Some of the most beautifully curated vintage I've laid eyes on at Ralph Lauren in Malibu.  ​

A new uniform. (Yes!)
Loving this series on growing fibers!
​A quest for American flannel.
Keeping clothes out of the garbage is the goal.
​Going make-up free...not to mention minimalist + zero-waste.
​Slow down + grow something.

Hope you make some time to slow down + savor this weekend, friend.

Loads of love,
Jane

Creativity is intelligence having fun.
​~Albert Einstein

Washing clothes releases half a million tonnes of plastic microfibres into the ocean
every year, equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles. ~Ellen MacArthur Foundation (via)
​
Since modern plastic was first mass-produced, 8 billion tons have been manufactured.
And when it's thrown away, it doesn't just disappear. ~Christopher Joyce (via)
​

Holiday gift giving might be just a manageable area in which to engage ourselves in a little challenge. We've learned about the extreme reach plastic microfibers have...into oceans, fish + even our drinking water. We've seen the uncontainable nature of everlasting plastic packaging + products. Could we focus our consciousness with a plastic free gift giving challenge?

-Could we leave polyester out of our Christmas gift giving? That means no poly fleece tops, no polyester leggings, no acrylic faux fur slippers. How about an organic cotton flannel shirt or robe...a canvas tote bag or purse...cozy wool socks or slippers...?
-Could we eliminate plastic packaging? That means no plastic clamshell packaging to wrestle, no plastic film or shrink wrap. How about some homemade or local treats packed in glass or cotton bags...a special book or recycled paper notebook...package-free soap or small batch skin cream...?
-Could we bypass plastic bows + shiny paper + glossy gift bags? How about furoshiki...reusable bags...bento bags...left over muslin bags...reused packing paper + twine (tape can often just be omitted)...? 
​
​Leaving plastic packaging + fibers out of our gifts needn't be restricting. It might just shift our focus away from big box stores + onto independent makers or into our own creativity. Think paper, cotton, felt, wool, rubber, glass, wax, metal, wood, edibles, pages, natural dyes, scents, tastes, textures, cozy, breezy, warm, light, nourishing, useful, inspiring, educational, artful, creative, crafty, fun, pretty, vintage, reusable, experiences, adventure, anticipation...

Awareness is the key. Our society isn't currently constructed to promote plastic-free living, so it can be easy to just forget (especially in this most wonderful time of year). ​The above lovely photos (via links) hopefully offer a tiny bit of inspiration + a reminder that this needn't be too tough a challenge. Our beautiful world depends on us curbing our use of plastic. A beautiful, plastic-free holiday is possible!

Love,
Jane

Most of us know that we do not need boxes of stuff marked "holiday" in order to create a holiday atmosphere. The most natural (+ perhaps beautiful) holiday decorations do not need to be stored + are also quite zero-waste. Not only are these decoration festive, they are often tasty, aromatic, cozy, fun to make + recyclable/compostable.

A few simple, non-clutter holiday decorations ::
-a jar or two of red + white candy or cinnamon sticks
-oranges with leaves still attached
-dried orange slice, popcorn +/or cranberry garland
-a fresh green wreath or tree
-a beautiful branch or potted plant strung with snowflakes (made from sneaky junk mail)
-a tray of sage bundles, pretty crystals + candles
-meaningful scripture verses, poems or carols written 
-forced bulbs
-cozy blankets + pillows
-candles
-found pine boughs tied together with twine
-a bowl of pinecones or pinecone garland
​-received Christmas cards
-fairy lights (because they are lovely all year)  :)

I mentioned last week that the decorations I really love for the holidays are lights + greenery. I'm happy that I figured this out early in the season, because now I have a plan. 

