Easy DIY Sugar Wax

I remember that first time I had my legs waxed... I was pregnant with my daughter, Raisa, and we lived in an apartment with a very tiny stand-up shower, so bending over to shave my legs was totally out of the question. It was winter. I was hairy. When my friend Julie (who's an esthetician) offered to wax my legs, I jumped at the opportunity!  Oh, THIS IS AWESOME I thought. But, after the first strip was pulled off my leg, I thought I was going to pass out.  I remember thinking, if I can't handle a simple leg waxing, how in the world will I ever be able to deliver this baby! Well, I delivered my baby a short time later, and realized that leg waxing didn't hurt that bad after all  ;)  Plus, my legs stayed hair free for WEEKS, and when the hair did start to grow back, it was soft, thinner, and not even a little bit stubbly. And itch free - which was HUGE for me, because my legs used to itch like crazy after I shaved them.

I was a convert.

But, going to a salon to have that done every few weeks wasn't in the budget for me, so I started buying jars of over-the-counter sugar wax like this one HERE.  I did this for a couple of years before deciding I could probably make the stuff myself for much less money, and without the hassle of ordering it online. Boy, was I right. 

And today, I'm sharing my recipe with you!!

SUGAR WAX RECIPE

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed or from a bottle)
1/4 cup water
Candy Thermometer

1. Put sugar, lemon juice and water into a saucepan. 2. Set heat on low until sugar is fully dissolved in the lemon juice/water mixture. 3. Raise heat - but do not walk away from stove, even for a second. 4. As the mixture begins to turn a golden brown, turn down the heat, and place a candy thermometer into the mixture. At this point, the mixture will start to bubble/foam, so seeing the color is tricky. This is why the thermometer is essential! 5. When the wax begins to turn brown - or when the thermometer hits 260 degrees - take mixture off heat. 6. Pour immediately into a heat-tempered glass jar.

NOTE:  If you cook it too long, it will harden into a piece of candy-brittle; if you don't cook it long enough, it'll never get gooey enough to be efficiently sticky.  Ten seconds on either side of perfection can make a big difference.  If you use a candy thermometer, and take it off at 260 degrees, you'll nail it every single time.

Here are a few pics to help you along:

So now that you know how to make your own Sugar Wax, I'll show you how to make your own reusable wax strips! It's simple. I used one of my son’s woven the-buttons-don't-work outfits, and cut it into (8) 1" x 3" [for pits and bikini area] and (10) 2" x 6" [for legs] strips.  See here:

IT'S TIME TO WAX!!

Before you begin, make sure your leg (or whatever it is you are waxing) is clean, dry, and oil-free. If you're feeling all icky-sticky, take a shower and dry off really well. You'll also want to prep the wax. If you just made it, wait a bit for it to cool so you can apply to your skin without burning yourself. If it's been sitting in the cupboard (it stores for months), you'll need to heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds to soften if up. It's ready when it's pliable - not too thin/too hot and not too thick/too cool.

1. Start with hair that is 1/4" long (between waxings, around 3 weeks). This is a must because the hair needs something to stick to. If it's way longer than that, trim it to 1/4" with a set of clippers.

2. Using a popsicle stick applicator, apply the sugar wax in a thin layer, following the direction of hair growth.

3. Immediately press wax strip over the sugar wax - giving it a good rub so it sticks.

4. To remove the strip, rip in the opposite direction of hair growth. And when I say rip, I mean RIP. Fast. If you go slowly, it won't work, and it'll hurt like the dickens.

Here are some photos to help you along:

The first time you wax, it'll hurt. I'm not gonna lie. Especially because your hair will be at its thickest. But over time your hair will actually thin out and become less coarse. Think about it... every time you pull a hair out by its root, you're actually damaging the hair follicle! My legs are far less hairy (thinner and more fine) now than they were 8 years ago!!

Well there you have it!

What d’ya think? Wanna try it?!

If you've got further questions, ask me. I've focused this post on leg waxing, but you can wax your pits and bikini area too (I do!). If you're interested in any tips and tricks for these girl-parts, let me know!

Here's to hair FREE, razor FREE & stubble FREE living!

xo Stasia

Falling Down + Finding Balance

Sometimes, I feel like I'm spinning. I LOSE MY BALANCE. I fall down.

And last week, I fell down.

When I step back and look at the big picture, I can see that this crash wasn't due to a bad day or a particularly stressful week. (And certainly not because I had a I've-Got-Nothing-to-Wear day!) It was much more insidious than that. Something that's been slowly brewing over the last couple of years. Sort of like the frog boiling to death in a pot of water before he even realizes YOWZERS - this water is getting HOT!

