I love when I stumble on an interior photographer whose work is stunning and who photographs spaces that make my jaw hit the floor- it’s like a mini Christmas! Pia Ulin is one of those photographers. Her portfolio is a feast for the eyes and has my design mind spinning. These are some of my favorites, but see her entire portfolio here and more of my favorites after the jump. I know you’ll love! Enjoy my friends! xx- Sarah
Good morning friends, happy Tuesday! Today I’ve got a variation on one of my winter staples- rice porridge! It’s such a hearty, delicious, indulgent and healthy way to start the day that I come back to it again and again. And this variation, made with forbidden rice, is no exception. It takes a bit of time to cook up but it’s worth every minute. I love it for a weekend breakfast, when the rain is running down the windows and the wind is whipping the trees around. A warm bowl of rice porridge feels so cozy. Hope you love! xx- Sarah
Hi friends! A few months back I wrote this post about my relationship with social media, and my suspicions that it may be making us more lonely. And then in December I took a little break from it, a sort of experiment to see what it felt like to not know what everyone is up to every given minute. And what I found was a HUGE eye opener! The first thing I realized- I had a tendency to fill up blank spaces with my phone. Meaning, anytime I was waiting for ANYTHING- in line at the grocery store, waiting for a friend or any appointment, waiting for water to boil in the kitchen: my hand instinctively grabbed for my phone to scroll through a feed- Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and when I felt like I could tolerate it, The Huffington Post for a bit of “reality”. I thought I wasn’t one of “those people” but the second I started to be conscious of my habits I realized I 1000% was. Eeeeek!
With this newfound awareness I made the decision to continue with my break and begin filling space with something that would serve me more- my mindfulness practice. So instead of the relentless scroll, I started using those moments to take a pause, notice my breath and be present. Slowly the habit shifted and I found myself losing my phone for hours, reverting to my former ways of life pre-iphone. And it felt GOOD! So I continued.
After a couple of weeks of very limited social media use I realized I felt happier. NOTICEABLY HAPPIER. That’s crazy, right?! I’ve since shifted to some social media use, and it feels ok. I check in every once in awhile, but I don’t scroll with abandon and fill up all of the empty space with it. I’ve found a more balanced relationship, and I pay attention to how often I’m “checking in”. The world seems better somehow when I am living in it rather than observing it from my phone. I feel more grounded, more present, happier.
What are your thoughts on this? Could you imagine doing a social media cleanse? Do you think that’s just crazy ridiculous? I’m so curious to know if you have had similar experiences or think I’m a wackadoodle!! xx- Sarah
Hi friends, happy Wednesday! I’ve been obsessed with the idea of a capsule wardrobe from the first second I heard of the concept. In case you’re unfamiliar, a capsule wardrobe is a select number of carefully curated pieces that can be mixed and matched. It’s a very intentional collection of clothes and shoes designed to be versatile and fit all of your needs. Even with all of the clothes I have (and you can see the abundance that is my closet here) I somehow still find myself in there spinning in circles thinking I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!!!! Which is crazy silly and also embarrassing. And then I inevitably reach for the same thing I wore two days before, or one of the small collection of favorite pieces that are always in my rotation. I think I pretty much wear the same 40 pieces 95% of the time, so it’s only sensical that I do so with intention. And there are perks to this sort of wardrobe: I’ll truly only buy pieces that I love and know I’ll wear: there will be no dress that sits in the closest for 18 months without seeing any action. I’ll save money and time, shopping only seasonally to make small updates. I’ll leave a smaller footprint on the planet. I’ll have clear and easy choices that will make getting dressed simple. SO MANY BENEFITS!!!!!
As I said, I’ve loved the concept from the moment I heard of it but the HOW to do it always eluded me. It seemed a daunting task, to tackle a closet and make decisive choices about what stays/goes. It seemed complicated to try to figure out which pieces in the closet would go together and create a cohesive collection. Overall it just seemed like too major a task. Which is why I pretty much happy danced all over my office when I got an email introduction to Capsules, a site that walks you through the process each step of the way and makes creating a capsule wardrobe an organizational BREEZE! I’m going to show you the steps I took below so you can get a feel for the site. And below can see what I came up with for my Winter/Spring/Fall capsule wardrobe for our year on the road! I’ll be packing a few extra pieces for Summer but will be trying to make what I have work for the majority of the year. Can’t wait to hear what you think! xx- Sarah {This post was produced in partnership with Capsules, thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this site possible!}
Sources: army jacket, nude blouse, white high-waisted denim, white tank top, chambray shirt, off-shoulder blouse, denim top (have, shown), blue high-waisted denim (have), navy jacket, grey dress, black dress, striped dress, b+w sweater (shown here, no longer available), black denim, black dress, plaid shirt, grey coat (sold out), black mini, black tank, black joggers, tan hat, converse, black hat, black booties, black sandals, black heels (sold out), black flats. *Note: I tried to find photos of the exact items I own, but some of them are years old and no longer available. In those scenarios I found images of similar pieces and linked to them if possible.
Not shown: I didn’t include my workout or lounge clothes/shoes in this mockup but they make up the rest of my capsule collection and are just as well planned and sorted!
The whole process starts with a closet cleanout, which is such a great way to get hands-on with your current wardrobe. Capsule walks you through the process of sorting through everything you own to help you determine your style, and really refine what you already have. I stored items that I love and may want to revisit at some point as part of another collection, donated items that I knew I would never really wear, and got a good feeling for the items I have that I love and wear all the time.
I make a frittata once a week, generally with whatever veggies in the fridge that are close to being on their last legs. They’re so easy to throw together, so beloved, and such a go-to for guests in our household that it’s kind of bananas that I haven’t thought to share with you! Please forgive me. I made you this caramelized onion and rapini frittata as a peace offering. (Toothy emoji smile) Rapini is a controversial vegetable, if veggies can be controversial. So if you’re on the “we hate it, it’s a bitter jerk” side, please substitute a green of your choosing (may I recommend lacinato kale, dandelion greens, collards, or beet greens as possible substitutions?) And if you’re short of time please go ahead and skip caramelizing the onions, it will be delicious and only take 1/2 the time. Lastly, my secret for amazing frittatas: nearly fill the pan with veggies. If it’s mostly yummy veggies with a bit of egg than you’re on the right track (so much nutrition, so much flavor!) And don’t forget to serve with hot sauce (preferred) or red pepper flakes! Ok then, have at it! xx- Sarah
Hi my friends, happy Wednesday! I’m working on a recipe post to share with you tomorrow, but wanted to say hello and share some of my most recent weaving works! I’ve seriously fallen head over heels with the craft- cannot spend enough time at my loom! (I may be a Grandma at heart) If you’ve been considering taking a weaving class I highly recommend. Such a fun creative outlet, and it’s so incredibly satisfying to make something beautiful with your hands. I think I’m going to tackle a pillow next! Wish me luck. See you tomorrow with something yummy! xx- Sarah (pieces available for sale here)
