Reasonable Resolutions

Here we are once again in January, the season of new beginnings, fresh promises, sensible eating, and abundant exercising. Kinda sorta.

I have come to really embrace the human construct that is January = Fresh Start. I tend to re-read Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui, cull my closets and kitchen drawers, host a clothes swap, and create a shiny new list of good attitudes and intentions for the gym and life in general.

But I also embrace the notion that it’s a good idea to flex with the seasonal rhythms and live a little differently this time of year. It’s January – too cold and too dark to be very noble or stoic about anything. My body is still asking for generous food and extra sleep. A fresh start in the dead of winter? Sounds herculean or quixotic at best.

Yet somehow there’s enough optimism infused in a new year to pin reasonable hopes on.

Sometimes what makes the difference is knowing what feels easily do-able to me. A new vow to do an hour of yoga every morning? I’m not likely to really get behind that with any enthusiasm or commitment. A bedtime promise to myself that in the morning I’ll stumble over to the space by the window, spread my yoga mat and at least do some stretches? Not only am I extremely likely to fulfill that little promise, I’m also likely to take fifteen minutes and do a round of sun salutation and some pigeon pose. In my mind, those fifteen minutes count for a lot more than that imaginary hour.

Some resolutions dance the line between being a major reach and being do-able. They will be a bit of a stretch, but I will be so glad if I do them. Two winters ago I was spending regular time with The Life Organizer, journaling responses to her prompts and questions… in colorful markers, in a big notepad instead of a journal. I loved it. Last winter I was reading a little bit of The Way of the Happy Woman every morning. I incorporated bits of her yoga teachings and exercises into my days… and loved it.  This winter… I’m inhaling novel after novel. They are delicious, but they don’t feed me like the others did. And I miss my colorful markers. So the stretch is to find a place in my week for thoughtful reading, and then actually sit down and do it. I know I’ll be so glad when I do.

That’s the heart of it, isn’t it? Achieving any resolution, any healthy habit, any goal… requires believing deeply enough that you’ll be glad afterwards that you overcome the inertia or lethargy or fear or whatever and do it. And that’s tough when the bed is warm, the thermometer says 23, and you promised yourself you’d go running in the morning. For me it took years before I finally deeply learned that I am always glad that I went running. Always. Will it take 365 days of sitting quietly spread over three years before I really learn that taking time for meaningful reading and journaling is a wise investment? Probably.

I’ve learned to hold my resolutions loosely as I heap compassion on myself (also a learned behavior). The Resolution Police aren’t coming around in March to check up on everyone. It’s more about believing that I will look back two or three years from now and realize that the shape of me and my life are different than they were in December 2012. Good job, she will say. Nice effort. Gold star on that stumbling to the yoga mat thing!

What Makes A House A Home?

Since leaving my parents’ home for college, I’ve moved 17 times, living in four states and two continents. The more nomadic I got, the more my concept of what made a comfortable home changed.  I wasn’t interested in creating an environment that was enriching to me or welcoming to my guests. At that time, all I was looking for was a place in which to eat, sleep and, most importantly, exit efficiently.  Not surprisingly, at a certain point I stopped unpacking and started using boxes of books and clothes as furniture.

Last year, when I moved into my new husband’s house, things changed. Suddenly there was furniture to be repaired, stacks of canned goods, books and tchotchkes to sort and nearly a dozen rooms to patch up and decorate. It was an awesome feeling in every sense of the word. How could I make this house feel like a home for both of us?

To gain a little perspective, I started examining the things I like about the last place I felt truly at home. In hindsight, the house I grew up in was, and still is, a pretty unusual house filled with a lot of unique features and design challenges. A spiral staircase connects the large open middle floor to a tiny cramped loft above and a cluster of bedrooms below. My father fills the loft with his 2,000 piece puzzles and massive collection of yellowed paperback classics. Downstairs, my mother finds ingenious ways to display her collection of antiques and artifacts from the farms and fields surrounding us. My brother’s massive paintings dominate the walls -including a 9 foot piece appropriately titled “Giantess,” while my own smaller drawings remain a permanent fixture on the fridge. When I visit my childhood home, it’s all of these remnants of our past and present identities coexisting that makes me feel welcome and gives me a sense of belonging.

