attempting to make a jam today.
Thanks Fiona:) you have inspired me to follow tout de suite:)
ReplyDeleteSo instead of that oh so tempting cupcake, I am enjoying a fruit smootie, fresh figs, melon and banana. Looking forward to the chic month of September's posts!
Rita
Aesthetic Alterations, definitely. The day before works, since we're all out of sync. I love what you did. One of the women I chatted with last night, she's European and I have mentioned her before in this blog, I noticed didn't often have a drink in her hand and then later on was drinking water. It was only because I was doing the same that I noticed. Others wouldn't have because she was joining in the fun and not sitting in the corner saying 'I'm not drinking'.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, good for you. Your skin will feel so good after a scrub and moisturise. It might even become a weekly thing.
Julianne, thank you!
Cherie, when I'm at a low and succumb to the junk, I hope no-one I know will see my trolley. Once I bumped into a friend of my husband's at the supermarket who is very health conscious and stylish, and I had a basket full of el crappo. As I talked to him I held it behind my back and when we went our separate ways I moved it round to where he couldn't see it! If that's not a lesson for me I don't know what is.
Shelley, how fun to use all your good stuff. It does make a dinner much more special and magical.
Erina, I don't keep triggers at home any more because I will eat them until they are gone, sometimes no matter the time of day. I keep dark chocolate in the pantry at all times but not milk. And I could NEVER be one of those people who kept a jar of lollies on the counter.
Hostess, your hair sounds so pretty, what a lovely idea.
LR, I often peek into shopping trolleys, it's quite illuminating.
Lenna, thank you. Good luck with the jam; I've never attempted it before but it sounds like a very French thing to do, in a Provence farmhouse kind of way.
Rita, well done. The day will go so much better with good food in your stomach. My brother has taken to dropping off tempting baked goods to me at work on a semi-regular basis. Ever since I started WW in fact. I don't know quite what to think of that but I don't let it derail me. When he's brought in a cupcake or brioche I quarter it and have a quarter as my after lunch treat with a tea or coffee, and put the other three quarters in the freezer. I then have three other treats for other days. It still fits within my diet but I've also had a little goodie.
I spent a lot of today really making sure to pay attention to my posture. And I also spent the day doing things to make me look my best (hair appointment, investing in some make-up that makes me look more well put together).
ReplyDeleteI cooked all day yesterday. It was fun to create things from my kitchen and stock up for the weekend. I played French music while working in the kitchen and it made it all that much better.
ReplyDeleteI was traveling all day yesterday and let me tell you, it is difficult to be chic in coach class. I made up for it by spending the flight reading the September issues and deciding what I want to add to my fall wardrobe. When I arrived, I dressed up, did my hair, applied my new perfume, and went out to a chic new restaurant with my husband.
ReplyDeleteToday's chic plan: cafe au lair in bed, brow grooming, freshening up the manicure, and wearing my nice jewelry - all to go shop for window blinds. Tonight I'll put on a pretty dress to go to a concert in the park. I think including some arts and culture in your week is very important to stay chic; so much of our lives is reflected back at us by our artists.
Kate, posture must be challenging for you now. Well done!
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I forgot to say I played French music yesterday. It elevates the whole housework/cooking experience.
KBG, for some reason I always feel chic when flying. I don't know why! Even if I'm only travelling internally I feel like a jet-setter and dress accordingly, sunglasses etc. Perhaps because I fly so rarely. I love your chic evening with your husband and your chic plan for today. I need to include more culture in my life and will have a think about how I can do so. Thank you for the push.