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:
Continued work on a knitted rug I am making. It's a very complicated pattern. You need 10 balls of double knit wool (50g) and 5mm needles. Cast on 125 stitches, knit every row for nine balls and cast off. Crochet around the edge with the tenth ball. It's quite cosy because the bigger the rug gets, the more it warms your knees. I'm onto the last bit of crocheting around the edge.
--
Walked to and from my yoga class on the most perfect spring day. The sky was a brilliant blue, the temperature mild (even at 9am) and humidity low. I felt happy to be alive!
--
Enjoyed healthy food including fresh fruit with breakfast, salad vegetables with lunch and water with dinner.
--
Enjoyed some time with my brother. He works shifts, so has been popping into work to say hi when he has a day off. Today he stayed an hour or more and we chatted and went for a walk around the block (via a cafe). It was so nice and I feel really grateful that a) I have a brother b) he lives in the same city and c) he does things like this.
He is eight years younger than me and we haven't always been close (me: uptight older sister, him: carefree younger person). I am also grateful my husband looked after all customers and phone calls while I was slacking.
--
When I have been working in the shop, I think I've been a better shopkeeper lately. I don't let things get to me as much and I go with the flow. I think it makes for a more relaxed retail environment and hopefully people enjoy shopping with us. We are not a high-sales-pressure store. I can try and help people find what they want but I don't think I can ever make them buy something (nor would I want to).
Of course I want our shop to be successful otherwise we're out of a job, but I don't think pushiness will do that. We have many regular customers and I think they appreciate our difference. We also let customers we know well take items home on appro (the old-fashioned way, without paying) and I think that also sets us apart from other stores.
--
Started a mental list of items I want to declutter from our home, and how I am going to dispose of them (donation, sell online etc).
--
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!
As part of my chic-journey, I read YOUR posts labeled "Chic Mentors" last night. How inspiring!
ReplyDeleteMy mini-chic accomplishment is to dress up a bit more when we go out. Yesterday it was an afternoon movie and I added a colorful necklace to my black top and capris. Felt much more "chic".
ReplyDeleteReally, really resisted eating bad food today. It's hard because I'm still craving "something" now late at night...sigh it's a battle.
ReplyDeleteI've been remembering to drink a glass of warm water with a squirt of lemon every morning. It seems that every culture recommends it except my own.
ReplyDeleteGreatly inspiring! Off to make a list...
ReplyDeleteI have taken down the sheers from my windows and put them through the wash, and washed the windows so that the view looks that much prettier. I live in a condo so it wasn't as much work as it sounds.
ReplyDeleteI have also made a big pot of lemon lentil soup to take for lunch this week rather that buying lunch, and I may work up the energy to make a pot of chili for the freezer.
To improve my appearance I did a home facial, replaced my mascara and bought a new fall lipstick.
Your posts have been quite inspiring and I am trying to incorporate some of your ideas into my own life. Keep up the great work.
I am hoping that you'll take a picture of the rug when it's finished.
ReplyDeleteYou are on such a great chic roll this month, Fiona. I am really enjoying the posts. I can't imagine you ever being the "pushy" sort--I am sure your customers heart you. xxBliss
ReplyDeleteYou are having an effect on me! Since the beginning of September I have 1)touched up with my greys and 2)touched up all of my white cabinets and baseboards so I would be ashamed of their chips and smudges 3) bought a new fragrance for myself that I love (Sensuous by Estee Lauder-woodsy!) especially because it came with a fabulous gift and a new makeup bag instead of my dingy one 4)Kept my nails manicured and 5)drank more water! Lets see what day six brings-thank you for your inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely day you had, and being thankful for it is so chic! I'm going to try to do the same.
ReplyDeleteerina
How smart of you to enjoy your brother! When you get much older...he will fulfill your days more than you could imagine!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely day! I made a mental note of a few changes that I need to make and have implemented them today! xxoo :)
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying your blog Fiona! This is a great series.
ReplyDeleteMy closet purge is going well, I hope to have it done this week. I had to be very disciplined and not feel like I had to save things because they were gifts or because I paid quite a bit of money for items. I had to take the Peter Walsh approach. :) I am also taking inspiration from The Daily Connoisseur's 10-Item Wardrobe post she wrote a while back.
Further, we invited some friends over on the weekend, together with the usual wine and beer we also served Kir Royales for something different. It was appreciated by everyone, two of our friends had never had them before.
Took my first real-life yoga class today (I've been fiddling with videos online for a while)! ;) It was flow/vinyasa yoga...and it was free! It's promo week at the gym at school. I don't think my arms have EVER been this sore...but it was so refreshing! My spine already feels more aligned...lol. I want to be able to move through the poses more gracefully eventually...it's been raining here a lot...so I walked to the gym in my rain boots...that's the good thing about yoga...you don't need shoes! ;) Anyways, working on posture and moving more gracefully...I noticed the other day how ungraceful my walking is when I was rushing to avoid the rain...haha...
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you Rebecca!
ReplyDeleteJuhli, I love afternoon movies, and dressing up unexpectedly too.
Anonymous, well done.
LuxeBytes, me too! Yum, and it's so good for the system.
Lilacs in May, such a pretty name, and thank you.
Gracie's Mom, windows represent your view on the world, so clean ones are great. Well done on your soup-making and grooming. And thanks!
Hostess, I will do.
Bliss, I think I'm more enthusiastic than pushy, but we're all different.
Clare, yay! Even though I adore anything French, Estee Lauder was my first love.
Erina, it's lovely to see you each day.
Anonymous, he's the best brother ever.
Cathi, I find thinking ahead helps hugely.
LR, thank you very much. Would love to hear your main points of the Peter Walsh approach as it's been awhile since I've read anything from him, but I love his style. How stylish with the cocktails!
Ani, good for you. It's so different in a class, even though I sometimes do a dvd at home. And FREE is the right price, especially as a student. When I first started yoga I didn't realise it would be so strenuous, but you don't notice it until the next day. It was a pleasant surprise that I don't have to go to the gym and lift weights to tone muscles. Keep dry!
Fiona
ReplyDeleteI loved your mini chic accomplishment about your brother!
I am an only child but I wish I had an older brother :) Something about being the kid sister sounds fun.
as always, I'm enjoying your mini-chic accomplishments!
Thanks Aspen!
ReplyDelete