This post isn't going to be about style or fashion or thrifting or beauty - well at least not beauty in its traditional sense. Sometimes, like this week, my life is too BIG and doesn't allow much space for creativity or pretty things. Sometimes, it's just plain ole ordinary life. And it's hard.

Let me give you a little back-story.

My daughter, Raisa, was born with "special needs". The first three to four years of her life were filled with doctors, therapists, specialists, nurses, sleep studies, swallow studies, blood draws and surgeries. She seldom had less than 4 appointments a week. Many of which were at Children's Hospital Boston, a good 2.5 hour drive from our home.

I devoted my entire life to her wellness. I did nothing - NOTHING - but care for her. I stretched her tight muscles. I massaged her camptodactylic fingers. I packed her surgical wounds. I restrained her for blood draws and nightly nasal rinses. And I cried. I cried a lot. Like when she was five years old and we had to get her fitted for her new C-PAP machine mask and she said, with tears streaming from her eyes, WHY ME MAMA, WHY ME? She told me she didn't want to wear the mask because it was "a barrier to love". Our bedtime routine for years ended with snuggles and stories and lips kisses. And now, it wasn't going to end with lips kisses anymore, but with me putting on her big clunky uncomfortable mask. She couldn't understand why, no matter how many times I explained (and it's still a battle, to this day.)

I always did my best to fill her with so much love that she wouldn't have room in her soul for anything else. And I did a good job. And mostly it worked. Even her doctors marveled at how well she and I handled the toughest most dreadful situations. Me and Raisa… we stuck together like peanut butter and honey, and everybody knew it.

And then things changed.  Shortly before her 6th birthday, Baby Z was born.  My life no longer revolved solely around her, and she struggled. She REALLY REALLY struggled.

And then a year later, around January 2014, I started Thrift Me Pretty. It had been an idea in my head for quite some time and on a whim, I decided to go for it. I needed to. I needed to do something for me. So I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and jumped in with both feet.

It didn't take long for me to realize that starting a business is no joke. Especially when you don't know the first thing about running a service based business on a social media platform. It. Takes. Time.

And courage. And guts. And stamina. And persistence. And vulnerability. And many many many late nights.

All of which leave me feeling kind of empty. Exhausted. And perpetually behind.

And slowly, over time, Raisa turned into a pest.

She was craving my attention. Needing mama's love. Desperately trying to bring things back to the way they were "before". But I didn't see any of that. I only saw a pest.

Until Friday, when I was nursing Baby Z and she looked at me and said with an empty voice and hollow eyes… Mama, I don't think you love me anymore. Not like you used to. I lost my breath. She turned, head hanging low and walked away… feeling completely and totally dejected.

In that moment, my world fell apart. Was I turning into a Cats In the Cradle parent? Did I put my business above my relationship with my daughter?

Clarity happened. Instantly.

Have you ever tried so desperately to be seen or heard by someone, that you found yourself acting out of character just so you would be noticed? I've done it before. And when I'm in it, I can't see what's happening. But when I step away, it becomes clear. And I say… eewww, that was ugly.

Desperation is NEVER pretty.

Raisa is not a pest. She's desperately tying to get my attention in any way she knows how. The more "pesty" she became, the more I demanded she pull it together - in time out. Alone.

I collapsed. I cried. I wallowed in mama-guilt. But I then realized that this thing that happened makes perfect sense. I was tired. I was tired of being SUPER MOM. Parenting a special needs kid takes an insane amount of strength. Because you're not just a parent. You're an advocate, whether it suits your personality or not. You become a medical expert, reading journal articles and forcing surgeons to draw you diagrams so you can understand EVERYTHING that's going in your sweet baby's body. You hold your shit together when really… all you want to do is fall apart. You put your entire life aside and devote every ounce of your soul to your child.

But it's not sustainable.

I went from one extreme to the other. And now, I need to find BALANCE.

Since Friday, I've been thinking about ways I can create a new kind of balance in my life. And this is what I came up with...

1. PUT DOWN MY DAMN I-PHONE. I don't know about you, but I'm addicted to my phone. Every time I publish a picture on my Instagram feed, send out a newsletter, write a blog post or post to my Thrift Me Pretty Facebook page, I check my phone every 30 seconds to see how things are being received. I'm consumed. And in those moments, I'm reeling with self-criticism and judgment. Oh no, people aren't opening the newsletter. Eek - it's been 3 minutes and nobody has liked my picture yet. And so on and so forth. I need to break this addiction to external validation, and just post what feels good to me (like this post). End of story.

