31 Days of January: A Recap

Today marks the end of the 31 Days of January series. For me, this has been one of favorite months of blogging. As much as I love style, there are other things in life that captivate my thoughts, interest and time. This month has been an opportunity to share those with you. Thank you so much for indulging me!

I plan to expand on some of those topics throughout this year. For example, I hope to update you on my reading list and book recommendation, as well as my continued pursuit to eat real food and establish a garden. Since fitness is a constant in my life, I plan to have some ways to challenge myself and enter something competitive. I hope share about my journey with gratitude and contentment and reigning in who spending affects my life and heart. Basically, I want to share more of me with you as I seek to be more transparent in hopes to encourage you.

I’ll continue to work on building capsules wardrobes and cultivating a wardrobe I love. My journey with no shopping will continue. By the way, it’s not too late to join in with the me. If you’re interested just complete the form believe to be added to the Facebook group, “Let’s Be Shop Free for 3″. I would love to have you!

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I want to be true to the Vision and Mission Statements I’ve set for this blog. These two will be my guide and direct my path in the hopes that I won’t get sidetracked.

 

I’ve set personal and blog goals for this year and I sense that those are working for me. Having a focus and little action steps reminds me to stay on track when so many things vie for my time and attention.

I’m grateful for these 31 Days of January. Thank you, again for allowing me to share more of me with you.

Tomorrow begins another Create28. This time around Whitney, Casey and I invited some blogging friends to share their style via various prompts. I hope you’ll join us and feel free join in. We’ll post the prompts we plan to follow each week. Here’s a peek into Week One. You can post your looks on Instagram and hashtag #create28winterlooks.

Enjoy your Sunday and remember to take some time to rest!

It’s All Coming Up Roses!

Hey friends! The last weekend in January is upon us. I can’t believe how quickly this month has gone by! I feel as though I blinked and February is knocking at the door. That means that Create28 Winter Edition begins on Monday and it will have a new twist. Whitney, Casey and I will be hosting again but we will also be featuring some of our favorite blogger friends. I think it’s going to be lots of fun and I hope you’ll join us on the journey!But today it’s another edition {and I guess the last} of January Saturday.

As I was putting together ideas for this week, I began to think of all the people who have seen a huge blanket of snow recently. I’m sure that makes them long for spring! In my part of Texas it’s felt a little like spring this week, which inspired the prompt for today. For this one, It’s All Coming Up Roses, you can either pick something floral to style for a winter look or use the colors in the graphic below as inspiration. Go make it happen, friends. Tag @alovelylittlewardrobe on Instagram or if you know me on Facebook, tag me there so I can see your look and feature you next week on the blog.

Last week the prompt was neutrals or winter white and several ladies posted some great looks. I was so excited to see the these ladies create their own version of the prompt. I love it when ladies are so creative with their closets.

My friend, Kristin posted her take on the prompt in a Facebook style group. Such a warm and cozy look for a casual Saturday. She nailed it! Thanks for participating, Kristin!

Another friend, Sharon, also posted in a Facebook style group with her neutral look. She took a dressier approach and she nailed it too. I think that would be a great look for a casual date night. I hope your husband took you out!

Carly has taken on every challenge in January and I was glad to see she tagged me with this look on Instagram. A little black and white makes a classic neutral look. And those sneakers just made me smile…and want them.

Whitney has also participated in every challenge this January. Such a pretty top in this neutral combo, which just ups the classic look a little more. You picked good pieces to mix here, friend.

Thank you, ladies for participating last week. All of you put together great looks with prompt. I hope you’ll take up this one too. Find your floral or use the colors in this graphic to create a new look. Ready…Set…Go!

Enjoy the weekend! Tomorrow is my wrap up of 31 Days of January. Hope you’ll stop by and hear my thoughts on this series.

Whatever is Lovely #5

Happy Friday! Last Friday in January and it’s Whatever is Lovely time again. This week it’s all about food and some cozy winter style. Winter season just wouldn’t be complete without some crock-pot concoction, a warm hearty soup or something sweet-smelling in the oven {and then in my belly}. And where would we be without cozy sweaters, scarves, flannel and of course, boots? Here’s some favorites I found recently as I was roaming around blog land.

1. Half Baked Harvest shared a great recipe with winter {butternut} squash. I definitely have a food crush on squash and butternut is my number one. Winter Squash Carbonaro with Broccoli Rabe and Sage. When I showed this picture to my husband, he was all in to try this yummy dish. This is up for a trial taste this weekend.

