This

This week was about keeping things on the sunny side. Whether it was wearing my favorite pair of pants, treating myself to a doughnut (with sprinkles), or buying a crazy bouquet of white tulips- everything I did was for an emotional boost. It's much easier to deal with giant piles of snow when you treat yo' self.

This week also marks the start of our move. We have a storage unit calling our name, and I've been packing all week. Our new lease doesn't begin until 3/1 but we have to be out of our current place on 2/28 so there's 24 hours of homelessness to look forward too. Don't worry we already have a place to sleep for the night.

That

I think I've decided to grow my hair out again, I was looking through old photos of myself and almost teared up at all the fun ways I was able to style it. So, of course that means I'm pinning a ton of braids now.

I'm a big fan of "comfy" food in the winter (aren't we all) and so these loaded sweet potatoes are calling my name.

I'm loving the cobalt blue wash on these linen pillows, but the price tag makes me think a DIY would be a better option.

I've had the same desktop background on my laptop for almost 6 years but now I'm thinking it's time for a change. What do you think?

Other

Speaking of the sunny side, here are a few citrusy hued items inspiring me right now:

It's snowing outside on a Monday afternoon as I write this. Cold, wet, spirit dampening snow. I suppose that's why, more than ever, I feel the need to wish spring here faster. I've made it all the way through my winter blues chasing list and my last ditch effort to stay happy is to window shop and gather inspiration for my spring wardrobe purchases. Notice I didn't mention anything about actually buying any new clothes. That's because I've given myself some pretty strict guidelines for making new purchases this year that require a lot more prep, and a lot less compulsion.

5 Pieces French Wardrobe

I've been reading this fantastic blog called Into Mind and it's all about creating a minimal wardrobe. Though, I don't think you'll find me going total minimal (20-30 pieces of clothing) I do think the less is more attitude that many people are leaning towards these days is wonderful and so inspiring. What I love about Anuschka's blog is that she approaches clothes in both an aesthetic and practical way. Understanding that everyone has their own vision of what the perfect wardrobe is. Because of this she explores a lot of different wardrobe curation techniques including one I'm going to employ this year called the 5-piece French Wardrobe.

The basic idea behind the 5-piece French Wardrobe is that you limit your seasonal purchases to just 5 new, high-quality pieces (excluding worn out basics that are a necessity). By limiting the amount of new clothing you're buying each season you're much less likely to make impulse purchases, and instead invest in items you'll love for years to come.

I mean who doesn't wish they could be a little more French chic? They're renowned for their individual style and taste, so I'm down with trying any shopping methods they adhere to.

My Plan

I like this method of wardrobe building because it gives me a clear objective, and allows me to put some thought and planning into my purchases beforehand. It also forces my impatient nature to pause before taking the leap into binge shopping regret. A problem I've had in the past. So here are my next steps:

1. Donate/toss clothing I don't wear anymore, or is too worn out to wear in public.
2. Gather outfit inspiration from recurring themes on my Pinterest boards.
3. Create a color palette for spring.
   • This is another tip from Into Mind. Creating a color palette ensures the pieces will mix well together and helps focus your eye when looking for potential closet items.
4. Reasearch. Research. Research.
   • I've started a secret pin board full of products I'm looking to potentially buy for spring. I am constantly adding and subtracting from the list.
5. Decide on the 5 and purchase.
   • I can't lie this will probably be the hardest part because once the purchases are made there's no adding to the list should something better come along.
   • However, I can return something if the fit/color isn't quite what I expected, and there's always the next season's purchases should something new catch your eye.

Why now?

Many of you are probably wondering why I've made this sudden wardrobe declaration. Over the last year I've gotten rid of A TON of clothes, and spent a lot of time deciding what exactly my style is. Though I'm not 100% sure I can label myself anything definitive like preppy, minimal, glamorous, or bohemian I have discovered a lot about the things I like and the things I dislike. The result is a more discerning eye and a desire to grow my wardrobe slowly. Instead of filling it with trendy items I'll only wear for 6-12 months at most I want to invest it items I'll have for a long, long time.

This mentality has also trickled into other areas of my life, like our home. Because we're moving from a studio into a 2 bedroom apartment there's a lot more space to spread out and start investing in home wares that are less roadside find and more heirloom quality if you catch my drift. This kind of shift requires us to budget more than ever and really spend our dollars wisely. No more settling for "ok for now."

Minimalistic Wardrobe Resources

Looking to streamline your wardrobe in the new year? Here are a few wonderful sites to jumpstart your goals:

Into Mind - This is the most comprehensive site I've every found on the topic and my #1 rec

Paule Montes Sketchbook - 5 piece french wardrobe

Wide Eyed Legless - Seeking the perfect wardrobe

Lean Closet Series - Cuyana is a new breed of retail

Working in the wedding industry means that my life is pretty much turned upside down from January-March. A whole new wave of brides get engaged around the holidays creating a rush on all things wedding related starting New Years Day. It's one of the most exhilarating (and exhausting) periods of my work life yet. Every day there's new products to pin and post, new trunk shows to advertise, travel plans to make, and store openings to share. All of it culminating in a lot of wonderfully romantic weddings in the next 4-12 months that hopefully BHLDN will be a part of.

It can be overwhelming to think that my work might directly influence the biggest day in someone's life. I try to think about my own wedding planning and the frustrations I faced, the DIYs I attempted, and the dream weddings I was inspired by every time I tweet, pin, and post to Facebook. Boiling it all down into different bridal types, all the while staying true to our brand's voice. Are you as tired as I am just thinking about it?

I'm not complaining though- I love every single minute of my job, even the ones I grumble about sometimes, because in the end I'm doing something I'm really passionate about, and r-e-a-l-l-y love. I mean how many people can say that about their job? I feel so incredibly lucky to be where I'm at so you'll have to excuse me if my posts seem a little erratic for the next month or so, or if my voice seems a little more serious and less playful than it does during normal times. There's just so much work to be done and only one me. - b.