2. GO ON MORE DATES/TAKE MORE BREAKS. With myself. With my husband. With my kids. With my friends. I need to have more dance parties in the kitchen. I need to jump in the sprinkler more.

3. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. This is a big one for me. Don't react. Breathe.

4. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. This is another big one for me. I always feel like I have MORE MORE MORE to do, so I stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning every night working on the biz. I can't do it anymore because when I'm a crazy cranky mess, it affects the whole family. I'm a stay-at-home mom with two kids home on summer vacation and I can't get as much done as the entrepreneur who's got no kids. End of Story.

5. PRIORITIZE. I stink at this, because I happen to think that everything ranks in the #1 priority spot. A friend of mine broke it down for me the other night. I was telling her about all the stuff I needed to get done and she said, "Mama, take that shit right off your to-do list right now because it's not a priority." And she was right. I need to prioritize, and spend what precious time I have working on my priorities.

Oh I could go on and on, but if I give myself too many action steps, I won't do any of them, so I'll start with these five.

In just a moment, I'm going to press SEND and this will whoosh into your inbox. And I solemnly swear I will not stay on my phone for the next 5 hours monitoring the open rate. I'm going to bed! Tips 1 and 4 going into immediate practice!!

To Beauty + Balance!

xo Stasia

Dresses, Damselflies + Details

Since forever I've believed that maxi dresses were not for me. I have a triangle shape, and every single maxi I've tried on has overemphasized my hips in contrast to my narrow torso/shoulders, leaving me feeling unbalanced and self conscious.  I'd try on a dress, but before the hem could even fall to the floor, I'd whip that baby off because I knew it wasn't going to be pretty.  After trying dozens of maxis, and having none of them work, I decided NO MORE!

The words NO MAXI DRESS - EVER were air-scrawled into my virtual Wardrobe Manifesto.

And then...

When I was in Salt Lake City for Alt Summit back in June, I went to a local thrift shop to do some peeking around. And there, jammed into a circular rack among dozens of other second-hand dresses, was one of the most beautiful maxi dresses I had ever seen. I loved everything about it, and since it was a brand sold at Anthropologie, I knew that at $6, it would be a helluva deal. I decided to try it on, with the absolute lowest of expectations and broke my own NO MAXI DRESS EVER rule.

To my shock and dismay, as soon as I slipped the dress over my head, I was in love. I let it fall all the way to the fitting room floor with a valiant WHOOSH + SWOOP. It fit. It flattered. And I was amazed.

So, WHY DID THIS MAXI DRESS WORK FOR ME when dozens of others have failed? Let's break it down.

• The halter-top/deep plunge combo created an illusory affect of my upper body, making my shoulders look broader than they actually are, and BONUS - making me look like I have a little bit of cleavage!

• The navy detailing around the bodice of the dress adds additional visual interest and draws the eye upward.

• The wide ruffle at the bottom of the dress adds movement and volume, adding to the overall visual interest and balance of the dress.

• The dress is made of 100% silk, and drapes effortlessly over my woman-curves.

I'm so glad I tried on this dress, even though I had written maxis out of my life forever. It just goes to show, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to style. Because it's all about the detail.

Like bluets. These wispy little damselflies may all look alike, but there are literally dozens of species out there on our lakes and ponds that to the untrained eye, look exactly the same.  I studied them in college, and was fascinated to see that the slightest variation in morphology meant a totally different species of insect.

Maxi dresses are no different. They may all look the same at first glance, but when you sit back and study the detail, you'll see that subtle variation in design can make the difference between what does and does not work with your body and your overall style.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY:  Try to figure out why something does or doesn't work. Analyze. Observe. Study. NEVER make a broad statement like, I CAN'T WEAR MAXI DRESSES.  Because it's likely you just haven't found the right one, or figured out the right way to wear it.  Pay attention to the detail, and keep on trying!

Do you have a NO-NO in YOUR Wardrobe Manifesto? What is it, and tell me why.  I've got some experience with this stuff, and I just might be able to help you!

