Closet Challenge Week 1

Week 1 of the closet challenge was fun! I wore some old pieces mixed with some new ones.  I also knew I had to go for the items that have a shelf life of a couple months in the winter.  I got back into some pattern on pattern and played with my lip color.  Can't wait to see what my closet has in store for me next week! 

Closet Challenge

Closet Challenge Accepted!!!

We've based this Blog on commitment and follow through.  So far my efforts have obviously been lacking.  But I do know one area where my commitment and follow through is quite spectacular, some might even say I am an over achiever.  That area would be shopping and collecting clothing.  I have a constant flow of clothing that builds in my closet and when going through it this past week to see what was dated I decided that my commitment to my closet is too good.  There are pieces that are still cute that I haven't worn in forever.  This got me thinking..there is no way I wear all of what I have in my closet yet I keep buying more?!  This has got to STOP.

I challenge myself to wear each piece in my closet once consecutively until I have worn each item at least once! Now there are a few rules and exceptions.

 Rule 1:  Can not wear same item twice.
Rule 2:  Can not buy anything new until challenge complete (this is going to be the hardest especially with the new spring collection coming in)
Rule 3: If i wear something twice I have to give that outfit away.
Rule 4:  If the outfit is voted a disaster I get to donate it (votes can be from friends and coworkers)

Exceptions:  Layering pieces can be worn more than once but HAVE to be worn at least once.  Bottoms are not included. just what is physically hanging in my closet.

Let the fashion begin!!!

#JoyfulJanuary

Webster's definition of Resolution "the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc : the act of resolving something."

My definition of Resolution "something I commit to in order to better myself that becomes a pain in my ass and I no longer have the patience to do it after a month"

Past resolutions:
Run a half marathon
Eat healthy
Become a vegetarian (again, for the 100th time)
Stop drinking soda
Stop swearing
Call my family and friends more
Stop using my phone in front of company
Stop texting while driving (you honestly don't have to tell me how horrible this is...I know.)
Be nicer and stop gossiping

I obviously still swear, the longest I've ran is 10 miles, I juiced for a day, nothing tastes better with a Chipotle chicken burrito than a Coca-Cola (there goes two in one sitting), being sarcastic is in my blood and I would stop breathing without Instagram and my phone. So, the short story is I have NEVER kept a resolution- sad.

This year I am doing something different.  A few years ago I read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  The best thing about this book was that none of her resolutions lasted more then a month goals were created in a time obtainable way by exploring one change she wanted to focus on for the month.  That sounds like something my noncommittal brain can focus on and I have my BFF Shan to help me out. January is a month of new, we are literally on day 1 of a new year, a blank page, a new book. So then I had to brainstorm what is best way to start a new year?

Well, I do want to take my physical health more seriously (back the gym I go), I would like to learn how to cook, maybe follow through with a detox. I would like to stop swearing, learn how to knit, appreciate my friends and family more, be more generous, pay off debts, focus on my mental health, work harder, drink less.... etc.  But in all honesty, I'm a grumpy bitch. Every day pisses me off. It's too cold, it's too hot, the sun isn't out, it got dark early, I'm tired, I have headache, I'm hungry, my stomach hurts, everyone is better than me, everyone is dumb... Oscar the Grouch is my spirit animal. I complain on my way out the door to go to work and complain about my day as soon as I get home. I've lost before I even started. This is a behavior that is as habitual as blinking, I don't even notice I do it. With this attitude I can literally talk myself out of anything (it's actually more like the worlds shittiest talent). So this needs to change before I can be successful at any of the other things I listed. This month is JOYFUL JANUARY.  I live a pretty bomb life and I know this, so I am going to focus on these things. Is it cold as hell outside, heck yeah it is. But it is also sunny, I have the day off, I spent last night with seven amazing friends ringing in the new year. How lucky am I?

What resolutions do you have?  How do you plan on following through with them? And let's hold each other accountable as we start this brand new year off with a bang!

The First Time is Always the Worst....

So I've left all the posting to Shan, as usual- committing to this was a little harder then I thought.  I kept waiting for the perfect topic, the right moment to start, do I talk about how I haven't been to the gym in weeks, maybe my job *I love my job, I do vocational rehabilitation for the largest mental health agency in Illinois, I could tell you all about how the only thing I cook for my husband is tacos on Thursday nights or how we haven't filled one of the many picture frames we got for our wedding 4 months ago. How about how my mission to eat healthier keeps getting push back to next Monday, or to be more fashionable and organized, or my quest to be a happier, more positive, nicer person will continue to be my new years resolution (I'm 99% sure this has been my resolution every year since I knew what that meant, then again I could be wrong, I never kept track).

