It's Fashionable to be Aware

It's not easy to make conscious decisions when it comes to making personal sacrifices of comfort and convenience. Everything that we do makes a difference in our world, from the clothes we wear to the food we eat, and our cleaning supplies to name a few. Although I am at fault many times for falling into corporate consumerism, being a small business owner has allowed me to see things differently. It doesn't cost more money to be conscious of what you buy and where it's made. It just takes a mentality of having less, but finding comfort in quality and moral assurance. Here are a few ways I like to stay fashionably conscious...

{instead of buying plastic containers, try storing things in vintage wooden boxes. Not only are they chic against contemporary furniture, they are being re-purposed so new materials don't have to be wasted}

{I absolutely love the fresh lemony smell of J.R. Watkins cleaners and soaps. They are environmentally safe and all of the ingredients are not in an indiscernible language. It's nice to know what things consist of, especially when you touch them with your bare hands and clean surfaces/dishes in your house}

{my heart is very content to have discovered Toms shoes. For every pair of Toms purchased, the company will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need. I think it's amazing that companies like that exist}

{use linen napkins instead of paper towels. These beautiful hand lettered napkins are available at Faded Plains on etsy}

{there's something to be said for garments that are made in this country, by people who are making a livable salary. Annie Novotny, the owner/designer of Frei Designs, makes ethical and environmental practices the base of her clothing line.}

{the bias cut tank is my favorite because it has a slinky, yet comfortable feel against your skin. The back of the tank is sheer silk, ethically made in India. Plus, the tank is reversible, with the inside of the tank being a piece of silk taken from a vintage dress. Amazing!}

{Aveda has great earth-conscious practices. This is my replacement for Advil when I have headaches}

{exfoliate naturally and radiantly}

Other ways to be fashionably eco concious:

1. Support small businesses such as local boutiques, artisans, and places such as Etsy

2. Get a cute bike from the local bike shop, I have a great used one, and take it for a spin in the nice weather

3. Become a patron of the farmer's market. This supports small farms, usually owned and worked by families. Plus, you can obtain organic produce at a lesser price than at the grocery store.

4. Take the extra time to get your coffee at a small shop instead of at a chain. 

5. Be on the lookout for up and coming restaurants that specialize in local fare. The great thing is that they don't have to lean on their name like some corporate restaurants. These smaller places keep their menus interesting and changing to keep people's tastebuds curious.

Any other ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Impossible to Kill {well almost}

It is now spring. Daylight savings day has passed, and how it did. I woke up and the day was practically over! Longer days are here, filled with beautiful filtered spring light. What better time to clean the house, organize, and plant green throughout. For anyone reading this who lives in the wonderful midwest or who is a city dweller without an outdoor space to garden, succulents are a wonderful answer to those situations. Succulents thrive on neglect. They don't like to be watered too much and they can handle the ever-changing weather of the midwest, from dry winters to humid summers. 

I like to call them plants for lazy people. In this current day, there are so many things that we need to take care of from ourselves, animals, children, households, and other things; it can be hard to add watering plants to your to-do list. With succulents, you can add watering to your to-not-do list. Air plants are a popular choice of plant for people seeking something low maintenance. They don't even need soil!

Take a moment to scroll through the succulents that line my windowsills, as well as other inspirational succulents!

{vintage planter from Shawnee23 on etsy}

{plant pod for airplants, Mudpuppy on etsy}

{air plant "beaker geekery" by TortoiseLovesDonkey on etsy}

{hermit crab air plant house by TortoiseLovesDonkey on etsy}

{succulent challis, image from She Walks in Beauty}

i hope you are all dearly inspired to add some simple green to your life!

xo. theresa

{Roslyn} an eponymous boutique

2035 North Damen Avenue

Chicago. IL 60647

I was immediately drawn into Roslyn with its neutral color palates and soft sparkles of color glimmering from the rack of re-designed vintage garments. Amidst exposed brick walls, vintage furniture and structures stand amongst industrial racks housing carefully chosen collections from both emerging and established designers. The filament lightbulbs that illuminate the cashwrap area give a nice ambiance to the vintage desk where your purchases are delicately wrapped. No detail is lost on owner, Roslyn Dulyapaibul, whose aesthetic is carefully placed throughout the space. I must say that I could essentially see myself living in that space; relaxing on the vintage cream couch, picking my outfits from the beautiful selection of garments, building a fire with some of the firewood that is at the entrance, and having a glass of wine with friends in the evening. From your first entrance into Roslyn, you will find yourself returning for that chicly serene feeling the boutique exudes.

{see mineralogy at Roslyn}

{Elise Bergman studio at Roslyn}

{mineralogy Tibetan quartz necklace}

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{designer bios}

{vintage trolley coffee table}

{I love the layout of the fitting rooms and mirrors}

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thank you for looking!

Please check out Roslyn here.