To your VIBRANCY!

xo  Stasia

The Most Versatile Shirt I've Ever Owned

Most style bloggers that I know and follow have photographers. Professional photographers. They are able to post weekly, even daily outfit posts that are incredibly fancy and professional. Me. My husband and my 7 year old daughter are my photographers. And you can kind of tell. They are incredibly gracious and work really hard, taking LOTS of pictures as I try to figure out my most natural smile and what the heck I'm supposed to do with my arms.  The exposure is off. The framing isn't perfect. My arms are awkward. And more often than not, a kid or two will show up in a photo because they want some of mama's love. And since I'm equally committed to spending time with my family AND building this business, this is the way it's got to be. I guess you could say that Thrift Me Pretty is a family business; when mama needs pics for the blog, it's all 8 hands on board. Just like yesterday...

Here we are, on a week's vacation in Maine, and we declared yesterday photo shoot day.  I gathered my outfits together, popped them in a suitcase, and off we went to one of my most favorite pristine ponds in all of Maine - Austin Pond. Though I had hoped for sunshine, it was misty and cloudy. And if you know anything about the Maine woods, that's a recipe for BUGS. Not just mosquitos either. Black flies. Deer flies. Horse flies. Moose flies.  And bug dope.

A few bugs never deterred this New England family though... we're tougher than nails. And committed to telling you about my  BEST MOST VERSATILE SHIRT.

A couple of weeks ago I found a super cute H&M shirt at a thrift shop for only $2! It's got these really cool flouncy capped sleeves, which are perfect for my triangle shape (narrow shoulders, wider hips). Having voluminous sleeves balances out my shape by broadening my torso - creating upper-lower body balance. (It's all about illusion.)  And, it's the perfect length - not too long, not too short.  I was able to create three outfits with this little number:

OUTFIT 1

A few weeks ago I picked up these neat J.Crew capri pants at a thrift shop for $6.  No matter what I tried to pair with them, I felt like I was wearing my grandpa's pants. But THIS SHIRT is the perfect dose of feminine for these plaid pants. I styled it with some bright yellow beads (thrifted $1) and a leather wrist cuff (thrifted $2). I felt both feminine and a little edgy, all at the same time.  LOVE.

OUTFIT 2

I thrifted this pink Oxygen skirt last year for $10, and it's been sitting in my closet since then because I couldn't find the right top to go with it. The shirt needed to be short enough so you could see the cool waistband, but not so short that I'd look like a 39 year old mom trying to look 19. And it needed to be loose, so it wouldn't get all bunchy over the skirt's gathered band. AND, because the skirt had such a pronounced A-line silhouette, I wanted a top with voluminous shoulders so I wouldn't look too unbalanced. Voila. The perfect shirt.

OUTFIT 3

I love dressing up boyfriend jeans with something ultra feminine. I picked up these GAP jeans for $2 a few weeks back.  The gold necklace, bracelet and shoes were thrifted ($6, $2 and $20, respectively).

So there you have it. My new best-most-versatile shirt. You'll notice over the weeks and months that I don't own many clothes.  You'll see lots of repeat pieces, styled differently. I try to keep my closet to a minimum, only holding on to things that I really really love. I don't shop in outfits (like one might do at a retail shop), I shop for pieces. So knowing how to make bunches of outfits from a handful of pieces is a skill I'm happy to have!

How about you?  Do you have any pieces that you LOVE because they are both versatile and work with your particular body shape just perfectly?  Do you have any questions about this illusory magic that I speak of?  Go ahead.  ASK ME!

And stay tuned, because next week I'll show you how I wore a pretty little something I SWORE I would never - could never - wear  ;)

To Your VIBRANCY!

xo Stasia

How to Line Dry Your Clothes.

Salut!  

I am over-the-moon thrilled to know that SO many of my Thrift Me Pretty peeps are die-hard line dryers! I received a number of laundry love notes after my last post, TOP 10 REASONS TO LINE DRY, and couldn't wait to write all about THE ART OF LINE DRYING.

I figure that if the process of line drying is laborious, and you end up having to re-wash everything because everything took too long to dry (and got stinky), or got all bunchy, saggy and wrinkly, then it wouldn't be worth your time.  I don't like to be stinky, bunchy, saggy OR wrinkly, and I'm guessing you don't either.  The techniques that follow will leave you with crisp, fresh smelling, un-shrunken, un-faded clothes and linens. And if you do these techniques with love, then you'll be creating art-on-the-line.  

Enjoy!

How to Line Dry Your Clothes

1. FADING.  Turn your darks inside-out if drying in direct sunlight. Otherwise you'll be telling all of your friends that Gray is the new Black.  

2. BROKEN CLOTHESPINS.  For the love of sun and rain and wind, buy high quality clothespins. The springs on a cheap clothespin will blow out if you hang anything heavier than a tissue. And they'll rust. Spend the few extra bucks for sturdy clothespins with stainless steel springs. Check your local hardware store for quality clothespins.  

