Autumn in Kyoto is something else. Bursts of color occupy the stretch between earth and sky, spreading wide at the tops of trees, trickling down in fallen leaves, crunching beneath your feet. Having lived in New England, my expectations weren’t low. But there was a fineness and delicateness to the fall foliage in Kyoto that I… [Read More]
Alive, not perfect.
There’s a woman named Anne at my church. She is the picture of authenticity. She catches us off-guard with her honest, knowing smile. She builds rapport without uttering a word. Anne grew up dodging bullets in east Africa. She now lives in Pasadena with her two daughters and sings every now and then during our… [Read More]
Resisting chaos with quietness: 4 simple practices
We live in an age where we feel as though everything matters and nothing can wait. Between headlines, notifications, and the regular demands of our work and home life, it is all too easy to go through an entire day (or week) doing nothing other than responding to what feels like crisis. Our rhythm begins… [Read More]
Oaxaca: City of Delights
This is a guide to Oaxaca City, Mexico. It’s also a bit of a memoir. We spent a week there absorbing its magic, wandering its alleys, and tasting its impeccable food. I want to remember all of it. And I want you to know about it– where to eat, stay, and play while there.
TROVE: the new ethical clothing brand you need to know
The past month has been quite the whirlwind. From Oaxaca to Guatemala back to Los Angeles, I feel ready to be in one place for a while. It’s in the moments between journeys that we are able to absorb and process all that we’ve experienced. And even though I’ve been back for two weeks from… [Read More]
Cambodia: Travel Guide and Photo Diary
Cambodia is a place I’ll never forget. I grew up dreaming of visiting, and in April of this year, I finally did– with two of my best girl friends from college, one of whom just finished two years with Peace Corps there. If you’ve ever to traveled to Southeast Asia, you’ll find a lot of… [Read More]
3 years of marriage: 3 truths I’m grateful for
Today, Aaron and I celebrate 3 years. 3 years since we said that we do– do vow to love, cherish, endure, laugh, adventure, advocate, serve, and give– with each other. And it’s weeks like this (months like this, really), when I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate. To pause and say, “This has been… [Read More]
How to build a summer capsule wardrobe (+ free worksheets!)
I’ll admit it. My passion for capsule wardrobes has waxed and waned. Back in the early days of this blog, I literally committed to 30-or-so items for 3 months, and made it happen. That was then, this is now. What I learned in that process is that limiting your possessions is an excellent exercise– and… [Read More]
When Simple Living Breaks Your Heart
I sat down this afternoon, determined to write about my trip to Cambodia. But this is the piece that unfurled instead. Because whenever I think for more than a moment about my recent visit to the Khmer kingdom, my proud smile melts into a heart-wrenching longing. You see, the trip was the beautiful, incredible, amazing adventure I… [Read More]
On purpose and perseverance
Purpose and perseverance are two weighty words. And we need both. But we often overlook their value until we’ve lost them. Without purpose, I am predisposed to overachievement. To gratify myself somehow with the hustle to prove my worth. Without something greater to work toward, I find myself spinning outwardly in. Without perseverance, I find myself frustrated and… [Read More]
Easy Self-Care Practices
When it comes to self-care practices, I’m not an expert. Self-care isn’t even a term I love; for some reason, it turns up in the files of my brain along with the same search terms for “me-time.” A part of me still bristles when anyone says, “I can’t. I need a little me-time.” But here’s… [Read More]
Next Stop: Cambodia (and my itinerary)
Today I’m on a flight to a childhood dream. Before I imagined myself frolicking in the fields of Tuscany or strolling through the streets of Paris, I wanted to be in Cambodia. Predating my taste for perfect, elegant food was my taste for gritty, old, abandoned centers of life. So the day I learned about… [Read More]
Mexico City Wanderings: A Photo Diary
I’ve sung the praises of Mexico City and coupled them with detailed travel tips. So this post will be a little different. Last week, we spent 4 nights in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City– a serene, treelined section with quaint coffeeshops and restaurants galore. But my favorite thing? Strolling through the neighborhood. There is something… [Read More]
Impact Guatemala Popup Shop!
