Rituals are intriguing + beautiful. Rituals have the ability to bring us home to ourselves...to reconnect us to our truest selves, to our core values, to our people. Anything can become a ritual just by mentally moving it into that category. This feels so mind-clearing-ly simple + so all encompassing-ly beautiful.

Bringing ritual to my mornings feels like transforming my to-do list into a sacred practice. Each element contains an inherent beauty. Each moment is a gift holding possibility, peace, love + transformation.

I've been having fun with week long challenges. A week feels like a manageable time commitment period for me, short enough to hold my focus + long enough to have some feel for the effects of the action. If I'm honest, I do want these practices to become habits + habits take 30 days to form...blah, blah...but the bite-sized, week-long shift idea is working for me...so that's that.  :) It's a good place to start anyway.

Simplicity is a good tool for my scattered mind, so I kept my ritual list simple + uncomplicated. Each morning, as best I can, I want to:

• take in good words
• journal
• meditate
• stretch

The good words may come in the form of a daily newsletter, a podcast excerpt previously saved, a quote written in my journal, or a chapter or page of a good book. Journalling helps me listen, process, internalize + prioritize. We've been experimenting with meditation + are staying curious about its benefits for us. And I feel like slow stretching + a few sun salutations just opens me up mentally + physically.

I truly feel the benefits of these intentional practices throughout the day. It's like I've touched who I want to be...or nearish...and I feel a bit more tethered to it. My harmony is coming into focus little by little by little.

Love,
​Jane

Years ago, intimates came late in the process of moving our wardrobes toward good for our bodies, makers, farmers + the planet. It really was hard to find intimates that weren't made overseas of polyester + lycra.

These days, the layers closest to our bodies can be a good entry point to thinking about building an ethical wardrobe. We just have more options! Yay!

Lake Jane is one of those brands making this entry point both enticing + easy. Their pieces are designed + sewn in North Carolina from USA-grown cotton that is spun + dyed in California. The colors are lovely, and they are built to last.

I feel like the lighter weight of the fabric is one of the selling points of this brand, when compared with other ethical options out there. The drawback is that there are other options made with organic cotton. Just food for thought.  :)

All lovely photos via Lake Jane. Find this + other ethical brands when you need them on our ethical brands page.

I guess we've always known that brands are not forever...especially these small, fair clothing brands (+ one ceramics brand). The word sustainable is often used to describe them, but it probably feels like a misleading descriptor to their owners. The work they do does not sustain itself. Almost every business involves a lot of hard work (done by someone along the supply chain), but these involve even more intention, drive + grit. These brands are trail blazers + examples of what once felt impossible.

I've written these posts before, but it somehow feels a bit heavier this time around. It is not especially easy to finding clothing brands employing organic, natural fibers + fairly paid makers to add to our ethical brands list. This makes it especially sad to remove these stellar brands from the list.

Thank you SO much:

• ARQ
• Beaton Linen (can't wait to sew with your sewing patterns!)
• Ilana Kohn
• Humble ceramics (have so much fun with your new book collection!)
• Sugar Candy Mountain 
• Mara Hoffman 
• Vege Threads
• The Tiny Closet
• Selva Negra
• Ana + Zac

Thank you for sharing your creativity with us! You have moved the industry forward + we are so grateful!

All lovely images via links.

Love,
Jane

My partner + I just spent three days in Denver, and I thought I'd put a little itinerary here for my future self to refer back to (+ just in case anyone else might benefit in any way).  :) 

It's always a good idea to think through why we are going + how we want our time to feel before we plan a trip. In our case, we went because it's where + when James + Johnny Marr were playing. We wanted our time to feel relaxed + fun. We wanted to spend time outdoors, to eat good food + to think through our intentions for the year ahead together. We used to live in Denver + have visited plenty since, so we didn't feel the need to see or experience everything the city has to offer.

:: Day 1 ::
We arrived around lunchtime + drove straight to Stowaway Kitchen. After sharing a salmon bowl, we walked around the RiNo Art District + stopped in at Recital + Patagonia. From there, it was a short drive to Confluence Park (we parked at REI) where we walked along the South Platte River. (Next time we'll check out the Arkins Promenade.) We especially loved seeing the community gardens where there was a box of free food hanging on the gate for those who might need it!

​For dinner, we stopped at a favorite spot, Vital Root. I cannot get over the flavors of their savory waffle with sungold tomatoes, cherry chutney + roasted corn puree! The entire menu is gluten-free, which is a real treat for me!

:: Day 2 ::
We had an unhurried morning + made our way to Crema for chai/coffee + a gluten-free, sweet potato waffle (one of the only gf options - but very tasty). We brought our journals + spent some time writing + chatting about our intentions for the year to come. It was so nice outside on their little back patio, and we enjoyed this time immensely.

When we felt ready, we walked over to Denver Central Market for lunch. There are a number of vendors there + we chose to split a salad + açai bowl from Green Seed Market. I would love my kitchen to be full of fresh fruits + vegetables (+ not much else) like Green Seed. We sat at the picnic tables out back + enjoyed the shade of the umbrellas + the breeze.

Our plan was to either ride bikeshare bikes or walk around Washington Park, but it started to rain. So we did a little shop hopping to La Lovely Vintage, Homebody, + Yucca (ducking into the bustling Common Threads Consignment when the rain started in earnest). We revisited Vital Root for dinner (sharing a falafel wrap + beet lemonade) + then headed to the concert. We had so much fun singing our hearts out to songs we've been singing our hearts out to for years. And years.  :)

:: Day 3 ::
I ended up feeling a bit under the weather overnight + into day 3, so (again, instead of riding bikes) we headed to Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. It felt nice by this time to escape the traffic + to see nothing but golden fields stretching to the foothills (at times) on this chemical weapons manufacturing site turned wildlife preserve. Yeah. It is a thought provoking slow ride. We were able to see buffalo, deer, prairie dogs, hawks, starlings and a coyote!