3. SAGGY-SIDE-SEAMS.  You know what I'm talking about, right? When you put on a shirt and the bottom hem is in the shape of a sad face... with the side seams hanging lower than both the front and back of the shirt. This happens when loose knit shirts, like t-shirts, are hung upside down, with clothespins on the side seams:

This hanging technique works with woven's and lighter weight knit shirts (like kids shirts, or synthetic, hydrophobic shirts.)

But for grown-up cotton shirts, I recommend simply draping the piece over the clothesline (if it's not windy) or wooden drying rack, being careful NOT to pull the fabric beyond the natural drape of the shirt where it meets the line/rack. You can see in the photo below what I’m talking about. Left photo correct. Right photo incorrect.

I'd steer away from clothespins when using the drape-over method because they'll leave pinchy marks on your clothes.

4. CRISPY/STIFF CLOTHES This is an interesting one for me, because I LOVE stiff jeans and crispy towels! I know. I'm an oddball. But it's how I grew up. To me, crisp means fresh. Like a cucumber... and nobody wants a soft cucumber.  But, if you prefer soft jeans and towels, simply add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle, and that should do the trick.  If you don't want to wait around for the rinse cycle, use a fabric softener dispenser ball like THIS. I'd suggest avoiding traditional fabric softeners because ONE - over time, they effect the absorbency of your fabrics (no good for towels) and TWO - they are full of chemicals. Another option - throw your clothes in the dryer for 5 minutes before you hang them on the line. That should soften them up.

5. WRINKLES Give your clothes a good shake before hanging them. And when I say shake, I mean more of a snap. This will relax the wrinkles. A nice breeze will also help with the wrinkles. My friend Sara told me that she hangs her pants upside down, by the bottom cuff, because the weight of the upside-down pants will help reduce wrinkles. I've never employed this technique, but it makes sense.

6. SLOW TO DRY Hang jeans, pants and shorts from the back part of the waistband, zipper down, at the pant's side seams, as seen below. This allows for optimal air circulation throughout the garment.

I would also suggest hanging your pants (or anything with pockets) inside out, so that the pockets can dry more quickly. You'll notice that pockets are the last to dry if hung the regular way.

7. SHOULDER BUNCHES Never hang a shirt by the shoulders. Ever. Shoulder bunches just aren’t cute.

8. ALLERGIES They are a bugger, aren't they? Just tonight my eyes felt like sand paper, so I went to the drugstore to pick up some Zyrtec. Thankfully, I'm far more dependent on a daily dose of organic, fair-trade, dark chocolate than I am on allergy meds. Not much you can do about allergies and outdoor line drying during allergy season (whatever that is for you). Except maybe line drying INSIDE! If you have a laundry room or non-stinky basement, that's ideal. Set up a line in there. Otherwise, your living room will work just fine. Most everything will fit on a wooden drying rack. Woven shirts can be hung on hangers and set over your door jam. Fitted sheets can be hung on hangers too. If you wash at night, most everything will be dry by morning.

9. UNDERPANTS If you don't want all of your neighbors to know the make and model of your undies, hang them by the crotch with one clothespin. They won't look like anything except fabric.

10. STINK Sometimes, during peak humidity, my dish cloths and towels get stinky. When that happens, I just hang them in direct sunlight for a full day and and let the bacteria massacre begin, and like magic, the stink goes away.

Other Interesting Line Drying Tidbits

• If you attach a clothesline to a conifer, be leary - they drip sap (it's happened to me).

• If my back is sore, I place my hamper basket on a chair near the clothesline for less up-down-up-down-up-down.

• Drying on a wooden rack inside will raise the humidity level in your house. Avoid during the muggy season. But go for it in winter when the air is dry.

• Wipe your line down occasionally.

• Clothespins are called pegs in the UK.

• I hang like things together, and on the same line each time. I have no clothespins on my first row, as it's for items I drape over the line, like blankets, sheets and knit shirts. The second row of my line is for socks, under-things, and the baby's pj's (which I hang by the feet). The clothespins are lined up nice and close, so no clothespin rearranging is necessary. The third row is for shirts and the fourth row is for pants - and the pins are already spaced in a way that makes sense for each so I never need to shift the clothespins around. Talk about efficiency!

• I usually stroll out to the clothesline after an hour or two to flip things over that I have draped on the line (like knit shirts or duvet covers). Speeds drying time.

