Free

As 2017 is coming to a close, I look back and one word stands out most... free. You may remember that 2016 was a hard year for me (perhaps it was for you too- seemed to be the trend). But that hardship was also a blessing. When faced with what you don't want, you get clear about what you do want. A big piece of that was opening myself up to possibility. And the key to that was trusting the process. 

(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.)

I have a saying that I tell myself daily, two actually. One is that everything is unfolding in my favor. And the other is that I love myself. Whether I am feeling the stress of life or simply enjoying its flow, I tell myself these two things and it helps me feel safe and supported.  It's connected to a way of seeing and living life that I developed this past year. I decided that life is for fun and I'm meant to enjoy the journey. And choosing to see and participate in life this way is very freeing. 

I still have moments of overwhelm and uncertainty (I am human after all), but I find I'm able to sit with it all with greater ease and trust. To see the experiences in my life as part of this very entertaining show staring yours truly. My own personal movie with variation and excitement and heartbreak and love and connection and friendship and success and speed bumps. We get so fixated on wanting what we want, and feeling we will be happy when we get it, that we miss the opportunity to enjoy the present moment and find happiness with what is. I think that's the balance I am striving for- to enjoy the moment I'm in while reaching for what I want next. When I hit that sweet spot, I feel alive, excited and free. 

Photos by the lovely Lindsay Linton Buk in Cheyenne Wyoming. 

Outside View

Chatting with a couple of friends the other day, it became clear that we don't always see ourselves the way other see us. In particularly, we don't always see the value we naturally give. For whatever reason we tend to see our shortcomings more readily than the areas we thrive. Not only that, we can question our contributions as being worthy or not. That's when a little outside perspective comes in handy.

(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.)

(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.)

In a safe space with people who accept and support you, there's an opportunity to share your truest thoughts about where you are and what you want to do. And in that space is also an invitation to ask for feedback. We did this with a small group the other day and it was incredible. What struck me most was how clearly others see you and your value, while you might be questioning what you can give to the world. Sometimes we know what we want or need to do, but just need someone outside of ourselves (and minds) to say it, or to see the value we are ready to offer. Have you had this experience? I encourage you to share what you are up to and ask for feedback if you are unsure of how you want to proceed. Many minds are better than one, and may also see you more clearly than you see yourself.

Eco Outfit Details:

BE LUXE TRACK PANT, Made By Riley #ethicallymade 

CAMEL SWEATSHIRT, Uzma Bozai #naturalfibers #ethicallymade 

WOOL CASHMERE BEANIE, Everlane #naturalfibers #transparentproduction

NAVY OVERSIZE COAT, Jil Sander via Rent the Runway #sharedfashion

SMILEY CROSSBODY BAG, Anya Hindmarch #ethicallymade #handcrafted 

SNEAKS, Pretty Ballerinas #ethciallymade #madeinPortugal 

My first day in London I met my friend Mona Lisa Godfrey for a stroll around Notting Hill and we stumbled upon a pop-up shop called Ethical Collection. I was beside myself with excitement! And my enthusiasm turned to sheer joy when I met co-founder Annina Youngblood who graciously allowed me to pull pieces from her lovely store to style. 

Absolutely everything in the store was curated to appease the most discerning fashionista and her ethics. It was a match made in heaven, and the best part is you don't need to be in London to shop their lovely collections- all you need is to follow this link. xx

Photos by the lovely Kit Lee in Chelsea, London UK. Many thanks to Ethical Collection for contributing so many cool and eco pieces to this shoot!

So Seventies

I just got back from a trip to London, and on a jet-lagged evening trying to stay awake past 7pm I decided to take myself to the movies and see Battle of the Sexes. I must admit, going stag to the movies in London is one my favorite past times. I'm not sure if it's the size of the city or maybe that it's just culturally accepted to movie go on one's own, but I really do enjoy it. I went to see Battle of the Sexes because it was still playing and I heard it was good.

(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.)

(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.)

It was REALLY good! Set in the US in the 1970's when women were fighting for equal rights, treatment, and pay (wait, aren't we still fighting for that?). I had know idea what Billie Jean King, the famous tennis player, did for women not only in the field of tennis but in general. We owe her a major debt of gratitude. 

From a styling point of view, the seventies haircuts and bellbottom jeans were utterly awesome. And, so when I styled this look from XCVI I couldn't help but think I was tuned into that vibe. 

Eco Outfit:

TILDE CARDI, XCVI (gifted) #lowimpactdyes #ethicallymade

BELLBOTTOM JEANS (similar to ones shown), XCVI (gifted) #lowimactdyes #ethicallymade

BODYSUIT, American Apparel #madeinUSA

A mutual friend introduced me to XCVI, a LA-based brand with ethical roots. I was excited to learn that XCVI is a family owned and run brand with a relaxed and cool feel for every day essentials. They manufacture in both LA and China with WRAP certified factories, and use only low impact dyes. I'm a fan of their laid back aesthetic with a little design interest, which keep their pieces special and different from your average basics. 