Herein lies the more spiritual side to homemaking- something that even the prettiest pictures in design magazine and blogs could never fabricate. In Eternal Echoes John O’Donohue writes: “The human heart longs to dwell…From ancient times, we have carved out dwelling places on the Earth. Against the raw spread of Nature, the dwelling always takes on a particular intensity. It is a nest of warmth and intimacy. Over years and generations, a large aura of soul seeps into a dwelling and converts it in some way into a temple of presence. We leave our presence on whatever we touch and wherever we dwell. This presence can never be subsequently revoked or wiped away; the aura endures.”

From this I finally understand that a home that feels comfortable and “lived in” doesn’t just happen overnight. It will grow as our lives together unfold within our home. There’s a certain amount of trust involved with just starting out. While everything may not always be as beautiful as I want it to be, I know that with every day I am finally constructing a home. As my husband and I start culling the things we no longer need and begin making more deliberate choices, I can start to see a nascent version of what that might eventually look like … but it’s what it will feel like that truly excites me.  My affinity for “forest-y looking” color palates, photos of our dog, all of his tech-y gadgets… all these things come together to create the body of our home but it’s the memories we will make there that will become its soul.

 

Josie’s Guide to Easy Gift Giving

Like a lot of people who frequent Nest, I love gifts.

I love shopping for gifts, I love giving gifts, and I love getting gifts (hint hint). For me, the best part of the gift-giving process involves taking time to really consider what my friend or family member’s tastes and preferences might be at the moment. For example, someone who may have been collecting penguin figurines could now be really into reading books about astronomy. People change and that’s what makes them fun, but it’s also what may make the gift-giving process a little daunting… especially around the holiday season. That’s why I’ve developed what I think is a guaranteed system for finding satisfying gifts for the hard to shop for.

1. Look for something that can be enjoyed and then eventually disappear.

It may be a bit cliché to say, but gift-giving is rarely just about accumulating material goods. It’s about showing someone that you care about them enough to celebrate them. In my opinion, just because someone seems to have everything doesn’t eliminate their need to be honored in this way. That’s why candles make a perfect gift for the person who has everything. Candles give off their twinkly little light and then they’re gone forever, leaving nothing but a pleasant aroma behind them. No clutter and no fuss. Right now we have some great candles in the store including one of our newest candle vendor, Greentree. These candles are 100% beeswax and they come in all sorts of fun shapes like pinecones, owls and twigs.

2. Something functional but out of the ordinary

It’s kind of a joke around here how much I love Herbal Animals. I’m deeply fond of the whole menagerie, and it’s a big deal when a new animal gets added to the line-up (Harry Otter was just released!). Aside from being cute and smelling really good, Herbal Animals also function as eye pillows, so they’re great for someone who needs to do some relaxing. I’m a big worrier and often push all of my worries to the very end of the day when there’s nothing to do but lie around and stew over them. Putting an adorable little creature over my eyes helps keep them shut and helps keep me from taking myself (and my troubles) too seriously. I stop tossing and turning and just let the dreamy scents do their work.

3. Something to encourage creativity

I think that when you give a gift that inspires and nourishes creativity, you’re helping feed a much deeper need in someone. We all have a desire to explore our potential or unlock some part of ourselves that we didn’t know we had. Journals, especially guided journals like 365: A Daily Creativity Journal, offer a fun way to practice and explore creativity on a day-to-day basis. Back when I was a teenager, my mom used to surprise me with new journals every few months. I always felt extra compelled to fill them up because she had endorsed me and my writing in that way.