Winter Squash Carbonara with Broccoli Rabe and Sage | halfbakedharvest @hbharvest

2. Pumps and Push-ups featured a great post about a fun cozy look. Erica talked about facing your fears in the post where she featured this look. Don’t you love posts when bloggers are real and share pieces of themselves and their real lives? That is something dear to my heart. That post is here.

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3. My friend Sarah, who blogs at Foxy’s Domestic Side has been having these great hair challenge link-ups. I’m always inspired by what she does with her hair. I wish she would come and work her magic on me but she’s in Cali and I’m in Texas. Regardless, this red cozy poncho is stunning on her and I absolutely love the look. Her hair post is here.

4. Without a doubt a look I have always loved is an over-sized sweater with a short skirt. I just love the pair of black and camel too! So when I saw Kelly’s post at Rosy Outlook featuring both of these I swooned over her look and knew I had to feature it today. She nailed the look and you can read the post here.

5. One thing I have been doing quite a bit lately is using my Crock-Pot. A slow cooking warm meal is a must during the long winter days of January. My friend Sarah {Foxy’s Domestic Side} shared this recipe for Coconut Curry Beef Stew. I have actually made it twice. The first time with beef {good} and the second time I subbed chicken thighs and added butternut squash with the sweet potatoes {better}.

Those are my faves this week. Hope you are inspired!

Don’t forget friends that Create28 Winter Edition starts February 1st. Whitney, Casey and I will be sharing looks and featuring some of our favorite bloggers and their great style. Hope you’ll join us!

Getting Fit with 21 Day Fix

January is the ultimate fitness month. Many of us make a resolution to get fit in the new year, which makes me wonder how you’re doing as month one is coming to a close. Are you exercising? Have you changed your lifestyle to embrace creating a healthier you? If not, why not?

This week I’ve shared with you a little about food and gardening, which I hope you found helpful. Now I want to share a little bit about fitness. I have been working out with my husband for several years. We lift weights about 3-4 times per week. We like to add some cardio in there and then mix it up with challenges we create. For example, who can do the most push-ups or pull-ups. Answer: he can push more than me but I can out pull him. At least we both are winners in the deal!

Basically, I’m not new to various types of exercise but back in October I became intrigued about the 21 Day Fix. I signed up for the Extreme version and got started without a challenge group. I loved it and saw results right away. I thought that was super exciting because I knew I was already fairly toned and fit.

A new challenge group is about to start this upcoming week. Unfortunately this means it’s too late to join in right now. BUT, in another month a new one will open up and if you’re interested in getting fit and having some online accountability with exercise and food, then this is your gig. A challenge group will encourage you in your workouts, assist you with food questions and just be your support via the Beachbody coaches. Yep, I’m a coach and I’d love to help you on your fitness journey. Even right now without the support of the challenge group if need be.

I started with 21 Day Extreme and it challenged me. This video is a great little sneak peek into what the program is all about.

Please leave a comment {or email me through the Contact Me} if you would like to be included in the next group or have any questions. If you’re interested in getting the program, then follow this link to make a purchase. Get Fit With Me!

Need a little more information about the diet and great food you can eat? I have a Pinterest board for all things 21 Day Fix.

Follow A Lovely Little Wardrobe’s board 21 Day Fix on Pinterest.

 

Let’s Get Fit in 2016!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a lousy gardener. This is mainly because I’m simply a plant killer. I don’t mean to be one, but I’m just clueless. In the past when we have had a garden, I have been a really good spectator. My husband is the cultivator and planter and worker bee in this endeavor.

BUT, I want to be different. I want to grow some of our own food. Maybe if I could get more than one tomato I could learn to can them. I’d like to do that. I’d like to learn some of the things that most don’t do anymore because it’s more convenient to drive to the grocery store. If I want to eat real food then having my own garden is probably a step in the right direction.

We are planning for organic gardening and will be ordering seeds through the Seed Savers Exchange. It is near and dear to my heart because it resides in the town where my grandparents were born and raised. My family has deep roots in that area of Iowa and I love the idea of supporting a small company.

There is something else that I’m really excited about that’s coming up in February. I’m planning to attend this Fair, which will help me to learn some much-needed skills on my clean eating and living lifestyle. I’m actually going to attend this with a couple of my co-workers but I warned them I can only go so far in my hippie conversion. I self-titled myself a suburban hippie and my husband is a redneck hippie. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it, friends.

image via Mother Earth New

What about you? Do you garden? Are you scared to try because like me you’re a plant killer? I’d love to hear about your experiences with gardening.
Have a great day, friends!