XCVI was so sweet to extend a 10% discount to FMG readers when you click through here. xx

Photos by Kind Honey Photography in Boulder, CO. Many thanks to XCVI for sponsoring this post.

Little Help...

This past week I was in London- one of my favorite cities in the world! I traveled alone and stayed at a co-work/ co-live space called Roam in Chelsea. This was my first co-living experience, and it was pretty great. It felt like a cross between the Real World and Soho House. Lots of creative and entrepreneurial people living and working out of London. Good people to work beside, have an end of the day chat with, or even grab a drink. And, as I found out, call upon when you need help.

(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.)

(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.)

If you've ever been sick (I mean bedridden, can't even walk up the stairs, might throw up at any moment sick) while alone in a foreign country, you know how hard and scary it can be. This is exactly the situation I found myself in after getting a round of food poisoning. And, what I learned is this- you can ask for help. A complete stranger (also staying at Roam) went to the store to get me electrolyte water and plain crackers. And another very new friend who I also met at Roam went to the pharmacy and brought back activated charcoal (which, btw, I will always bring with me whilst traveling from now on). 

In the past, I was not one to ask for help. We Eagan's pride ourselves on pushing through and being strong. Yet, this time I heard my intuition nudging me to get some help. And to accept it, without guilt or shame. It was kind of a big deal for me. And I'm so grateful to those who did help when I needed it. Sure, I could have gotten through it on my own (maybe?) but it was nice to ask and get some of the support I needed. To better take care of myself. 

Be willing to ask for help, and offer to help when you see the chance.

I'm happy to report that I've recovered and am seeing this otherwise challenging experience as a new beginning. A sort of reset button to keep my body clean (inside and out) and healthy. Onwards and upwards!

Eco Outfit:

TOP, NIA #zerowaste #local #ethical

TROUSERS, NIA #zerowaste #local #ethical

JACKET, The Sway #upcycled #ethicalproduction

BOOTS, (similar to ones shown) Rag & Bone #madeinItaly

My friend Merica, from NIA, sent over pieces from her new collection and I fell in love with them! So soft, incredibly comfortable, and very stylish. What I liked most is how well they wear together- almost like a jumpsuit, but easier to get in and out of. The pattern and design are top notch and I can't wait to see what else she comes up with!

Photos shot in Boulder, CO by Kimberly Johnson of Kind Honey Photography.

Make Space

I was having dinner with a couple of remarkable ladies the other night, and our conversation veered towards a vulnerable place. Through the natural flow of conversation we found ourselves identifying and speaking up for the need to make space. I'm not talking about cleaning out your closet, though I'm a fan of that too. What we were connecting to was the real and necessary human need we have to create enough space in our lives and minds to gain clarity and ask ourselves what we truly want from this life.

(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.)

It was a powerful realization. I had been sharing my story of how I moved to LA last year and had an extremely challenging time. It was one of the hardest years of my life, to date. Yet, with that experience, I found my way and without a road map I began to make space for myself. I made time to read. I hiked almost daily in the Santa Monica Mountains and would prompt myself to think about what I wanted to do next on the way up, while letting it all go and simply appreciating the view and the fresh air on the way down. I wrote morning pages, and listened to smart and interesting podcasts. I attended conferences and dinner parties with inspiring people. Somehow, some part of me knew that I needed to push myself to expand and create more space to see what was possible. 

And through this make shift process I found myself again. With clarity and focus I received guidance from within. It was (and still is) incredible. It wasn't until I was sharing this at dinner and one of the women pointed out the value of creating that space that I realized how important the process was. Or that my doing it created a model for others. I want to do some version of it regularly. It's a way of checking in with our truest selves, I think. How about you? How do you make space for yourself and align with what's truly wanted of you in this life?

ECO OUTFIT DETAILS

For this look, I pulled this dress from Penny Lane Cooperative. PLC is a local store in Jackson, Wyoming that showcases work and products from local artists. It's fantastic! The owner, Andi Keenan, has done an amazing job of curating a clothing boutique in the front of the space and housing pop-up stalls featuring a variety of local artists and producers in the back. As an active member of the community, she uses the space regularly to host how-to parties (they recently had one about making essential oil blends and beauty products!) and community events. 

I'm thrilled PLC is part of our small town scene, and can't wait to engage more fully with this special place. Check out their EVENTS page to see what's on deck!

Photos by Cole Buckhart. :)