What is a 10x10 challenge and why do I need to evaluate life after it?

A 10x10 challenge is choosing 10 pieces of clothing to create 10 different outfits over 10 days.

It is not to test to see if I can only live with 10 items of clothing, though this challenge has taught me that I can come close if I really wanted to.

No, I do this challenge every year because it kick starts my creativity, more specifically creativity in my wardrobe. We don't play enough in our wardrobes. Maybe we don't because most of our clothes don't fit because you think the body you have now doesn't deserve clothes that fit. Maybe it's because your life has been in transition and it no longer represents the person you are today. Maybe because you think it is just too hard, so you don't bother.

One of the biggest reasons is because we have TOO MUCH stuff and we get overwhelmed and therefore it stumps our creativity because of too much stimulation and choices. So we fall back onto wearing the same pieces over and...

I know when I go on vacation, packing can be a trigger for stress and anxiety. What if I don’t have enough? What if things don’t match? What if something comes up and I have nothing that makes me feel good? I don’t want to overpack!!  So, I am sharing my tips that helped me pack for my 2 week trip to California.

This is a basic overview, as all vacations are unique. You may be doing a destination vacation, a family vacation, couples vacation, long term vacation, camping vacation...so I am hoping that these tips will help you apply it to any type of vacation that you are going on. As a bonus, I have created planning cheat sheet to help you plan and pack for your next trip! 

My super duper awesome packing tips to not over pack:

1. Research, Organize & Plan: Research the weather for the days at the location you are going to.  down all the days you will be away on a list and any events or activities planned on that day. 
2. Outfit...

I remember I went years avoiding turtlenecks.

One of the main reasons was because I couldn't stand having something around my neck that I can FEEL. It makes me feel like I am always close to chocking...NOT how I want to feel in my clothes. However, I found a thin lightweight turtleneck that does NOT sit against my neck last year. I have to say, other then my denim, it is my MOST worn piece this Winter.

Why?

Because it is great for layering! I can wear tees, dresses, cardigans and blazers over it. I chose black as it was going to give me the most wear in my wardrobe and I love the classic look paired with a fun pant. See, I have boobs (not big, but perfectly curvy) and I also have small hips, so I like to stay more neutral up top and let my legs be the focus with fun pants. My turtleneck was also a great way to stay WARM in our many cold months in Eastern Canada, as I could still wear it with my tees and not freeze when I put on a blazer.

Next on my list is to find the perfect...

We can all agree that losing weight is the most common New Year’s Resolution and can we also all agree that we are SICK of hearing about it everywhere??

Why has our world become so obsessed with losing weight?

My first guess is because the diet culture has been SO successful at feeding into our insecurities. The insecurities that they have fostered and benefited from. Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT saying losing weight is bad. The obsession with it is. The obsession doesn’t teach you how to be happy, how to be a good person, how to be beautiful, how to be healthy and how to have a healthy relationship with food, body and your mental health.

SO...before you make your New Year’s resolution to lose weight, read this first.

For a lot of us, when we gain weight over a period of time or even suddenly, crazy things can happen to our thoughts and self-talk. Our inner voice can get nasty, mean, obsessive and sad. This can be due to how you were raised,...

If you live in a place where the air hurts your face, then you will also need something to warm your feet for all the occasions in your life. Maybe you only have one pair that isn't cutting it for work AND the hockey rink or maybe the ones you have a falling a part and you are not sure what to invest in.

So today, I am sharing my favourite winter boots that have kept my feet warm these past few years. I will also be sharing links to the ones I have or ones similar. You are going to be seeing winter boots that are great for every day wear, for work, special occasion and for outdoor play!

Everyday Wear:

On days where the snow doesn't go past my knees, I love wearing my favourite Bos & Co. Belfield boots in Prune. My feet are cold from October to May, so I break out these babies in the Fall because they are a great ankle boot to wear with my cropped pants. I still wear them all Winter long with my all of my jeans and even with some dresses. I fell in love with this colour...

This Fall I decided to live with less and decided to hold off buying any new clothes for the month of October. So, to kick this off, I did 10x10 Challenge and invited others to join me. That means I chose 10 items in my wardrobe and I wore them 10 different ways over 10 days.

WHY? (to find out what I learned, keep reading!)

• I want to challenge myself to live with less and maximize what I already own.
• I want to spend less. I am not going to buy anything new for one month.
• I will be more intentional and creative with my clothes.

THE BASIC GUIDELINES

1. Pick 10 ITEMS from your closet (I am not buying anything new for this challenge)
2. Style those items into 10 DIFFERENT OUTFITS
3. Use 10 DAYS to do it
4. HAVE FUN, don’t stress!

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Any core closet item you choose counts as a part of your 10 items. For example:

• Tops
• Sweaters
• Pants
• Dresses
• Shoes
• Layering Pieces (blazers, cardigans, vest…)

Keep in mind these are guidelines! If you don’t wear dresses, then...

Have you put limitations on yourself because of fear of judgement over who you are or any part of yourself that you deem “imperfect”?

We have developed a fear of being different from those we have compared ourselves to and have labeled as "perfect".  This fear forces us to stay in our comfort zone. Yes, our comfort zones are safe, warm and cozy. So, we put some barriers and limits in place to keep us there. It's our instinct to feel safe and we all have our own individual tolerance for being able to push past those safe guards. I believe in order to feel more confident with who we are and in our own skin, then you need to push past those limitations you have created for yourself. In essence, give your comfort zone the finger.

Why should be push past them? Because that is where growth and change can happen. It is also where you start to feel your confidence grow on the inside, which will start to show on the outside. If you want the next generation to stand up for...

Tips on how to dress for Headshots/Videos:

  1. Be Comfortable. Wear what you are comfortable in and that represents your own style and profession. You don’t want to be wearing something you feel uncomfortable in or doesn’t represent who you are. Getting pictures or taking videos can be uncomfortable enough. Wear a favourite outfit that is more elevated then your everyday wear. This will help you feel more confident and it will show on camera! You want your outfit to represent YOU.

2. Fit is King: FIT is KING. Get hemlines or sleeves altered. If something is too small or too big, don’t wear it or get it altered. You will feel it and be uncomfortable, so chose something that shows off your beautiful shape.

3. Colours. Go for solid colours and stay away from geometric patterns as it can be distorted on video. I recommend avoiding red, orange, black or white, as they are not good colours on camera. Jewel tones are the cameras friend. Choose solid...