BONUS - give your clothes a good shake before bringing them into the house.  Baby Z got stung tonight when we put on his freshly line dried pajamas.  Seems there was a bug/bee lurking in his jammie-pants  :(

Well there you have it. If you're new to line drying, get out there and hang some clothes! Enjoy the sun beating down on your face and the sound of the wind ruffling your linens. Breathe in the sweet smells of mother earth when you tuck your babies in at night in those same lined dried sheets.

If you're a seasoned line drier - what sun-sational line drying techniques do you use?  I’d LOVE to hear your best line-drying stories!

To your VIBRANCY! xo Stasia

Top 10 Reasons to Line Dry

When I grew up, I didn't know that people used driers to dry their clothes. We ALWAYS line dried, so I figured that EVERYBODY line dried.  Year round.  Even when it was 12 degrees outside.

Shoveling a path to the clothesline in the dead of winter was as normal to me as using the word "wicked" to add emphasis to everything.  It was a wicked shock to learn that people used tumble dryers to dry their clothes, and an even greater shock to learn that folks outside of northern New England thought that wicked meant... well, wicked (like the witch), and not WICKED (as in - really, very or totally).  

And over the years I've learned that there are laws and community association rules that forbid people from hanging their clothes outside. Wha-What? Arguments range from potential property devaluation to obstructed views, safety risks (strangulation-by-clothesline), and my personal favorite... OH MY GOD THERE ARE UNDERPANTS HANGING OUTSIDE!!  And after researching the topic online for a bit,  I've come to see that these arguments are wicked heated!!  Will my clothesline really decrease your property value? Has anyone ever been strangled by a clothesline?  Is it so shocking to know that people wear underwear? Could it really be true that a billboard of a scantily dressed teenager in her seductive push-up-wonder-bra and lacy panties is okay for one to see (and gawk at), but not a pair of full coverage cotton underpants?  

After doing some research online, I discovered that a number of states have passed "right to dry" legislation, overriding any and all local rules and regulations that ban the use of clotheslines.  PHEW! Vermont, of course, was among the first.  (Yay, VT!) Curious to see if YOUR state has passed Right to Dry legislation?  Check out this nifty organization/website, Project Laundry List, to learn more.  

Anyway, I left home more than twenty years ago, and I've line dried everywhere I've ever lived since then. From Maine to Moldova.  Alaska to Vermont.  Even during the harshest of winters.  And here's why:

Stasia's TOP TEN REASONS TO LINE DRY

1. It's FREE.The sunshine is free.  The breeze is free.  The dryer is SO not free.  In fact, your dryer is one of the biggest energy suckers in your entire home!  Check this out:  In Vermont, I pay 15 cents per kWh for electricity, so if I were to use the dryer 10 times a week (I've got kids and I cloth diaper) for 60 minutes a pop, I'd spend around $343 a year just to run my tumble dryer!  (Do your own calculations HERE.)  I did an experiment a couple of years ago, where I didn't line dry once for an entire month - and sure enough, my electric bill was around $30 more than usual that month.  Ouch!!  Did I mention the sun and breeze are FREE?

2. It smells SO good. There is nothing better than the fresh-air scent of line dried clothes.  Especially sheets. Pure delight. Skip the chemically laced fresh-air-scented detergents and go for the real thing.

3. The sun whitens whites and disinfects - no bleach required. It might take a few days in direct sunlight to brighten your dingy whites and kill the stink-germs, but it's free - both economically and chemically.  And cloth diapering mamas - the sun does magic on your prefolds!

4. Your clothes last longer. Lint (in your lint trap) is worn away fabric (from abrasion) that happens during the tumble drying process.  I'd say a good 95% of my family's clothes are thrifted, which means they've already lived a first life.  If I'm to get a good second life out of them, I need to launder them with care.

5. Line drying reduces wrinkles. I never iron.  EVER.  And I'm not wrinkly.  It requires a good shake and some slick hanging skills, but the results are worth it.  (Wanna know my best line drying tricks? Then click HERE!)

6. It's therapeutic. Gentle breeze tickling my neck. Sweet sunshine kissing my checks. The slow methodical motion of pinning the clothes to the line. Deep breaths. Grass beneath my feet. Baby playing at my side. It's not a place that I worry or fret. Instead, it's where I think. Come up with ideas. I'm open. Wild hearted. Connected to the earth - the wind - the sun. Sweet perfection.

7. Saves on other appliances (not just the drier!). In the winter, if your house is dry - hang your clothes inside on a rack.  The evaporation will release much needed moisture into the house, just like a humidifier.  I do it all the time.