4. Socks

I think socks are kind of considered the fruitcake of wearable gifts. At least that’s the impression I often get when I suggest socks to customers who are looking for a gift for someone who is hard to buy for. Hear me out, though! There’s a wide world of crazy beautiful socks out there…stunningly colored, charmingly patterned, dazzling socks! These socks are a completely different species from the plain white 4-pack you got from your uncaring Secret Santa. It may be a little funny to think so much of socks, but I truly believe that when your everyday objects are as beautiful as they are functional, it can change how you approach the minutea of your life, and that in its self is a great gift.

 

Shopping for gifts can be difficult, especially when the recipient is a little hard to figure out. I like to use this system whenever I get stumped, but sometimes I find asking for help gets the job done just as well. Here at Nest, we spend a lot of time hand picking a wide range of gift items with you and your needs in mind. We know our inventory and love a good challenge. So go ahead, ask us. I bet we can find what you’re looking for…even if you don’t know exactly what that is yet!

A Personal Message

November is National Family Caregivers Month.  The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), formed in 1993, began their outreach program to promote and identify the common bonds shared by more than 65 million Americans caring for loved ones.  Caregivers can be friends, or relatives or neighbors – anyone offering ongoing help to loved ones who are no longer able to care for themselves.  I have been a family caregiver since 2001; first, for my mom who passed away in 2003 and ever since, for my dad.  My parents had the resources for outside help, but the overall handling of their lives unexpectedly fell into my hands eleven years ago.

The NFCA offers support to caregivers who often feel very alone with their “duties” and overwhelmed by it all.  Very often caregivers will not ask for help, may neglect their own health, doubt that they are doing their own very best, and/or feel guilty about other responsibilities being ignored.

I bring this up on our blog not to be depressing, but to give voice to something important to me. This time of the year – the holiday season – can play havoc on the emotions of caregivers. I know this from my own experience.  I meet many people while working at Nest and Roots, and sometimes I recognize a fellow “hidden caregiver.”  When I do, I try to show a bit more sensitivity, kindness, and   patience – whatever I can to make it a better moment in that day for that person.  Believe me when I say that just that little bit of support can make a difference.

When I was researching the NFCA for this blog I was touched by their core Caring Every Day messages, meant for us caregivers:

Believe in Yourself.
Protect Your Health.
Reach Out for Help.
Speak Up for Your Rights.

Thanks for reading this and may you all experience kindness and caring in your lives.

 

Interview with Lisa, Nest Sales Associate

Meet Lisa, Nest sales associate, energy worker, artist and all around nice person! Chances are you probably already recognize Lisa from her spirited scarf tutorials on the Nest blog or from Facebook where she can often be found showing off our latest goodies from Patagonia, Prana and Horny Toad. 

Fact is, Lisa’s kind of a genius with clothes and personal accessories, something we discovered the first week we asked her to dress our fleet of mannequins. As expected, “the committee” (as she likes to refer to them) looked fabulous…so fabulous that customers were buying entire outfits right off their bodies! This year we’ve invited Lisa to re-dress the entire store for the holidays. Come by this weekend to see the first phase of her magical holiday decorating!

And now without further ado, an interview with Lisa…

J: How long have you worked at Nest and in what capacities? Do you have any special responsibilities?
L: It’s been a little over a year that I started as a sales associate at Nest. I most enjoy the creative license I was given for a few tasks such as dressing the mannequins (which have names, by the way), creating enticing displays, and writing about fun ways to accessorize based on our items here at Nest.

J: Before you came to work at Nest, what brought you to Nest as a customer?
L: Interesting question. Wow, thinking about that feels surreal, now that I feel like a “part” of Nest in some way, on the “other side.” My mom was the one to introduce me to Nest a few years ago. My first impression was “Hey, what a great store – full of beautiful gift ideas… and eco-friendly!” I remember coming through the door and feeling a sense of reverence because of the lovely “quietness,” the sweet smell, and the mindful employees. I say mindful because as a customer I dislike feeling rushed, scrutinized, or pounced on by sales associates. I appreciated that pleasant Nesties would just smile and leave me be. If I had a question, I felt good asking. I’d come for gift ideas, and sometimes just to look around. Nest is the type of place where there’s something wonderful tucked in every corner, there’s always something new to discover. Even now, there still is something new to discover every time I walk in to work. No two days are alike, and I find that really stimulating.
 
