Romanticizing & Appreciating Everyday Life

When I was a teenager, I watched a lot of Japanese horror films, and something I kept noticing that I liked about them was their emphasis on the little moments. The romanticization of the mundane. The movie could be about paranormal hauntings, but the little cinematic scenes of a character doing basic tasks stood out to me the most. It was seeing the little daily things we take for granted, emphasized in a beautiful way, as if to make every moment in life seem special.

And after watching those movies, I’d find myself slowing down a bit, appreciating the sensation  and action of everyday movements. My careful footsteps on the wood floor, the clinking of silverware when I put the dishes away. Each action seemed to have more meaning, the more I paid attention to them. 

There’s an importance to slowing down and experiencing a moment with all the senses. Being present. Quieting the mind and being engrossed in a task. Doing things deliberately, instead of operating on autopilot. Because real life is in those moments of mindfulness.

It’s not as easy as it looks in the movies. We have distractions everywhere. We’re always thinking about the future and the past. Our thoughts run on in an endless stream. We’re busy all the time.

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I have a lot of big goals, and now that I’m back on my path, I feel so excited and ready to work. Which is a great thing. But I also have a brain that can take anything to an unhealthy extreme if I’m not careful. Balance is something that I’m actively working on.  I can’t let myself focus too much on the future, even in a a positive way, because then I don’t focus on the present, which is all that there is. And nothing in the future, and nothing external can bring me that feeling of contentedness that can only be found in being present.

Life is literally in the little things, in the mundane, in the everyday. All we have is now, so slow down and enjoy this moment. Celebrate your small accomplishments, because they all add up. Romanticizing your life allows you to truly enjoy the moment you are living in now. It helps us realize that the little moments can be just as special as the big ones if we make them.

Aqua & Orange End-of-Summer Fit // What I Wore

 

I feel like I have been waiting all summer to wear this floral shirt, and I finally found the perfect outfit for it. It also helps that the weather is becoming more pleasant as the days pass. I’ve had my windows open for two days straight now, which feels nice, letting in the cool breeze. The heat definitely limits what I’m comfortable wearing, so it was nice to finally wear some of my cutest pieces.

 

I was blessed to acquire these jeans. They are vintage St. John’s Bay, originally a size 16, but now about a 10/12. They came from a friend of my grandma’s, and were skillfully taken in about a half an inch and somehow fit me almost perfectly. Along with these, I have a pink pair, which you’ll definitely see in a future look.

Together, the jeans and shirt are a fantastic match, as the orange jeans coordinate with the orange flowers in the shirt. I also LOVE this combo of sherbet orange and aqua blue. The flower print is so precious As the kids say these days, “It’s the flower print for me.” Five big fabric buttons go down the front. It is by the brand Talbots and is also vintage, but this one I picked up at the thrift store within the last year.

For today’s look, I left the shirt open because it was still pretty warm in the sun. The baby pink tank top I’m wearing is actually a thin slip dress that came with another dress. I tucked it into my pants, and I now had the “little shirt, big pants” trend going on, which is super cute. With the faux tank, I was able to take off the blue shirt if I got too hot.

I know these shoes were in my previous outfit post,  but come on, they are too cute. Unfortunately, part of the straps seem to be breaking, so I’ll have to find some way to fix them because these are my favorite summer shoe for when I want to dress a look up a bit. They also match my new little dumping bag! 

 

 

I’m so excited about this piece that I picked up at Kohl’s last week. I’ve been admiring dumpling bags for a little while. To me, they look so lush and soft and stylish.  Whether or not this bag qualifies as one, it definitely has a similar style. This one is by the brand Elizabeth & James. I love the acrylic tortoise shell handles, which contrast the caramel-colored vegan leather body of the bag. It also comes with a removable, adjustable strap. I’m a big fan of this small bag, and I love how it can keep up with such a colorful outfit.

I really love this look because it is brightly colored and includes some of my favorite vintage pieces. The look feels a bit more like the beginning of summer than it does the end of it, but I’m trying to wear at least a few of my summery short-sleeved tops before summer officially ends.

If you like the floral, gardener-esque vibe of this look, keep an eye out for my next post, which is going to be all about cottagecore fashion!

The Two Fanny Packs Everyone Should Own

Personally, I’ve always been a big fan of fanny packs, despite their bad rep. Not only are they super convenient and handy, they are also a really fashionable trend this year. Fanny packs were all over the runway for spring, and I think they have a chance of sticking around. They are a practical bag that can be worn by anyone, and they are the ideal size for holding just the essentials. 

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I started a new job just over a month ago, which is why I haven’t been posting much on my blog. It’s a decent job and it makes me money, so that’s all that matters. Since I started work, I’ve been almost exclusively using my black fanny pack. It’s so easy to grab from my locker,  and sling over my shoulder, then proceed to get out of the building as fast as possible. It also adds a bit of classic style to my look.

Because of its practical, neutral look, my thrifted black East Sport fanny pack can go with just about anything. However, I decided to style it by wearing my favorite colors (green and pink), and adding accents of black from the fanny pack and shoes. For a dollar investment, this fanny pack has been more than a great addition to my wardrobe.

I then paired the outfit with my one other fanny pack, a patterned L.L. Bean bag that my mom picked up for me at a thrift store as well. It goes so nicely with my favorite green shirt, and even has a bit of black to go with the shoes. Both bags are the perfect match for this outfit, and most of my outfits, since I generally go for green, pink and black clothing.

Fanny packs are such a sensible bag, but they can also be a fun accessory and statement piece. In the junior’s section of the store I work there are small iridescent fanny packs with cat faces and ears on them. Pre-teen me definitely would have bought one. However, I am very happy with the two fanny packs that I currently own. I highly recommend that everyone own two good fanny packs- one neutral bag, and one statement bag.