I’m writing this with a lot of excitement and a little bit of fear… but you are so supportive and I love this little community, so I’m taking a risk. As you might know, I work part-time as an Independent Ambassador with Noonday Collection (on top of my 8-to-5), a small company that partners with… [Read More]
Make a big difference with your ordinary life
I used to believe that impact was directly correlated with grandeur. To make a big difference, grand gestures and one-time heroic efforts were required. But lately, I’ve learned that impact is more often made with the process of chipping away. It’s showing up day after day, year after year. Sometimes, showing up is scary enough…. [Read More]
Beyond Minimalism
There comes a point in every minimalist’s journey when she has to move beyond simplifying and actually pursue her reason for minimizing. I’ve been at that point for a long time. I don’t spend weekends decluttering. I don’t go through intention exercises. I don’t keep a cap on the number of items in my closet or… [Read More]
How to simplify your food: a minimalist cooking guide
My husband and I are foodies. We’re also enthusiastic home chefs. We own too many cookbooks and more appliances than the average person. Our entire wedding registry is mostly in the form of a kitchen tool. And we use all of it. But here’s the thing– we believe in simple food. And this actually squares quite… [Read More]
5 Common Ways Businesses Get You To Buy
Ever since I started working in sales and marketing, I’ve become much more aware of how businesses manage to sell us things. This process is so ingrained into our existence that its nuances nearly become invisible to us. Everyday, we use and consume products. It’s part of what it means to be alive. We eat, we… [Read More]
Focused living is knowing what to listen for
My husband and I spent the weekend in Las Vegas. Through a series of unexpected events, we had found ourselves with a free stay for the 3-day weekend. As much as Vegas is the antithesis of what we love and live for, we also appreciate so much about the city. More on that later, maybe…. [Read More]
Why New Things Will Never Deeply Satisfy
It was Sunday. I walked into one of my favorite department stores to find they were running (yet another) sale. I grabbed everything that looked mildly interesting and made a dash for the changing rooms. With each outfit, I asked myself questions like, does this fit the image I have of myself? Do I look… [Read More]
4 Simple Steps to Holiday Peace
As we enter into Christmas weekend, I’m noticing a trend. Photographs are shared that harken to that holiday feeling we all love and hold in our hopes. Tales of travel (or pilgrimage, perhaps) unfurl as friends go near and far to spend these days away from work. And somehow in the midst of it all,… [Read More]
Finding gifts that don’t lose their value
It’s been a while since I went shopping. And I did– briefly– while we were in Kyoto. I’ve been looking for a loose, work-appropriate pair of pants (culottes, a fun style from Paris). I pictured myself waltzing into the department store, finding the perfect pair of burnt orange or mustard yellow knickers, and sporting the… [Read More]
Cherishing moments over snapshots (& where we’re headed right now)
As I write this, I’m sitting at the Los Angeles Airport awaiting to board our flight to Osaka, Japan. Osaka is no small town, but our final destination is Kyoto. Oh, Kyoto… how we love thee. A gaggle of young Japanese college students gather around us. They’re laughing and sporting fashion that is so different… [Read More]
The Treasure is in the Challenge
Some believe that life should be easy. In fact, so many proponents of minimalism appear to advocate for simple living so that life can be easy. Or at least, easier. And those writers do have a point: our constant consumption complicates our lives. Our acquisitions have to be cleaned and stored. Our assets have to be managed…. [Read More]
How To Dress Up Your Favorite Old Sweater
Most of my favorite clothes are old. I’ve had them for at least a couple of years, and they’ve become significant elements in some of my favorite memories. I love the memories that old clothes invoke. Sweaters are no exception. Old sweaters are the best– and despite the fact that many of mine have holes,… [Read More]