Archives for February 2016

Into the Desert: Sahara Dunes and Surrounding Scenes

February 29, 2016

Our journey through Morocco continued from Fes to the Sahara desert– nearly 4 million square miles in size and the largest hot desert in the world. In other words, there is a lot of sand.

It’s pretty amazing to me how, when there is a large quantity of one thing, it takes on the characteristics of something entirely different. Sand is simply rock that has been broken down over centuries by the elements into a near-powdery substance. It covers the desert like waves of water. It blows like dust. It also slips, crunches and sinks like snow.

5 Mindset Changes That Limit Unnecessary Shopping

February 24, 2016

I have come a long way in this area. I used to be able to enter the first letter of my favorite brands into my search bar, and their full URLs would pop up. That’s how often I “window-shopped” online. Of course, said window-shopping quickly became real shopping.

There are many reasons to limit unnecessary shopping, but they might not be the ones that immediately come to mind. Avoiding unnecessary purchases can certainly save money, but saving money isn’t everyone’s highest priority. Perhaps there are things you desire more deeply than a stash of cash: courage, generosity, community, purpose, joy… and limiting your shopping can help with those things, too.

Fullness in the Waiting

February 19, 2016

I had promised in this Instagram post that stories and photographs from the Sahara would come out this morning, but alas– we have a surprise visitor with us tonight and I’m not quite done editing.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about why most of us hate to wait. We dislike waiting in line at the grocery store. We don’t like to wait for our meals at a restaurant. And we certainly do not enjoy waiting to hear the outcome of something in which we’re deeply invested. At the edge of our seats, completely without control over the situation, we experience a tiny bit of humiliation in the limits of our power. We already know what it is we want, but no matter how much we will we cannot make it so….Continue Reading

7 Lies That Keep You From Changing Your Life

February 16, 2016

Have you ever wanted to drastically change something about your life? Perhaps it was a habit you wanted to quit, or a habit you wanted start. Maybe you wanted to finally “grow up” in an area of your life, such as your finances, your health or your relationships. Perhaps you’re seeking to make a transition in your career or interests, but find yourself doing the same thing year after year. Why does that happen?

Fes, Morocco: 10 Things You Absolutely Have To Do

February 11, 2016

I could wax poetic in a long exposé about this fascinating city with institutions dating back to the 9th century. I could, but I won’t– because I want more people to see this. So, despite my love-hate relationship with the list-form blog post, here it is. Because in the myriad places one might travel, Morocco is still surprisingly low on many bucket lists. Despite its rising popularity among savvy wanderers, there’s something mysterious about Morocco that makes it seem less accessible than it really is.

Despite my enthusiasm, I’ll offer up a few caveats: Fes is not an easy city to navigate all on one’s own, particularly if French and Arabic are an enigma. Even with some language ability, though, the fascinating portion of the city is the maze of its medina: walls and alleys wrapped around each other like intestines, except each doorway leads to new pathways that branch in and out as if in the 4th dimension.

In other words, without some help, you’ll probably get lost. Google Maps hasn’t exactly gotten the whole place figured out yet. But even with that risk, it is so worth it.

Introducing: Capsule Accessory Series (how I wear the same clothes all the time)

February 8, 2016

It has been about a year since I started my capsule wardrobe project, and it’s been quite the learning experience. I now function with fewer than 40 pieces in my wardrobe at one time, and have not needed to add new items since late summer last year. It has taken me some time to figure out how to dress in Southern California, and I’ve figured out which staples will last me the longest. Capsule wardrobes aren’t rocket science– if you’re determined to get it right, you eventually will.

Still, many people have asked me (through this blog and in person) how I manage to cycle and recycle through the same clothes. On top of the fact that the weather in Pasadena doesn’t vary much, I can almost wear the same pieces all year round. So how exactly do I get away with wearing the same clothes, without looking repetitive? Great question.

Morocco Travel Diary: Casablanca and Beyond

February 4, 2016

Traveling through completely unfamiliar territory is inevitably like drinking from a fire hydrant. There are depths of culture to plumb, ancient stories to sift through, and pockets of communities that are nuanced and complex. I continued to return to a single question as we made our way through Morocco: why haven’t I studied any of this?

5 Ways to be More Intentional with Your Time

February 1, 2016

When we were in Morocco, our guide got used to us being 10-15 minutes late to everything. Eventually, he got tired of reassuring us and we got tired of apologizing– so he told us this: “In the West you have watch. In Africa we have time.”

I can still hear his accent and see his charming smile as he calmed his weary guests. Whether he ought to have spoken for the entire continent of Africa was irrelevant– I, on the other hand, am certainly familiar with the culture of rushing, even while on vacation. What is it that we love about efficiency?

Archives for February 2016

Into the Desert: Sahara Dunes and Surrounding Scenes

5 Mindset Changes That Limit Unnecessary Shopping

Fullness in the Waiting

7 Lies That Keep You From Changing Your Life

Fes, Morocco: 10 Things You Absolutely Have To Do

Introducing: Capsule Accessory Series (how I wear the same clothes all the time)

Morocco Travel Diary: Casablanca and Beyond

5 Ways to be More Intentional with Your Time

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