J: What are you most looking forward to this holiday season at Nest?
L: First and foremost: decorating! I was given the task of putting together a proposal for our holiday decorating, and I have to admit I was honored. Is that strange? I feel like this deserves a Powerpoint presentation or something. I can see Anastasia’s face lighting up right now. I worked last Holiday season, and it was quite fun…busy, fast-paced, exhausting at times, but all in good fun. I like the holiday cheer, the excitement that customers express when they find “the perfect gift” for their loved one. I also love to gift wrap- nothing fancy, but making things pretty for others makes it a “one stop shop” experience, and they leave so happy and excited. It’s all about fun and joy.


J: In addition to working at Nest, you sell your own products on etsy.com. How did that come about?
L: It was a combination of many things. I had been flirting with the idea of joining etsy.com for a while. I started wearing my pieces in the store and got some pretty good interest and feedback. There was a culmination of outside encouragement and so I let myself dive in. I went for it, knowing that etsy was the perfect platform for my experiment; I had nothing to lose and loads of fun ahead of me.
 
J: What do you like to do when you are not working at Nest?
L: I am humorously proud to say that I have three part-time jobs. I facilitate energy work similar to Reiki, I tend to my etsy shop and I work here at Nest. I also love to practice yoga, spend time with my farm animals, and really enjoy reading about mind-challenging philosophical concepts. I also enjoy long walks on the beach! Seriously! A good podcast here and there is a big plus. My family and I (siblings) are very close, and since we’re a big bunch, there’s always something going on. I enjoy it all.

Nine Years of Nest

I’m not entirely sure if it was just teasing or a serious nudge, but Josie recently expressed surprise that I hadn’t yet written a nostalgic Nest anniversary post. Sometimes we need another person to point out the obvious – Nest turns nine this month and that’s something to be proud of.

Nest opened in October of 2003, which some days seems like eons ago and other days feels like last week. For me it’s one car and four homes ago and well before him who is now my husband showed up. It was before Donna’s made way for Great Sage and back when they still sold pet food in Roots. And Boulder was only the barest twinkle in Jeff’s entrepreneurial eye.

An eco-friendly store right here in little Clarksville. We still frequently get asked, “Why are these businesses here? Why here of all places?” The simple answer is that the brave folks with the ideas and the gumption thought Clarksville looked like a good spot to grow some eco-endeavors. Others of us gathered around to help make ideas into reality. And then a community of customers showed up, and kept showing up.

We’re so grateful for you, the community to which we belong. The life of Nest is woven through with the colorful threads of your lives. Thanks for nine great years!

Scarf Bow Tie

It’s safe to say that Autumn is officially here. I particularly enjoy the crisp mornings, dry breezes, cool evenings, and the noticeable difference in the quality of sunlight. It’s a beautiful, ephemeral time, when we can still enjoy the warmth of the tenacious sun, along with the cool, comfortable temperatures. Fall foliage has started turning, and we still have some beautiful plants and flowers showing off their autumnal hues, all evoking a feeling excitement for the months ahead. It’s the perfect time to rediscover our Fall accessories. Number one on my list? Scarves!

I know everyone knows how to tie a bow, but tying a bow around one’s neck with a scarf doesn’t necessarily come to mind as a scarf tying alternative. It’s different from the typical knot or “wrap around.” It’s quite feminine and playful. I suggest selecting a scarf that is on the thin side, not too wide and not very chunky. This will make it less cumbersome around your neck. You want to enjoy your bow, not feel like you’re walking around like a clown!

Place the scarf around your neck.   

Tie a simple single knot

Wrap into a bow

There you have it.