I've decided to acknowledge + accept that simple does not necessarily mean free. I would like to indulge in a little live greenery...because it is compostable at the end of the season... it has less tendency to create visual clutter...it doesn't become stuff to store...and it is beautiful. This live greenery is not free (for me). I'm keeping my budget in check with my edited choices. I decided that I would like to purchase a small real tree + some greenery to make a simple wreath. These cost me $30. I'm accepting that these costs are part of the holiday experience that I'm giving my tribe as well, so the gift budget will respond appropriately (shrinking a bit). (A great way to gather a little free greenery is to pick up the fallen pieces around the fresh cut trees...or to gather them from an outdoor space where permitted. Another way is to use a hand-me-down faux tree...year after year. Both of these have worked for us in the past.)  :)

Our holiday decorations this year will include ::
-tiny lights + fairly made brass bells added to our everyday front door wreath
-waxed candles all over the house + in the windows (operated by timers + rechargeable batteries)
-a small fresh tree in a steel bucket, decorated with lights + handmade clay stars made with the girls years ago
-a spruce scented candle for lighting
-a handmade fresh eucalyptus wreath (from the branches pictured)
-a handmade nativity
-handmade (by Julia) paper stars
-tinsel draped over windows
-an advent calendar that the girls + I stitched together years ago
-gifts under the tree (wrapped in reused brown paper + twine and starry baggu bags)
-holiday tunes
and maybe:
-vintage Christmas postcards I collected years ago, clipped onto some yarn garland-style
-hand-cut snowflakes in the windows (I often like to have these up in January/February)

Much of these decorations can be composted or recycled at the end of the holiday, + the rest will pack neatly into a couple of boxes for next year. 

Here is where the decluttering part comes in. Right now is when the holiday decorations we no longer need...are useful to others. Our tribe doesn't have many decorations...but even so...I'm pulling them all out...unwrapping + considering each piece. Anything that we don't need is getting donated...pronto. (Faux Christmas trees can be listed on Craigslist or other local sharing site. Listing them for free will offer the greatest possibility of getting them reused + will share a little Christmas cheer as well.) 

Each of us gets to choose how sentimental to be about saving + passing things on. As a girl, I loved pulling the same few decorations out of the boxes to decorate the tree each year. If my mom had saved all my childhood creations + offered them to me as a teenager, I definitely would have wanted to save them. I would have imagined pulling out the box with my children. The thing is that the reality of a situation like that would have turned out differently. My girls are not very sentimental in that way. Having pictures of them with their own creations + at the age they made them is enough (+ wonderful!). Not having to move + store mountains of decorations is nice too.

I say this only to remind us to think about who we are saving things for (for ourselves or for their future selves). If I had saved my childhood ornaments, I may have ended up picking a special one to keep. The rest would be a burden to pack + move + store. I've enjoyed choosing my own themes to decorate with + may have felt stuck or guilty if expected to hang all of my (or my husband's) childhood collected ornaments. On the other hand, if a family loves to pack that tree full of every ornament of the year every family member has collected...have a blast! It's just my hope that we don't have to feel obligated (+ choose not to place obligation in our sphere of influence), if there is no joy for anyone in that tradition.  :)

One final note on those precious glittery, gluey, childhood ornaments :: no decluttering advice here...just a memory that I love. When one of our girls came home from kindergarten on her last day before Christmas break, I couldn't wait to see all of that bright, crafty goodness. Instead of a collection of popsicle stick frames + googly-eyed pinecones, she proudly produced one extremely long length of paper chain. She had just gotten so into making paper chain that she never visited any of the other craft stations!  :)

What are your favorite simple Christmas decorations? 

Love,
Jane

It was apparent that He was living everything He was saying.
~Matthew 7

image via

Following are two opportunities to speak up for garment workers. Neither action takes long, but lending our support will not only add to the number of voices calling for action + accountability...it will show garment workers that the consumers of their work value them + are willing to stand with them. 

