Category: Thoughts

Style, Thoughts

The Everlane experience

by wattleandash4 Comments on The Everlane experience
The Everlane experience

A couple of years ago I became aware of the American brand, Everlane.  It prides itself on being an ‘ethical retailer’, by sourcing its clothes from factories that environmentally sound with good pay and conditions for workers.  Everlane also says it abolishes the traditional retail mark-up, so you’re able to get a better understanding of the true value of your garment.  It’s a refreshing ethos and the brand’s simple designs in classic colours are super appealing in this age of fast fashion in saturated palettes.

After months of stalking Everlane’s website I signed up for an account earlier this year and my first order arrived a few of weeks ago…

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Everyday life, Thoughts, wedding

The finishing touches

by wattleandash4 Comments on The finishing touches
The finishing touches

After months and months of painstaking work, my wedding dress is just about complete.

I’ve lost count of the number of fittings I’ve had with my wonderful dressmaker, Rose. It all started with an image, from which she drafted a pattern and then reams of material were draped, pinned and cut and now bar from a few more tucks and a hemming my dress is done…

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Everyday life, Life, Thoughts

My meditation experiment

by wattleandashLeave a Comment on My meditation experiment
My meditation experiment

I’ve been trying really hard this year to live a little more thoughtfully.   To separate work time from down time, to notice the little joys of the everyday and to care for myself and those I love a little better.

Despite my intentions, I’ve still found myself overwhelmed on days – stressed about work, finances, family and planning a wedding abroad. So, the other day I thought I’d try something new – daily meditation…

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Everyday life, Thoughts

The 20 minute rule

by wattleandash4 Comments on The 20 minute rule
The 20 minute rule

The other day I stumbled across an article that got me thinking.  The 20 minute rule is essentially about dealing with the little setbacks in your life.  Something doesn’t go to plan – you’ve got 20 minutes to get upset/angry/whiny about it all, then you move on.

In a strange twist of fate, a few hours after reading about the rule, I myself received some news that gave me a little wobble…

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Everyday life, home, Thoughts

Signs of spring

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Signs of spring

August has only just arrived, but I’m getting the faintest hint of spring in the air.   The nights are still chilly, but the sun is sticking around longer and longer each day.  Its rays now have that distinct warm weather glow about them, rather than that feeble almost pastel-like patina.

This year’s run of frosty mornings have taken their toll on our little garden and a few plants have fallen victim to the sub-zero temperatures.  Others have embraced the cold and are almost ready to declare the arrival of the change in season…

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Everyday life, home, Thoughts

Twigs, leaves and sticks

by wattleandash2 Comments on Twigs, leaves and sticks
Twigs, leaves and sticks

Winter blew in over the weekend, bringing with it foggy mornings, chilly temperatures and light rain.  In some parts it was even cold enough for snow – but more on that later this week!

The cool grey days were a welcome tonic to me after an eight day work week. They justified my lingering morning coffees in bed and afternoons snuggled up on the couch with a book.  In those peaceful moments, as I glanced around the house, I noticed though there was nothing ‘living’ inside – no bunches of flowers, no houseplants.

When the weather is so bleak outside, sometimes having brightly coloured blooms inside doesn’t quite feel so I decided I’d use the season for inspiration and create some more winter appropiate bouquets…

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Everyday life, Thoughts

A return to reading

by wattleandash6 Comments on A return to reading
A return to reading

Throughout my entire childhood and for the majority of my adult life I’ve been a voracious reader. I’ve always loved lingering in libraries and book shops.  Picking up tome after tome, reading covers and being delighted and drawn-in by cover art.

Last year, days before travelling to Iceland, I started Black Swan Green by David Mitchell and was really quite enjoying it – but then somehow I got a third of the way through and suddenly it was days and then weeks and then months, and I hadn’t read a page…

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