In addition to wearing a scarf throughout the day, I’ve also been going to bed with my very thin, very comfortable silk scarf tied neatly but loosely in a simple bow around my neck. It’s my magic trick to protect against waking up with a sore throat. The fabric is so thin that I forget I even have it on. It provides me with amazing warmth and reduces my vulnerability to potential sneaky colds.

At Nest we’ve received an abundance of new and exciting scarves, in all kinds of fabrics, colors, textures. Our “Wall of Scarves” is magnificent. Set up in a lovely gradient of color displaying many options, it will be sure to delight you!

Enjoy and have fun! Happy Autumn!

Fall Cooking

Suddenly it’s time to cook again. Of course, I’ve been cooking, and I’ve been eating. Yet summer food is different somehow – easier, lighter, faster. Tomatoes, cucumbers and garlic in the blender and in five minutes you have gazpacho. Pizza on the grill is fabulous in its own right, but it’s been a long time since the last oven pizza, and I’m starting to miss it. 

Before the temperatures even start to drop, other clues tip me off to the transition into autumn. The sycamores, always the first to go, start browning and dropping their leaves. The cicadas get insanely noisy. Sweet potatoes and winter squash appear at the farmers market. And just like that, I’m longing for fall and its foods – soups, casseroles, and anything roasted in the oven.

Things change at Nest, too, just a few weeks ahead of the outside reality. In late August long sleeved shirts and fleece jackets make their appearance, and the wall of wool socks explodes with color and patterns. September brings cast-iron Dutch ovens and baking stoneware. Telling a customer recently about the non-stick surface that the stoneware develops with use, I remembered the one I have at home… lasagna sized… right, lasagna, I used to make that, back when turning on the oven wasn’t a sweat-inducing hideous thought. It’s time for lasagna again. 

A few weeks ago Nest received a big stack of copies of Dinner: A Love Story. A copy went home with me soon after, and while I have used it as bedtime reading, I have the sense that this book is going to come alive in my kitchen now as we move into the cozy season.

The author of Dinner: A Love Story, Jenny Rosenstrach, believes in eating dinner together. She’s not at all judgy or bossy about it, but she does believe that, “it has done more to foster togetherness and impart meaning and joy into my family life on a daily basis than just about anything else I can think of.” Jenny understands that consistently making a remotely civilized dinner happen for a one, two, or four+ person family is not easy, but believes it’s definitely worth the effort. To that end, the book is full of amazing recipes, as well as family stories, inspirations and tactics for making good eating happen in your home.

Jenny and her husband Andy write a blog (also called Dinner: A Love Story) where several times a week they offer up more recipes and seasonal ideas. They’re starting to feel like friends, or at least friendly kitchen mentors who will guide me into this next season of cooking…and then gathering my people to eat at the dining room table. Because it’s worth it.

Fearless Shopping, Joyful Dressing

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” – Katharine Hepburn

There are a lot of people out there who are eager to tell us how we should or should not dress. The media warns us to stay within the boundaries that our body and age assign us and teaches us that a successful dresser is one who can take a cold hard look at herself and then disguise what is “wrong.” For a long time, I didn’t question this notion and, therefore, never looked for clothing that made me look good or feel happy and special. Instead, I looked for what wouldn’t make me seem unaware of my own shortcomings. Changing my attitude on this matter actually made a big difference, not only in how I shop, but also in how I feel about myself.

Over time, I’ve learned from my customers that when you approach it with an open, creative spirit, finding clothing that makes you feel like your best self can actually be a joy rather than a chore.  There’s something really transformative and empowering about ignoring what you think you know about yourself, falling in love with something unexpected and then making it your own.  

