The last time I put this jumpsuit on, I just couldn't keep from changing. Maybe a jumpsuit (for me) needs to be a little bit more subdued...maybe it needs to have a little waist definition. I'm not exactly sure why, but this jumpsuit...while having a good shape, fit, + drape...being very comfortable...and pretty much what I thought I was looking to make...just wasn't quite me. The pictures of my outfits taken throughout October revealed that I'd only worn it twice. I knew that the second time I wore it...it just didn't feel quite right either.

Just a few days prior to this discovery, Julia showed me a hole in one of her pairs of pants...in a place that would not be a welcome spot for showing off a patch. Those pants will be patched + worn in the house...but she needed a new pair of pants.

The holidays are on the horizon + before the mood turns toward shopping, let's consider improvising. Entertaining is a tricky topic, because it looks different for all of us. For some of us entertaining is sporadic, and borrowing or just making do is practical. For others of us it is a regular practice, so having a little arsenal of items on hand may be a better option. (We'll try to keep the emphasis on little... + do as much double duty thinking as possible.) I'll do my best to offer some ideas to spark some further individual thought.  :)

If we are entertaining in a smaller space, numbers matter...especially as the temperature dip making outdoor spaces uninhabitable. Consider saving larger scale get-togethers for warmer weather, when they can be held potluck style at a park. Each family can bring their own table service, lawn chairs, and a dish + dessert to pass. At a certain point in my extended family's growth, we started gathering in a park on Labor Day for my grandma's birthday rather than at one family's home for Christmas. This had the added benefits of taking the focus off gifts (except for Grandma) + taking some stress off of the holiday season. Another option might be to get together with far away friends/family at a third location + camp or rent an Airbnb together...whether at the holidays or at another time of year. 

Ok, so now we may be thinking about less people as well as less extra entertaining "stuff". This "stuff" mostly pertains to eating...and if there are overnight guests, also to sleeping + grooming.

When it comes to food, consider ::
-borrowing :: any extra plates, silverware, or serving ware needed :: alternatively keep 12 (or appropriate number) salad sized plates + make do (no paper plates)
-using jars as drink ware :: Bonne Mama or Mason jars work well for us + we always have plenty on hand (no plastic cups)
-serving what is easy to serve :: if we don't want to keep 12 mugs, maybe serve apple cider instead of coffee :: if we don't want to keep 12 bowls, maybe don't serve soup...or serve it in wide-mouthed Weck or Ball jars that can serve other purposes in daily life :: if we don't want to keep a roasting pan just to use it once a year, maybe make shepherd's pie or lasagna the new tradition
-potluck :: not only does this decrease prep work, but the amount of dishes + platters needed :: decreases costs + allows everyone to contribute + participate
-using the counter or dining table as a buffet :: (no extra long table or extra dining chairs necessary)
-doing a dessert buffet, hors d'ouerves, cheese board, or some combination to decrease whole meal expectations + preparation
-thrifting a table cloth + ripping it into a bunch of reusable napkins :: pull the loose strands + leave the fringed edges (or sew the edges, if you like) (no paper napkins)
-stackable stools, if extra seating is necessary :: they can be used as bedside or coffee tables in daily life (or can be packed away compactly) (folding chairs can be compact too)
-bringing an outdoor table in for extra seating + covering both tables with table cloths for a more uniform look

Overnight guests often require some additional stuff. Providing an extra space to sleep along with a bit of privacy can get tricky. Some of us have extra blankets + bedding, but this may not be the case when we are really trying to live light. After each of our moves overseas, we didn't have extra bedding or towels for guests. We were able to borrow a mattress + bedding when we lived in London. Back in the States, we have used our camping air mattress for guests. Since we are all in need of bedding + towels at the same time, it can be tricky to improvise. (We've done that too, but I won't expand upon it.)  :)

Simplifying + improvising may be more about space than stuff in this area. Many of us don't have the desire to heat, cool, clean, maintain, + pay for the extra square footage of a guest bedroom...but it may make sense to dedicate a portion of a closet to a thoughtfully curated collection of guest "stuff" (if we have frequent overnight guests). A few options + alternatives can be found below.

When it comes to bedding, consider ::
-letting camping equipment double as guest bedding...a tent set up on carpet could even offer a little extra privacy or be fun for kids
-borrowing/sharing with family or friends (although this could get complicated around the holidays)
-letting the guest bring their own air mattress + bedding 
-air mattress (es) :: they pack away compactly
-japanese mattress or folding cushions (can be stored in a closet)
-futon/fold-out couch 
-fold up bed frame (above) for those who need a raised bed or for college kids who come home more often
-a folding screen or tension rod + curtain to put up in a doorway without a door :: for privacy
-throw sized pillows :: take up less space + could be used in daily life
​-turkish towels :: take up less space + could be used as a beach towel or throw in daily life

I truly believe that a simple home can offer a lovely, relaxed invitation to come be a part of our uncluttered, relaxed, calm lives. Entertaining, after all, is about enjoying the company of those we love + sharing our most precious gifts of time + presence. Whether we are offering tea + a store bought cookie or a holiday meal, simplicity is beautiful.