8. It's my morning calisthenics. Up-down-Up-down-Up-down.  Basket to line.  

9. It's social.   Depending upon where you live, it can be a wicked social activity.  Most days I end up chatting with the neighbors when I'm hanging the laundry.  

10. My clothesline is my family's Lookbook. I love seeing baby Z's cloth diapers being bleached and disinfected by the sun's rays.  My husband's sleek J.Crew button-up shirts remind me how handsome he is.  I giggle when I see my daughter's plaid shirts and shorts (which she pairs together), reminding me of her quirky style.  And seeing my own polka dots, ruffles and stripes reminds me how lucky I am to have a line filled with clothes that suit my soul.

And because I LOVE clotheslines so much, I'm going to devote the next entire post to HOW TO LINE DRY YOUR CLOTHES.  Because yes, there is a right way to hang clothes on the line.  And I'm going to teach you how to do it so you can avoid misshapen droopy shirts, faded jeans, and wrinkly everything.  

Do you line dry?  Are you a fair weather clothesline user, or a badass-shovel-a-path-to-your-clothesline kind of gal?  It's a funny thing to be passionate about, but I know that we clothesline gals have a special sort of kinship, and I'd like to know WHO YOU ARE.  Tell me what you love most about line drying.  I’d LOVE to hear!

To your VIBRANCY!

xo Stasia

Why Fashion Has NO PLACE At Alt

Last week I went to Alt Summit, a fancy-pants conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, created to educate, inspire and connect both novice and professional bloggers alike.  I'm a Vermont girl that doesn't get out of town much, but when I do, I'm more of campground, youth hostel, budget motel, developing country, chicken-bus-rider kind of traveler.  So to even walk into the Grand American hotel was... WHOA.  Awesome.

I'm still in processing mode post Alt, and suspect I will be for weeks and months to come.  Big events like this, with gaggles of women, always brings up lots of "stuff" for me.  I like to think about all of my awkward "I carried a watermelon" moments, winks and guffaws, and reflect back as to why I did what I did, said what I said, and felt what I felt.  I find that big events like this, coupled with some serious introspection, are akin to several years of intensive therapy.

Whole lotta' women, getting ready to hear Martha Stewart's keynote!

One of the MANY things I've reflected on post Alt is FASHION.  The pre-Alt-fashion-hype was intense, and although I was a wee bit intimidated, I packed up my best (99% thrifted) threads and dressed my essence and my intentions every single day (except on Wednesday night when it was soo cold out I had to wear my airplane clothes out to dinner instead of my hot-pink strappy dress, but I digress).  As I met with folks,  I heard a lot of, "OMG I almost didn't come to Alt because I didn't know what to wear!" and "I love your dress.  I didn't know what to pack.  Don't mind my shoes."   And hearing those self defeating, apologetic words hurt my heart.  Every.  Single.  Time.  And in those moments I thought to myself - FASHION HAS NO PLACE AT ALT.

Don't worry.  These are not fighting words.  I love smooth legs, pedicures, hot red lipstick and fancy dresses just as much as the next girl.  What I mean is this.  Fashion is something that happens OUTSIDE of us.  It's a bench mark that we use for comparison.   Me versus them.  It's what the mannequins and models are wearing in billboards, magazines and television ads.  It's what's hot.  If you pay attention to what's out there, you can do nothing more than mimic what you see.

But Style.  Style is something that happens INSIDE of us.  It is how we USE fashion to reflect our souls.  It brings the focus back to us.  It's about WHO WE ARE and how we want to be perceived.  It's how we smile, laugh, engage, love, reflect, and experience our world.  It's our soul and our intentions and our values all wrapped up into one happy package.  You can't mimic style, no matter how hard you pay attention to what's happening "out there".  Mimicking doesn't work because she is she and you are you and you are not she and she is not you.  Only you are you.  And you have to determine which colors, cuts, textures, stones, fabrics, labels (etc.) reflect who you are and who you wish to become.  It's what I call INSIDE-OUT CONGRUENCY, and it's absolutely totally achievable, no matter who you are.

When you are one among a sea of women, trying to make split second, kick-ass first impressions and connections, you must be on top of your game.  I don't know about you, but if I'm wearing something that makes me feel homely or frumpy, saggy or baggy, then there's a real good chance I won't be showing you my best most truest and brilliant self.  I'll be self conscious.  Apologetic.  And perhaps even withdrawn.   But put me in something that reflects my soul, and it's a game-changer.