While tidying the racks at Nest recently, I noticed a beautiful billowy black dress from one of our newest vendors, Nau. I loved how soft the fabric was (organic cotton and tencel), and how it was simple yet architectural and elegant.  I never wear dresses without defined waists. I also never wear anything that will draw attention to my legs and thighs. I put the dress back. “Not me,” I thought.  Nonetheless, I kept thinking about the dress. I wondered what it would look like if I wore it with heels or flats or a scarf or long earrings.  Finally, to satisfy my curiosity, I suspended my disbelief for a second and tried the dress on.  For a few minutes it looked neither good nor bad. It just looked….different. Then slowly I began to envision myself as the type of person who would wear something wonderfully short and loose.  The idea was exciting.

Wearing my new dress out that weekend felt like celebrating a private graduation. As insignificant as it may have been, I had gone from feeling insecure and limited by something to proudly wearing it. If you think about it this way, dressing is kind of a great stepping stone for bigger ventures in life. Not everything we try on is going to suit us, but when we are willing to experiment and think creatively, a world of possibilities can open up.

 

Josie’s tips for fearless shopping

  • Stay away from magazines, tv and blogs that dole out shame and judgment.  Instead, find inspiration in media that encourages creativity and self expression. I love blogs that catalog and celebrate creative street fashion. Scott Schuman’s “The Satorialist” and Lisa Warninger’s “Urban Weeds” are two of my favorites.
  • Every season I encourage myself to be on the lookout for one “foolish item.” I forget about the preferences that narrow my vision and start to see other colors and shapes that I never considered before. When I’m unfamiliar with the style I’m trying on, I take lots of sizes into the dressing room and consider different ways I could wear it. Finally, if I’m still digging it, I think about how I could transform the new item into something that feels like me and not a costume.
  • Avoid shopping with friends who aren’t likely to support and encourage you when you want to try something different. Instead, shop with friends who are open to new possibilities and creative solutions.  I love trying things on with Nest sales associate Lisa in tow. I can always count on her to see potential in things I never would have considered. If you don’t have a Lisa, consult the store’s sales associates, they have lots of experience helping customers and a fresh perspective on what you may or may not like to wear. Plus, if you’re at Nest you may get the actual Lisa!

 

Summer Shawls

Summer is here, ladies and gents! We’re talking maximum sunlight, everything is bright, gardens are thriving and teeming with life, giving off a feeling of blooming happiness! This classic summer feeling brings out the essence of freedom in me, the expression of vitality, and the celebration of life.

What better way to honor and celebrate this season than to match its airiness. ‘Tis the time for lightweight, airy and voile in-the-wind attire, as well as innovative, fun, and clever wardrobe twists. This time we’re going to experiment with Scarf’s big sister – Sarong… and their cousins. This means gauzy, sheer, translucent, drape-like fabrics such as cotton lawns, silks and even super fine wools.
 
I’m always looking out for a new way to use an ordinary accessory. It makes my day when I’ve found the next twist. I have to keep myself from running back to Nest on my day off to share the oh-so-simple and yet extraordinary novelty.
 
A few weeks ago I was in a store with my mom and noticed a fabulous shawl-like cover over a casual outfit draped on a hanger. While I was trying to figure out its mechanism, the manager walked up to me and asked, “Would you like me to show you how to tie this?” My response: big nod, big smile.
 
She proceeded to show me this surprisingly easy trick, as follows:
 
Hold both ends of your sarong/large scarf/voile length-wise.  
 
Fold in half.  
 
Bring both ends together.  
 
Make a knot.
 
Find the edges of the fabric and separate.   
At this point you should have two “armholes”. 
 
Slip on like a cardigan.  
 
 
 
And there you have it. Your very own versatile summer cover-up perfect for anywhere from the sandy beach to an elegant wedding!
 
The lady in the store told me that she wears hers over leggings and a tank top and ties it all together at the waist with a fancy belt. For a blocked color look, solids are better, and they make for more flexibility when matching. Colorful prints are great when paired up with neutrals and/or whites. Fabrics with embellished edges such as rhinestones or printed borders are great if you need that extra detail. Experiment with it and find your own unique way of wearing! Happy Summertime!
  
 
 
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