Capsule Tips for New Recruits
21 January 2019
Good morning!
Today is Day One of the #sevendaychallenge! If you didn't read my last post and your interesting in knowing what I'm talking about you can find it linked here.
And if you're feeling a bit perplexed then here's a basic method to help you get it started picking your 12 items:
Basic Formula:
4 tops
[ex]
consider pieces that layer well like:
-fitted long-sleeve tee
-a button-down
1-2 top layers
[ex.]
cardigan
sweater jacket
blazer
2 bottoms
[ex.]
jeans
skirts
dress pants
1 dress or jumper
2 pairs of shoes
[ex]
1 flat - 1 heel
1 boot - 1 flat
1 fashion sneaker - 1 flat
Remember, you do not have to follow this to the letter-- choose what works for you but try hard to limit yourself and challenge yourself in a way that you haven't before. Everyone has a different daily and weekly schedule. Some stay home, some wear casual work attire, some wear business work attire. If you want to wear scrubs for your job then use this for after work. If you need more bottoms than tops, then take one away from one item from that category and give it to another. Just have fun!
A few other suggestions/useful tips:
-Don’t give yourself too much time to choose.
Set a timer and try and choose your items in 30 minutes. In the beginning, I found that if I took too much time during the selection process then I kept doubting myself and getting frustrated. Capsule wardrobing is supposed to take away the stress of picking out your outfits.
Neutrals.
I said it before but it's true and super helpful --> think neutrals, denim, white, black or navy and grey with one or two pops of color to play with...
Core items.
Start with your favorite items that you always go for and then start adding in pieces that you usually overlook. You may come to find that you love them and you've been missing out or that you really don't like the fit and you need to get rid of it.
-Avoid Dry Clean Only items because that would be a pain to launder during the 7 or 10 day challenge.
Have fun!
Seven Day Capsule Challenge
18 January 2019
First of all-- a disclaimer: I am not a fashion blogger. I did go to school for fashion marketing- but that was a lifetime ago. Now-- I'm just a wife, mother, average human being who is trying to simplify her life. :)
A couple months ago I decided that less is more, especially in my closet. I’m a stay at home mom and pretty much wear the same things every day but I found that when I did get the chance to get out of my mom uniform I would stand in front of my overflowing closet thinking that I had absolutely nothing to wear. I mean, of course, I did, but I was overwhelmed by the about of stuff in there that I owned but didn’t really love. What is the point of excess if you're not going to use it?
After purging my closet and 'upcycling' my unloved items I was able to bring my wardrobe down to 33 pieces total. 33 pieces that I loved, felt comfortable in and wanted to wear. Then, in the fall I heard about the 10×10 Challenge. It intrigued me and I wanted to try it. Basically, you just choose 10 items from your closet, create 10 looks and wear them consecutively over 10 days. The 10x10 only happens a couple times a year and I’ve really been wanting to do another challenge. But, it’s so much fun to do it with other people. So I thought— why not create one to do with friends!
It’s a fun way to connect with others and get inspired by them and their capsule of clothing. It also really helps you to see what you love and what you do not love in your very own closet. Is there a shirt that you swipe by every day but you keep it there just in case? That was me! But now I just pull out something, put it on and go!
Below I’ll talk more about the guidelines and then you can choose if it’s something that you would be interested in taking part in— it’s supposed to be a cheerful and simple challenge. And will hopefully spark inspiration and help you to breathe life back into items hanging stagnant in your very closet.
Seven Day Capsule Challenge
7 days
7 looks
12 items
Goals—
What might be your goal for this challenge? Do you want to rediscover items that are usually forgotten? Do you want to use this as a prelude to slimming down your closet? Or do you just like a good challenge? Whatever your goal might be you can either commit it to memory or write it down and tape it up in your closet.
My goal for this time around consist of two words — comfort and effortlessness. It’s a season of cozy. My days are spent packing lunches, getting kids off to school and spending the majority of my day in the kitchen. So my 7-day capsule will probably consist of my favorite broken-in jeans, cozy knits, warm sweaters, and a neutral palette.
Timeline —
Seven days straight starting on January 21st — you have the entire weekend to come up with your 12 items for your 7-day capsule. Feel free to join in on sharing your looks in your stories on Instagram or Facebook— or don’t share them, totally up to you what you feel comfortable doing! Use the hashtags #sevendaycapsule #sevendaycapsulewinter2019 #threegirlsandachallenge if you want to see what others are up to with their personal challenge!
Creating a Seven Day Capsule --
First, the weather— it’s crazy cold here so that’s what I’ll be considering when I create mine. Secondly, schedule — there's nothing too intense on the calendar so I’ll be keeping that in mind and planning a more casual capsule. Also - when you pick an item, consider how you could wear it three different ways over the course of the week. Try and choose mostly neutral colors but feel free to add in one fun but a versatile piece, like a bold colored blazer or a bright layering tank top. In this challenge have fun with accessories and don’t count them. Also, don’t count your workout clothing if you have a workout routine.
My capsule will include:
2 pairs of jeans (blue denim & black denim)
2 sweaters
2 long sleeve tops
2 layering pieces
1 layering tank top
1 dress (date night / church)
1 pair ankle boots
1 pair converse
I'll share more on that in a post the night before the challenge! Stay tuned.