Next summer, when Alt rolls around again, I don't want there to be a single woman worrying about what they are going to wear, in comparison to everyone else.  I've got some ideas that need to be flushed out... I'm think pre-Alt smash-the-fashion webinar or e-course!  Ohhh, I've got ideas.

To your VIBRANCY!!

xo Stasia

PS.  Photo credit goes to Alt Photographers Justin Hackworth + Brooke Dennis.

Packing for Alt Summit. The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

UPDATE MARCH 2020 - this post was originally written close to 6 years ago (June 2014), and goodness me do I have a tender spot in my heart for 6-years-ago-Stasia! It was my first time putting myself out there in what felt like a very big way, and I remember the vulnerability and guts it took to hit publish. A lot has changes since this first-ever blog post… my body, my smile, my style, my thoughts about style. It just goes to show that SHOWING UP is a journey, and that as times change, WE CHANGE. Enjoy!

Hello!  And WELCOME to my very first blog post!  Ever.  In my whole life!  I'm leaving for Alt Summit in about 8 hours, and since I'm going to the BIGGEST BLOGGING CONFERENCE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, I figured it was high time I had a blog.  

And it seems only appropriate, as a Style Blogger, to talk about WHAT I'M WEARING TO ALT.  But in truth, what I'm wearing isn't nearly as important as WHY I'm wearing what I'm wearing.  And how I went about choosing, prepping and packing.

Usually when I travel, I throw a bunch of stuff into a suitcase - a few nice shirts, my favorite skirts, a couple pairs of shoes - and hope to hell they all go together.  I NEVER create actual outfits before I travel.  And I usually end up in tears because I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR.  I've been burned too many times, so this time I took a different approach.  I created an OUTFIT ITINERARY!  That's right.  A map.  An outline.  A stress-free plan.

1. I created a list, breaking down the various venues, and counting how many outfits I was going to need: Tuesday day (flight) / Tuesday night (sponsor dinner) / Wednesday day (conference) / Wednesday night (food truck dinner party) / Thursday day (conference) / Thursday night (garden party) / Friday (saying goodbye + exploring the city) / Saturday (flight).  That's 8 outfits.

2. Then, I decided how I wanted to FEEL at each venue.  For example, I’m gonna want to feel differently on my flight than I’ll want to feel at the sponsor dinner, where my nerves will be a little bit shaky and my insecurities will undoubtedly kick in.  Comfortable, chic & funky works for an airplane, but for my first night at Alt - I want to feel confident, bold, bright and just plain happy!

3.  Once I decided how I wanted to feel, I hit my closet and started creating outfits, using those words to inform my outfit creations.  I tried on everything, because I wanted to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions later. Like things not fitting the way I remember, or forgetting to pack the strapless bra for that spaghetti strap dress.

I found some gems of course, but I’ll tell you what. I wasn’t far into my try-on sesh when I started to freak out because… some of the things I was planning to wear DIDN’T ACTUALLY FIT! Thank GOODNESS I decided to TRY EVERYTHING ON before putting it all into my suitcase! I've lost some weight recently and some of my best things were way too big.  Saggy jeans. Empty darts. Gaping under the pits. And to top it all off, I thrifted a brand new (with tags on!) fancy-pants pink taffeta dress last week, brought it to the tailor for a little nip and tuck, and I FORGOT TO PICK IT UP tonight!!  

So here I am... leaving in about 8 hours, and I'm not done packing.  

WHY?  Because Alt is a big deal.  Fashion is HUGE at Alt, and those little voices inside my head have crept in and told me that my second-hand-vermont-gal wardrobe is not going to be good enough.  What I need to do is listen to my BIG GIRL voice - my SOUL'S voice, that KNOWS I'm perfectly suited to be there, in my second-hand-vermont-gal-wardrobe.

I've momentarily lost my footing.  I've forgotten about Inside-Out Congruency, and have gone into the comparison game... me versus everybody else.  And no good can come from that.

I swore I wasn't going to stress.  I was going to dress my essence - rock the ole' Inside-Out Congruency and stand tall with my suitcase of second-hand-clothes.  And I still will.  This is just a little hurdle that I need to navigate.  But that's what life's all about, isn't it?  Navigating the hurdles.  Pressing through.  Finding your trueness.

Despite the hurdles, I'm still loving my wardrobe itinerary.  So if you'll excuse me, the itinerary has three blank spots, which means I have 3 more outfits to pack!

To INSIDE-OUT CONGRUENCY.
xo Stasia