1. After the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh killed 1134 garment workers...unions, NGOs, + consumers demanded that apparel companies sign a fire + building safety accord. The accord was signed by more than 200 companies + now covers 1600 factories employing 2.26 million garment workers. The Bangladesh High Court is currently bringing a restraining order against the accord. We have until November 30 to speak out in support of this life-saving accord. 

image via

I think that the holidays turned from something of utter delight to something stressful around the time that I went from being a consumer of all the wonder (a girl) to a producer of it (a mama). I realize that often I find myself stressed out in the moments when I am most trying to make sure that everyone is happy...silly really. What would probably make all of us the most happy would be just enjoying all of the messy goodness that there is to be had...together.

This year, I am trying to shed the expectation of producing a jam packed season of joy for my tribe. I am trying to step away from what is expected...and trying to see this as something I'm creating outside of expectation.

What do we love most about the holidays? I'm "sending" out a postcard (sliding it under doors)...What are 2 things you love most about the holidays? What is one good memory of the holidays you have? What are 2 things you would like to do? 2 things you might like to get? 2 things you might like to eat/drink? 

With those things in mind, I will be able to feel that I've made some happy (whether that gets communicated back to me or not). I will not treat these returned postcards as a to-do list, but I will joyfully consider the feedback.  :)

My holiday favorites:
-twinkly lights
-candles
-simple greenery
-music
-hot, spicy drinks
-giving 
-making
-togetherness
-cozy movie nights
-a few thoughtful gifts 
-grasping + celebrating the gift of God among us

It's a simple list. I'm just going to go about bringing some of that home. I'm not really even going to think about the stuff that I don't like...or expectations...or what I'm not doing. And that feels good.

Love,
​Jane

It was just a moment...a fleeting thought. They come + go quickly, but I long to catch this one like the snowflakes falling outside my window. I want to catch just one + observe it quick before it melts away. 

I'm not going to say that I avoided all the sale hype this weekend. During past Black Friday frenzies, I diligently deleted all sneaky sale emails that found their way through to my inbox + moved on. I kept myself away from the shops completely. In the days that followed I'd start thinking of a few thoughtful gifts I'd like to give...and realize that I probably could have saved some money over the weekend. The what-ifs crept in any way.

This year, I took a thoughtful look at the emails that came...deleting most of them...but considering a few. Even then, I felt pressure to make decisions before the end of the sale. I felt urgency + desire that wasn't there before.

Today there is a snowstorm. We knew it was coming, so when I woke up...I knew there was no rush...no place to be. I got cozy with a book + read...a lot. The day unfolded lazily for all of us. The wind blew...the snow whirled. We drank tea + ate soup. And just for a single moment, I caught a thought before it melted away...this is what it's all for...this is what we want + need...a roof over our heads, cozy comforters, left-over birthday cake, heat, light, running water, comfy layers + socks. We have enough. We have "home". And it is good.

No need for more...no frenzy or fear of missing out. Sometimes a single second of clarity presents itself...like that moment when your ears unpop + you can hear fully again + hearing feels like a gift...a miracle...and a minute later that realization is lost. I don't want to forget. I have what I need...what I want to give my girls...what I want...and it is good...so good.

May you experience + recognize those fleeting moments of clarity in the season to come.

Love,
Jane

It's the most consumerist day of the year...beware!  :) Whether we are going outside instead of into the shops or taking advantage of a one or two well planned deals...my hope is that we will feel in control today as far as consuming goes.  

Clarity.
A new sort of reusable cup.
Revolt against plastic.
Loofah.
Escape.

As always remember, if there are regrets after the sales...we can always (often) (hopefully) return it.  :)

Hope everyone who celebrated it had a lovely Thanksgiving! I am endlessly grateful for this community that celebrates the joy in simplicity + compassion every day! You inspire me!  :)

Love,
Jane

These were not merely "friendly Indians". They had already experienced European slave traders raiding their villages for a hundred years or so, and they were wary -- but it was their way to give freely to those who had nothing. Among many of our peoples, showing that you can give without holding back is the way to earn respect. Among the Dakota, my father's people, they say, when asked to give, "Are we not Dakota and alive?" It was believed that by giving there would be enough for all -- the exact opposite of the system we live in now, which is based on selling, not giving.  ~Jaqueline Keeler (via)