Benefits of the Challenge —
Take a break from shopping and adding to an overflowing closet.
Reinvest in an existing closet.
Spark creativity.
Make closet work for you, not you for it.
Define your individual style.
Test if a capsule closet is for you.
Basic Guidelines —
Pick any 12 items from your current closet.
Style those 12 items for 7 days.
Have fun.
Don’t stress.
Don’t let the word ‘guidelines’ scare you— it’s not supposed to be an unbending assignment. It’s all about being creative. There is no wrong way to do it.
You can limit yourself to only those 12 items for the full 7 days or just wear those items to work or after work.
If you’re really not loving one item— switch it out!
Loungewear and gym gear don’t count unless you want it too.
Stressed about choosing shoes, no prob, let those count as extra!
Do whatever feels manageable for your life but still challenge yourself!
How to Join in on the Fun--
[1] The challenge starts on January 21st.
[2] Pick your 12 items for the seven days.
[3] Capture your outfits and share them with others participating in the challenge. Community friends! That's what this is about also! Creating community and sharing experiences, goals and challenges. You can post just the outfit, you in the outfit, or don't post-- it's up to you!
[4] Use the hashtags #sevendaycapsule #sevendaywintercapsule and #threegirlsandachallenge! I'll be sharing mine and others to continue sparking creativity!
[5] HAVE FUN!
Let's do this friends!
If you have any questions, just ask!
Lavender Simple Syrup | Recipe
16 January 2019
It's cold outside, there's still a crispy layer of snow scattered across the fields, and I just finished a cup of creamy coffee while watching the sunrise. This past November I started to trying to be intentional about rising by 5:30. Either to get a load of laundry started, workout, write or read. It's been a perfect way to fill up my happiness tank before I have to help fill up everyone else's.
But-- anyway, back to that cup of coffee. This morning my cup had an extra special addition to it. Lavender Syrup. Any other fancy coffee lovers out there? If you follow along here then you probably know that I broke up with my Keurig coffee maker about a year ago, bought my first french press and never looked back. Best decision ever, you know, besides getting married and having kids. Over the summer I started experimenting with flavored simple syrups and homemade coffee creamers. Most store-bought creamers aren't even dairy products anyway, yummy, but mostly chemicals. [If I'm in a pinch I do love Natural Bliss which is made with real cream.]
Now, on the to syrups. Lavender flavored coffees and lattes have been all the rage for a while now and it's hard to find them where we live and I don't get into the city that often to find a cafe that makes them. So-- why not make them at home? It's definitely cheaper. I did a lot of searching and experimenting and I now have two 'go-to' Lavender syrup recipes that I love to make. The best part is they are made from staple ingredients- minus the lavender and that's not too hard to find. I get mine from a tea exchange shop. You can also double or triple this recipe and gift it to your other coffee loving friends.
Lavender Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
Mix and stir ingredients in a saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil and then remove from burner and let it steep for 30 minutes. Once it's done steeping double strain it through a fine mesh strainer (or a cheesecloth or through a coffee filter) and put it in your bottles or jars of choice.
Lavender Honey Syrup
1/2 cup raw honey
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
Mix and stir ingredients in a saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil and then remove from burner and let it steep for 30 minutes. Once it's done steeping double strain it through a fine mesh strainer (or a cheesecloth or through a coffee filter) and put it in your bottles or jars of choice.
I love to save my fancy maple syrup bottles-- I mean maple syrup is expensive enough so might as well get your money's worth out of the bottle. And it sure looks pretty too. :)
But-- anyway, back to that cup of coffee. This morning my cup had an extra special addition to it. Lavender Syrup. Any other fancy coffee lovers out there? If you follow along here then you probably know that I broke up with my Keurig coffee maker about a year ago, bought my first french press and never looked back. Best decision ever, you know, besides getting married and having kids. Over the summer I started experimenting with flavored simple syrups and homemade coffee creamers. Most store-bought creamers aren't even dairy products anyway, yummy, but mostly chemicals. [If I'm in a pinch I do love Natural Bliss which is made with real cream.]
Now, on the to syrups. Lavender flavored coffees and lattes have been all the rage for a while now and it's hard to find them where we live and I don't get into the city that often to find a cafe that makes them. So-- why not make them at home? It's definitely cheaper. I did a lot of searching and experimenting and I now have two 'go-to' Lavender syrup recipes that I love to make. The best part is they are made from staple ingredients- minus the lavender and that's not too hard to find. I get mine from a tea exchange shop. You can also double or triple this recipe and gift it to your other coffee loving friends.
Lavender Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
Mix and stir ingredients in a saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil and then remove from burner and let it steep for 30 minutes. Once it's done steeping double strain it through a fine mesh strainer (or a cheesecloth or through a coffee filter) and put it in your bottles or jars of choice.
Lavender Honey Syrup
1/2 cup raw honey
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
Mix and stir ingredients in a saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil and then remove from burner and let it steep for 30 minutes. Once it's done steeping double strain it through a fine mesh strainer (or a cheesecloth or through a coffee filter) and put it in your bottles or jars of choice.
I love to save my fancy maple syrup bottles-- I mean maple syrup is expensive enough so might as well get your money's worth out of the bottle. And it sure looks pretty too. :)
Cheers friends!
Happy Wednesday.
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