So as you can see, I have a hard time, okay, okay a VERY hard time committing to one topic.  So to get the ball rolling I will talk about what I love the most (aside from my husband, because thats a given. (Us in Sydney-on our honeymoon))

Meet Tinsley-

If you think you've ever seen a cuter dog, you're just wrong. Tinsley is our almost 2 year old Vizsla/Retriever puppy, and she pretty much kicks all other dogs asses in the coolness and adorbs department.  On my Instagram she has her own feature which I will bring here #tinsleytuesdays (you can drool over how perfect she is under my username 'SabGibs823').  We rescued her, which in turn makes her even better, May 2013. And I don't think I have ever loved something more, this is the biggest commitment I have made outside of spending the rest of my life with my husband.  She is smarter then every other moron at the dog park and cuter then everyone's babies (besides my friends babies-because they were all perfect-and I'm not saying that to cover my ass, it's true and I'll share pictures some day). Having a high energy, kick-ass dog in an apartment in Chicago can be tough but she is worth every cold winter walk, and early morning wake up call. So that's my dog- and my first entry.  I promise I will get better at this- or just continue to leave the posting up to Shan. We'll see.  Until then, feel free to be jealous that my dog is the cutest thing ever as I go finish this bag of chips on the couch and browse Pinterest for workout ideas and recipes I will won't try this week. 

-Sab

Brew Lights

Brew Lights

This past week we tried a new tradition of attending the Lincoln Park Zoo lights adult night.  The event was $35 a person and included a tasting of 12 different beers.  

I do love going to the Lincoln Park zoo for the light show.  It reminds me of home and the Toledo Zoo.  The only perk is on any other night the Lincoln Park Zoo is free to the public. 

If I had the chance to attend this event again I probably would pass and just go on a different night.  The lines were way too long and once you finally were able to reach the front they poured 2 sips into your mug as your "tasting."  We just couldn't commit to getting all 12 beers by the time we waited in 4 loooong lines In 20 degree weather.  It sounded like a really fun experience but I think they sold too many tickets and over crowded the space.

I do highly suggest visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo any other time though.  It is one of the cities gems and a great place to start new traditions. 

http://www.lpzoo.org/events/calendar

#whysanta

#whysanta

Why does everything Christmas make me tear up?!  Is it the fact that I miss being a little kid just awaiting tearing into a mound of beautiful wrapping paper? Do I miss sitting around my family wondering if I will grow up to be just like them then helping with dishes for an hour?  Is it all of the shiny lights ( and if you were a Fellman you would understand when I say ALLLL of the lights)?

I am not going to lie, I think it is a little bit of everything.  The decor, food, movies, smells, gift giving, and just the overall joy.  Christmas is my favorite time of year.

 It is a time of year that lives for traditions.  There are several traditions that are a "Must do" on my list that come from my childhood.  There are also several NEW traditions that I have started in my adult life.

OLD TRADITIONS
My grandpa on my mother's side used to be THAT house that everyone would drive 2mph by and stare at all of the moving and flashing figurines.  It always amazed me as a kid, who could set up that many lights by themselves?! I think there was only one incident of a fall off the roof.  Then, as if that wasn't enough.... the inside had 8 Christmas trees lined up against one wall.  They were all a different color with a different theme.  At the bottom of the trees there was a little village with a train running through.  It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen and wish I could see it one more time.  On my dad's side I loved going to Grandma Shoe's and being with my family all day.  There was the usual Christmas feast, followed by presents, then dessert. Same thing every year.  These traditions faded as the grandchildren and grandparents all became older and some moved away and others went to heaven.  But the memories live on.

New Traditions
Living here in Chicago now, I have had to keep some of my old traditions alive as well as create new ones.  Every year my boyfriend and I buy each other a special ornament, this is a tradition that my Grandma Shoe started and I wanted to carry on into my adult life.  However, it has become a new tradition to get our real tree every year the week before Thanksgiving.  This has been partially due to the fact that we are too busy after Thanksgiving to get a tree and partially because I just can't wait, I mean I start listening to Christmas music in September. The tree is followed by a lot of Christmas movie watching. (Home Alone, Elf, ,Rudolph, Frozen, The Santa Claus, The Grinch, the list goes on and on) We also make sure we get to the Christkindle market for some mulled wine, crepes, and to see the BIG tree.  Ice skating under The Bean is a must every year as well! This year I am also hoping to take a field trip to see the Home Alone house !!!

Over the holiday I hope to share my traditions with you all and would like to hear some of yours !!! And please excuse me if I get a little terry eyes. I can't help it, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year !

2Damsels

Damsels

/'damzel/

noun The damsel in distress is a young women placed in a dire predicament by a villain, monster, or in our case a life situation that a hero or best friend rescue her.

This is about two city girls with serious commitment issues, and we don't mean to men.  Living in the city isn't easy with so many obstacles and distractions.  It seems like every day proposes a challenge to focus and try something new, and if there is one thing we are good at it's coming up with an excuse.  We are also good at creating goals and wanting to accomplish new things- however, it's those excuses that are so much easier. So, with said, we decided try and overcome those excuses and hold ourselves accountable by posting our "struggles" and making fun of ourselves along the way. We'll be touching base on our favorite or least favorite things such as fashion, beauty, fitness, and overall better self care. We hope you find enjoy our attempts and find use in knowing that the struggle is real. 

Talk soon!

-S&S