Simple, summer blues!
These t-shirts have been a stand-by of mine since I first found them a little over two years ago. I own them in white, navy and heather gray (runs large!). They were so great to handle my post-partum body and now they are just slouchy enough to feel more interesting than a regular t-shirt. I really like simple dressing in the summer. I feel like I’ve earned it after spending all fall/winter/spring coordinating and balancing layers.
As I’ve grown more and more accustomed to a “slow-fashion” approach to my closet, the mindset is slowing spreading into some other areas of my life.
This weekend my husband and I decided to try something totally new with our time off. After reading through some chapters in this book with friends, I was inspired to set aside a day of ‘rest,’ or sabbath, for my family. My husband and I set our ground rules: no chores (including, folding laundry, doing dishes and online banking) and no internet. Saturday – the day before our sabbath – we spent extra time cleaning and getting some of our weekend chores done. He did toilets, I prepped some blog work, (Nice guy, huh?). I did extra laundry, he made sure the kitchen was clean. We tentatively planned out meals and brainstormed some activities with our kids for the following day.
When our day of ‘rest’ dawned we kind of went on as usual. Anyone with small kids in the house knows, it’s pretty hard to be restful when a two-year old is demanding milk and a four year old is crying about her clothing. But there were some subtle changes that made a big difference. Because we were not busy “trying to get things done” like work or chores, and we weren’t constantly being distracted by our phones and social media, we had SO MUCH more time in our day! It was kind of wild. And, in some ways, it actually made the weekend feel longer. I read to the kids, we finished a movie with our daughters (Free Willy, cue the tears!), we built legos and colored in fancy coloring books. We sat on the porch and enjoyed popsicles. We even found time to swim in the nearby pool.
I’ve noticed the ‘little things’ are a lot more enjoyable when other things are not begging for my attention. I am very task-oriented, and I’m always focused on getting things done, whether it is laundry or writing. But taking a one-day break was liberating. It almost felt like I was on vacation, even though I was in my very own home.
Honest talk: now, we did eventually do the dishes after the kids went to bed, but we tried to keep them to a minimum during the day with simple meals like sandwiches and scrambled eggs, which didn’t require a lot of prep. In late afternoon we started to rub each other the wrong way a bit from all our time together, so I think next week we might plan an outing. But overall, it was a great, soul-nourishing experience! And it was fun. For us and for the kids.
I feel like I am starting to understand the appeal of the “slow living” movement. I’ve definitely employed that approach to my closet, and now I like the idea of taking some of those principles and applying them to other parts of my life as well.
What about you? Are you interested in slow-living? Does your family have a sabbath day?
OUTFIT DETAILS:
U-neck shirt (M), Everlane
A-line skirt, Steven Alan via Crossroad, this one looks super cute, and this one is an absolute steal, both are made in the USA
Clogs, c/o Sandgrens
Bucket Bag, Baggu, I use this baby almost every day. It’s super lightweight, and I <3 black!
Necklace, c/o Loop Jewelry, (use code: seasonsandsalt10 to save 10%)
Well as you know, I am very interested in slow living, but I have never heard of a sabbath day like this! What an intriguing idea! And what wonderful memories you will give your kids. They will remember and appreciate it when they are grown, mark my words! I am worried my slow living is coming to an end as my youngest will start high school outside the home this fall. My oldest went to high school outside the home and it was constant running until she got her drivers licence and still running afterwards to her various activities. This may be a good way to implement slow living back into our lives on a smaller scale during the next four years of busyness. :-)
BTW…loved the TED talk from the weekend! Will be listening to it again with Chad. Gave me a lot to think on and reminded me of my goals and priorities that have been pushed to the back burner the last few months. Thank you!
Yay! I’m glad you liked it! I thought it was good too, especially the part about examining your motivations when you feel the urge to get new things.
I didn’t even think about that! My kids are busy with school now (well not in summer, but you know what I mean), and I can definitely see how it would be hard to keep a slower pace because of it. I am sure you will find some good compromises!
I love those u-neck tees! They so flattering and PJ-soft.
Your thoughts on slow living kind of reminds me of this post I read about slow parenting. http://cupofjo.com/2015/05/slow-parenting/
So cool that you made an effort to free up that day of rest as best you could. I don’t have kids, but I can’t imagine how consuming it is on the reg.
So good Lauren!! Yes, I remember reading that. I am impressed that it caught your eye too and you’re not a parent. It’s so hard to restrain myself from constantly directing, but I love the mindset here. Thanks for sharing! Down time is essential to our souls! I think we’ve almost forgotten how to do it.
Absolutely love the idea of slow living, especially during the summer when we get the nostalgia of summers of during childhood (or adulthood if you’re a teacher!) and all you want to do is laze around outside in the heat. I worry sometimes my kids won’t have that someday, they’ll be stressed about swim team and theater camp and all that sort of thing. I love the feeling when I forget I’m not taking classes or teaching classes and I panic about homework then I realize I’m done! For the summer, anyway. We all need more of that. Less pressure to get things done, when really what is there to get done during what should be our down time?
Keep up the reflections, I love them!
Kate
Thanks Kate! Yes, summer lazing around sounds just right. It makes me think of The Wonder Years and how the kids just rode their bikes around the neighborhood and hung out all day. Or My Girl. Yes, less scheduling, more being maybe. :) <3
It really is so refreshing to have days of rest as a family. We had a rough plan Sunday, but no real schedule and headed to Sweet Creek Falls. Our phones had no service for much of the afternoon and it was glorious! You go girl for being intentional in this busy life!
Thanks Ray!! Your encouragement means so much! <3
Andrea, I love this! I am constantly battling how to balance everything in life, what needs to be done, what I want to get done, and what I want my kids to remember about this time. We have been very aware of the over-scheduling of kids these days and (I think) have done a pretty good job avoiding that. I more worry about my focus on the kids and how distracted I am with the to-do list and technology. If I have items unchecked off on my list I feel such a strong urge to get them done. I love the idea of putting in a little more one day to get a whole day off. Summer is a perfect time for my family to try this since we’re off school and can put more time into our chores around the house throughout the week. Thanks for the inspiration.
Paige, you and I are SO MUCH alike. I can relate to everything you shared here. Something i think a lot about is, what my kids are going to remember. I really want our family to learn how to have fun together. And right now, because the logistics are so overwhelming (life with small kids, you know), I feel like I have to be really purposeful for us to have fun. We are going to give it another go this weekend! The break from technology was really wonderful too!
I love the idea of a slow living. We have a 19 month old son, so we try to make a point of every Friday night we have a date night. We use it as a way to signal the weekend and relax a bit. We’ve been doing it for about four months now, and I think it really helps us reconnect after a busy week and relaxes us. We don’t leave the house, we just make it a point to take it easy.
Yes! I keep thinking about your comment, and meant to reply sooner. We kind of do the same thing on Friday nights, but your comment reminded me to remember to prioritize it. We do pizza for dinner as a ‘family fun’ night, and it really does seem to set the weekend off on the right foot! I love the idea of a date night too, after bedtime. Reconnecting is sooo important! I’d love to hear more about what you guys do!