Do you have any tips for entertaining with less? Please share!!  :)

Love,
Jane

As the evenings close in, the glow of candlelight is increasingly welcome. I like to use beeswax to refill my existing candle jars rather than always purchasing new candles. My favorite source of beeswax is the farmer's market, where I can find it local + package-free. Sadly, I did not think ahead enough to stock up this year (note made in my calendar for next year). When we saw a block at the health food store, I grabbed it, happy to see that it was sourced from a named farm within the USA. I had some soy wicks left over from last year, so nothing else was necessary to refill these candles. 

In addition to smelling lightly of honey, beeswax burns more slowly + cleanly than other candle waxes. Instead of adding scents to my candles, I chopped up the scented wax left in each jar (leaving it in the jar, so as not to mix scents) + mixed it with the melted wax as the jar was filled. Soy wax + beeswax mix well, and the scents are deliciously complementary.

I have to admit that I made a bit of a mess doing this project this time. Let's just say that I learned that I should wear an apron + that a handled enamel pot would be lovely for pouring. Since I like using what I have, however, I used one of my enamel bowls to melt the wax over my small pot of boiling water. It works perfectly well...but a little slip up can happen.  

Also...I do very much love P.F. Candle Co. candles. Their candles are favorite gifts of mine (especially to receive).  :) The jars here are from P.F. candles, which are handmade in California with soy wax. Soy wax is a clean + renewable choice for wax as well, but it is best if the soy is organic + GMO-free in order to ensure that less water + no pesticides are used for its growth.

​Now I'm ready for a little cozy glow.

Love,
​Jane

I've been enjoying reading Justin Dillon's A Selfish Plan to Change the World so far. I like the thoughtful way Dillon differentiates between our efforts to save versus change the world. I'm seeking to clarify my own mission, intent, + next steps in this fair journey... + this book is providing some food for thought.

I also enjoyed taking a look through Janet Crowther's A Well-Crafted Home. Her style is lovely + the projects are totally doable.

Bored = brilliant.
​The clinical term for what results when one is exposed to an indigo vat.
​"I could live simpler."
Lady tested :: zero-waste. (thanks Jo.)
A clog primer.
Zero-waste wardrobe editing.

Keep warm this weekend, friends!

Love,
​Jane

find joy in all seasons.

I've been loving the casual warmth of sweatshirts lately. While sweatshirts can't quite compete with the warmth of wool or cashmere, they can be a bit more affordable... + easier to care for too. ​I'm excited to say that there are a bunch of fair options for sweatshirts!! From organic cotton to hemp to natural dyes...the materials offer environmentally friendly choice as well. Click around + get a little bit warm + fuzzy reading about all the good these brands are doing!

A few more (not pictured) options ::
everybody world
for days
ijji 
lacausa
​la relaxed 
mate the label 
outer known 
proof collective 
richer poorer
save khaki united 
tasc
united by blue
zero waste daniel 

All lovely photos via links. As usual this post will be easy to find at the bottom of the ethical brands page, if you are not in the market for a new sweatshirt just yet.

Love,
Jane

October has turned cold where we live. The garden is all tucked in for the winter. We've had our first frost. Darkness occupies more + more of our mornings + evenings. Candlelight brings a little glow. Soup + root vegetables satisfy + warm. Tank tops + sandals have been traded for sweaters + boots. Out come the duvet covers + cozy pajamas. What a difference a month makes!

I've been documenting my daily outfits here this month in the hopes that it will inspire a bit of mindful gratitude for what I have. I honestly could not be more surprised at how wonderfully well this has worked! So well...that I'd encourage anyone to try it. Focusing on what is good is a recipe for contentedness in whatever sphere it is practiced.

I've been working toward a smaller wardrobe this autumn, so I haven't bought clothes for myself, though I did sew a planned pair of pants this month. The 29 pieces of clothing that I have in my closet right now have served me very well. I haven't even worn all the combinations that are available to me.

This week's appreciation highlight :: Hmmm. It could be just about anything, because this exercise really has helped me to appreciate what I have. That's not to say that the pieces I have are especially special...but I guess they kind of are special in that they are comfortable + versatile + made/grown with hands that I value + honor with each wear. They keep me warm or cool + make me feel just a little bit more like me. I have what I need. I have enough.

I'm going to give the prize to that indigo, cotton, long-sleeved tee, because it is just one of my very favorite things to wear. It is soft + the most beautiful color. It is boxy in the body + more fitted in the sleeves. The length is perfectly cropped in a way that can be worn with high-waisted pants or over a jumpsuit. I used it all summer long as the layer I'd throw into my bag for chilly situations. I wear it for chilly yoga sessions. It layers under a cardigan when it's cold. I've had it for a few years, + it was well made in San Francisco by Taylor Stitch.

Dressing with less, learned :: Solid colored (as opposed to printed) pieces are much more versatile for me. I can mix most of my pieces together easily. Solids also have a lot of staying power, in that I don't get tired of them. Wearing the same pieces over + over is less noticeable, both by me + others. I like prints too, but just a few. I try to choose prints with a limited number of colors. That way they feel a little less chaotic to me.

Thank you for indulging me in this gratitude practice...and thank you Slow Fashion October for inspiring it. Enough is such a good feeling. I hope it belongs to you as well!

Love,
Jane