I napped my way back into the city where we shared a salad at Farm + Market. They grow much of what they serve in house...which is pretty amazing to see! The rest of the afternoon was spent at Crema talking through plans for the weeks to come toward some of our intentions.

It was a really good little trip with some good reminders for us. I often feel the urge to make a trip "worth it" by seeing as much as possible. The default for us is usually scenery + shops. When we consciously think about it, however, we recognize our preference for having two or three simple, immersive experiences like lingering over a good meal or walking a (doesn't-have-to-be-too-long) trail.

This time we got it right + just spent a lot of time savoring conversation + connection. And that was truly the point.

Love,
​Jane

Until a week or two ago, my partner's + my closet held the access to our attic. Each time the wiring needed to be accessed or a squirrel needed to be relocated (!), I cleared much of our closet to make way. We finally moved the attic access to the hallway + were free to make a few changes that make better use of our closet as a result. 

​I felt strongly about the look I wanted to achieve, and it just makes me smile to look at our closet now. I love the warmth of the wood (this shelving) + the baskets. It functions a treat with stacks of each category of clothing + things we want to keep out of sight corralled in baskets. ​

​The simplicity we've honed in our wardrobes is working nicely for us here. Knowing what we like to wear again + again allows us to keep the number of pieces minimal + the color palette cohesive. For me, this is just another benefit of having a simple wardrobe. 

​I really wanted to have all of my clothing in one place. The amount of space felt adequate, so I set about letting go of some things that I like (love even), but don't wear often. This process feels like taking the chips I actually want to eat out of the bag + placing them in a bowl. When I see them in the bowl, I can recognize enough + will likely eat less than if I just ate them mindlessly out of the bag while watching a movie.​

I feel really good about choosing what I love, being able to see it + knowing I don't need more. That's all, and it's so good!  :)

Love,
Jane

Indigo is one of my forever themes. I honestly didn't set out with that thread in mind. It just came together that way. It must be because I'm waiting for the sun to come out so I can do some sun prints in the garden.  :)

If I was going to get literary :: I would relish the connections in this combined tome
If I was throwing a birthday party :: I'd use these handmade, beeswax, blackberry candles
If I could pull it off :: I'd wear these upcycled jeans to an outdoor concert
If I was going to pile my couch with indigo pillows :: this organic cotton, handmade lovely would be a dream addition
If I was going to add one piece to my ceramic collection :: it might be this little, sculptural beauty

All photos via links.

Love,
Jane

Just thought I'd follow up on a few choices we were able to implement since learning a little more about microplastics. Somehow it's just feeling nice to do some small things toward better. 

Recent efforts to decrease our production + ingestion of plastic microfibers: 

• using glass containers with glass lids, rubber gaskets + metal clamps rather than glass containers with plastic lids :: we use the whole Weck 565 system to take them out of the house + just the glass parts for storage in the fridge. I chose these over 16 oz. Le Parfait jars, because rusty lids was an issue mentioned in reviews (+ I've experienced that issue with my Ball jar lids). I chose glass over stainless steel, because we can warm things up in them without transferring the contents onto a plate. My partner frequently uses one of these (the no plastic version) for sandwiches.
• using a wood + stainless steel fish spatula rather than a mostly plastic one :: I'd struggled to find a bamboo or wood spatula that looked like it could flip a pancake (+ so many were tagged as containing substances banned in California, which I took as a less than great sign). This one is working well for everything.
• drinking lidless smoothies rather than safely topped ones :: so far so good. Adding a little more water helps. Wearing dark colors helps too.  :)
• drinking water out of jars rather than out of water bottles containing plastic or silicone :: + even taking open jars in the car. These are my favorites for everything (+ they fit in car cup holders)...proving again that the simplest options are often the best!

​
I'm doing what I can + taking whatever good vibes I can from drinking topless smoothies in appropriate outfits (+ catching my thrills from usually wearing white...in the car...on the way to work- yikes!).  ;)

Love,
​Jane

I'm sitting by the sliding door watching hummingbirds + monarchs dip in + out of the butterfly weed + cleome. Cicadas buzz + a pair of goldfinches that have stayed all summer sway on the coreopsis. The air has cooled + brushes my toes resting on the ottoman. Beauty is here + right now. 

Health Nut by Jess Damuck had me with the cover. Throw in the fact that this is by the author of one of my favorite cookbooks, Salad Freak, and I know I have to read every word. I like these books so much, because they simply act as inspiration for my own creativity. This is my favorite way to cook. Intuition, seasonality + vibrant taste for the win.

Quiet Spaces by William Smalley is a prompt toward creating restful spaces. I enjoy reading his poetic language about architecture + insights into how long held spaces have made him feel over the years. I rarely read about one's connection to place + its impact on how one lives in books like these, so this one feels gentle + special.

Devotions by Mary Oliver is offering little, tender moments in our days. This is a book that I feel like I can pick up, open to any page + feel a sense of recognition + connection come into view. I've checked it out from the library more than once, and it is always a lovely returning.

Big shade.
​Coffee grounds + cork.
I like calm spaces. 
Summer's end(less).

Hope your weekend feels tender + spacious + that you have moments to look + feel + hear the beauty around you. Love is here.

Love,
Jane