Picnic Time

April 23rd is National Picnic Day! I actually didn't know there was a specified date to celebrate eating in the outdoors on a blanket, but I'm glad there is. In Jackson, sharing a meal outside is a pretty common thing. My go-to is a sammie grab from Pearl St Bagels or Persephone's Bakery to pack into my backpack before heading to the Park for a hike or paddle board session on String Lake. I love that National Picnic Day is a dedicated reminder to make time for such outings. Want to get in on this Jackson Hole picnic-ing action? Check out the details for the Ultimate Picnic Giveaway (value of $3,700) below!

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

Thanks to Persephone's Bakery, Stio, Outpost JH, Solo Stoves, and Orijin Media, you have the opportunity to win the following:

• four nights stay at an Outpost JH property in Jackson, WY

• the ultimate picnic setup from Persephone's Bakery (Coyuchi goods and more!) + $300 gift certificate to Persephone's Bakery and Picnic locations in Jackson and online

• Solo Stove

• Men's Wilcox Jacket & Women's Fleece Hoodie from Stio (I'm wearing the fleece hoodie in this post)

This is an incredible offer for anyone wanting to visit Jackson, and for locals to enjoy a staycation with some sweet perks. To enter click here. Picnic safe: pack your food and trash out, and always check for ticks. Happy Picnic-ing!

Many thanks to Meag from The Egg Out West for indulging in this picnic in the snow with me, and for Cole Buckhart at Orijin Media for capturing the moment! And to Claire Owen Adams for setting up this fun adventure. xx

Beneffect

Those who know me well, know that I love to make up words and then casually use them in everyday conversation. One of my all time favorites is 'hometel' which can be defined as a hotel you stay at so frequently and align with the aesthetic enough that it feels like your home... home + hotel. 

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

My newest invention is beneffect! It defines an unplanned side effect of something that has a positive effect. Beneficial side effect = beneffect. :) This little nugget makes itself known in many ways, and recently I felt its relevance when thinking about money and value. If we approach money as a beneffect of creating value in the world our focus and motivation is coming from a deeper and truer place. I'll admit this is a new approach for me, and I'm interested to see what manifests from this mindset. Never underestimate the power of a beneffect. 

Eco Outfit Details

SHEER RUBY CHECKERED DRESS Marni via Rent the Runway #sharedfashion 

LEATHER TIE BELT #upcycledleather #secondlifecycle #secondhand 

QUILTED CROSSBODY BAG Stella McCartney #vegan #fauxleather 

BOOTS #vegan 

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Photos by the multi-talented Cole Buckhart. 

Ice Queen

Do you ever feel you have to be the strong one for everyone else? That it's your job to keep it together so you can be the pillar others lean on? I think I've felt that way my whole life. Maybe it's the caregiver in me or just my optimistic nature to always look towards the good in every situation. And I don't think it's wrong per se, but sometimes it gets in the way of allowing all that needs to be felt and expressed from coming out. Like an ice queen keeping it on lock down.

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

Recently I've been going through something challenging and I felt a shift in myself. I wasn't able to keep seeing the bright side. I got sucked into the 'reality of what is' and it had me gripped tight. Then I found myself in a discontented place of fear and negativity. And I was upset about that. And that made me feel ever worse. Until one night, as I was drifting to sleep I had an epiphany...

I wasn't far from myself at all. I was just going through the motions of life that reveal to us more of who we are and what we want. I was expanding. The minute I had the thought, I felt relief. I felt the judgement I had placed on myself for not being stronger or more positive lift off of me and I truly felt elated. Sometimes it is so easy to make feeling bad or uncertain or sad wrong, but I think without them we might be bored and stagnant. They move us forward by revealing the complexity of who we are and showing us more of what we want (sometimes by showing us what we don't want). It felt like a movie director pulling back to see the full scene, and I could appreciate the role of those hard feelings. So now, I remain committed to my default way of being (positive and uplifted) and hold space for the other emotions that show up too. No need to freeze them out. They're part of the bigger picture.

Eco Outfit Details

CINDY CASCADE GOWN Nha Khan via Rent the Runway #sharedfashion

PLAID CASHMERE SCARF #naturalfibers

I'm sure you've heard me talk about renting fashion before, and I can't get enough of this genius concept! For this shoot, I knew I wanted to create something more artistic and a gown in the snow felt like the perfect thing. I do have a couple of gowns in storage (one of them is my high school prom dress!), but I wanted something to fit my vision and with my Rent the Runway Unlimited subscription a plethora of gowns and designers were at my fingertips! The best part is this gown will be warn many times- not just once or twice by moi if I had bought it. Shared fashion is one of my favorite ways to participate in sustainable fashion, and it is oh so stylish. 

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Many thanks to Cole Buckhart for yet another awesome shoot! 

Snow Skirt

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

Eco Outfit Details

CASHMERE TURTLENECK #naturalfibers

QUILTED SKIRT Nohmii #ethicallymade #madeinUSA

LEATHER JACKET (similar to one shown) #vegan

BOOTS (similar to those shown) #vegan

In a ski resort town such as Jackson, we're pretty familiar with the term 'snow skirt.' Only, we're usually talking about that bit of extra fabric that cinches tight underneath your ski jacket to keep the powder from pushing up underneath. Yet, the snow skirt I'm talking about is the nifty thing you see me sporting in this post. Nohmii's quilted skirt is not only stylish, it's your best friend on a cold day in ski country. Like a puffy for your legs, it truly is a wonderful winter staple. 

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Thanks to Nohmii for sponsoring this post, and to Cole Buckhart for the beautiful photos. 

All Rise

There's a shift in the air. It's trending in a positive direction and changing lives. Lately I've been noticing (or attracting?) various people who are awake and alive- passionate about life and how to really live it. You can feel the energy and excitement pulsing through them. It's refreshing and contagious. 

(Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links. All products are chosen at my discretion and promoted as other blogs promote products that reflect the lifestyle of the blogger, brand, and ethos. I only post brands and items I support.)

Have you seen these people show up in your life? They have sparkling eyes and beaming smiles. They've usually been through something intense (haven't we all) and come through to the other side with resolve to be mindful and intentional about the life they are creating. A common denominator I've observed is meditation. And I get it. There's no better way to tune into yourself for guidance and Truth that you can't get anywhere else. It's awesome.

So the other day, I was thinking about how to support these shape shifters- myself included. And it seems like holding the space for each other to share what needs to be shared, and allowing for our own processes are key. More than any time before, I find myself talking about meditation, self care, spiritual practice and the power of thought with a variety of people. Is it just me, or are we collectively up-leveling?! With open hearts, minds, and ears, we all rise together to a new and, I daresay, better place.

Eco Outfit:

COAT, Mackintosh #handcrafted #madeinUK #naturalfibers

SWEATER, (similar to one shown) Rag & Bone #naturalfibers #madeinUSA

DRESS, borrowed from Penny Lane Cooperative in Jackson, WY (check out this post to learn more about this local gem!)

BOOTS, (similar to ones shown) Stuart Weitzman #madeinSpain

Moving into the cold weather season, I like to 'winterize' a summer dress with tights and a chunky sweater. The look is effortless and very suitable for cooler temps. 

Photos at Astoria Hot Springs Park, by Cole Buckhart.