The DECEMBER 2015 | Series No. 2, Issue No. 1
joy
Issue
Manifest Freedom & Expect Joy with Tessa Chittle
ALSO
Unplan Your Day • Design with Intention • Reclaim Your Holiday
I N THI S I S S U E
Create
joy
by Choosing Freedom
realize
Choose freedom this holiday season by scheduling unplanned time, taking care of yourself first, re-wearing your favorite party T H I S M O N T H ’ S COV E R : dress, going on a holiday home Homesteading maven and tour, and revolutionary mama Tessa foregoing Chittle shares her expert ho hum advice and real-life strategies gift-giving on how to plan an traditions.
intentional holiday.
dwell
Create an atmosphere of joy through intentional design, self-aware party preparations, stress-relieving dinner party strategies, and freeing paint treatments.
live
Enjoy your holiday once again by staying true to yourself, finding empowerment in saying no, and accepting your inner child and the wonder she brings with her.
T H E P E RP E TUAL YOU VI S I ON
At The Perpetual You, We are creating a movement that encourages women to love and share who they already are. We believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves-the parts that never change-our Perpetual Selves.
Welcome. T H E P E RP E TUAL YOU TE AM
LaKay Cornell
Lee Lee Thompson
Jessie Leiber
Co-founder & Editor of all things people-related
Co-Founder & Editor of all things words-related
Editor of all things design-related
LaKay is a true believer in consciously orchestrating your life. She is a lover of people, networking, champagne, the world of self-actualization and social media. She can frequently be found enjoying craft beer and introducing friends to things they didn’t know they needed. You can find her on twitter @rootsandwings04.
The lee lee is a mother by choice, writer by trade, and designer by heart. She loves shopping, drinking, redecorating, and traveling. She keeps busy trying to do all of this while remaining true to her thrifty roots. Her online personalities include @leeleeinp and @boyswholovepink.
Jessie is a multi-disciplinary designer & art director striving to make her world more pixel perfect. When not staring at computer screens, she can be found singing (loudly) in her car or compulsively buying striped shirts. You can stalk her on Instagram @jessieleiber or see work with her at createlittlelegends.com.
T H E P E RP E TUAL YOU MAKE RS
The Perpetual You wouldn't be possible without the help of our amazing team of volunteers. We would love to take this opportunity to introduce them to you.
Jennifer Photography Jennifer Wenzel is a wedding and lifestyle photographer in the nation's oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida. She never leaves the house without her camera, because beauty is all around waiting to be found! You can connect with her on Instagram @jenwenzelphoto or hop over to her website.
Walker Sisters
Sarah A.
Photography
Photography
Deb Photography
Amy and Kay Walker traverse New England and beyond chasing sunsets, circling crowded dance floors, capturing tears and laughter, all in the pursuit of preserving stories of love, friendship, and family. You'll find a camera around Kay's neck, a paintbrush in Amy's hand, and joy on both their faces as they do what they love best. See some of their work online and connect with them at @walkerstudiosllc.
Sarah Annay is a full-time photographer, storyteller and globe-trotter. When she’s not taking photographs she’s teaching, blogging, relaxing by the waves in St. Augustine, introducing herself to the newest craft beers and camping in Vermont. Sarah’s newest project is teaching photography workshops for women in Kolkata, India. See more of her photography on her website or @sarahannayphotography.
Deborahhannah Neele has been traveling the globe since birth. Growing up internationally and moving countries every two years, wandering has become her norm. She picked up photography out of gratitude for her crazy life. She lives in the Midwest, but since her bags are always packed, she may be across the ocean by next week. You can follow her on Instagram: @debneele
The Perpetual You is a place where creatives and coaches can come together to showcase their work and be part of a movement designed to shake up the world. Interested in adding your talents to the mix? Email hello@theperpetualyou.com.
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Desha
Kirsten
Video
Graphic Design Kirsten Eike is a creative entrepreneur with a love for food, photography, and design. When she's not curling hair for her bridal clients, she spends time dabbling in hand lettering, food photography, and yoga. She is a true homebody and enjoys relaxing with a glass of wine and a good movie. You can peruse her lifestyle photos on Instagram or her beautiful hair styles @kirstenmariedesignllc.
Charlotte Graphic Design Charlotte Cobb loves all things creative, especially dabbling in new mediums for her firm, F & R Designs. Charlotte's perfect day involves walking the Dorset countryside with her daughters and her camera. Socialize with her @freshandrosy.
Dina Graphic Design Leicester-based Dina Mistry is a designer, illustrator and lover of food. When she's not running her own greeting card and graphic design business, she can be found killing it at the gym. See more of her work on Instagram.
Desha Peacock is an Author, Retreat Leader & LifeSTYLE Design Coach. She’s helped hundreds of people find their “Sweet Spot,” a self-defined place of success & beauty. Her first book Create the Style you Crave on a Budget you can Afford, was listed in the Huff post as “the book to give your girlfriend” & sold out in less than 20 days. She’s been quoted in the Huffington Post, Yahoo News.com, Career Rookie, US News Money & has made radio & TV appearances across the nation. Get your free Sweet Spot Style Life + Biz Guide or join her on retreat.
Sarah S. Krystal
Editing & Proofreading
Soul Siren
Sarah Sandidge can often be found reading a book. When she’s not reading for fun, she’s reading for work as a freelance editor, which is also fun. Her love for language, cultures and sociology makes people fascinating to her even though she’s a bit of an introvert, albeit a chatty introvert. When she isn’t glued to a written sentence, she is spending time with her family, mostly taking care of her two beautiful children somewhere in the heart of Missouri. See how cute they are on Instagram @LulainLondon.
Krystal Brandt, Authenticity Coach, is a soulful, sensual siren who lovingly and powerfully guides highachieving women back to their innermost desires by reintroducing them to their own intuitive whispers of wisdom. She brings a provocative, feminine and powerful edge to creating deeply connective experiences where vulnerability is invited, divisive walls come down and your truest self comes out to play.
Susanna Editing & Proofreading
P.K.
Susanna Brown loves traveling through time with words and often has her head buried in a good book. She enjoys trying new vegetarian dishes, shopping, and going places she's never been. She is a writer of both historical and contemporary fiction for young people of all ages, as well as an editor and proofreader. She lives in Memphis, TN with a Yorkie named Boston.
Editing & Proofreading Our resident proofreader, P.K. McGill can typically be found on her back patio—enjoying a cocktail, talking with friends, yelling at her puppies, cavorting with her husband—or all of the above. Her better-known alias is Nani: she has four amazing, smart, & talented grandchildren, who all take after her. Connect with her on Facebook.
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WE L COME
Society Members, get in the mood for joy by listening to our FREEDOM Spotify mix.
“Freedom to me is a luxury of being able to follow the path of the heart, to keep the magic in your life. Freedom is necessary for me in order to create, and if I cannot create I don’t feel alive.” - Joni Mitchell
A
Join our mailing list & receive this month’s custom wallpapers to download for your computer or phone.
hh the Holidays. It’s interesting to me how so much can be tied
up in one phrase, The Holidays. Many women spend the holidays experiencing guilt from what they eat, drink, or spend. Many women spend the holidays full of anxiety over what gifts they will give and receive and whose feelings they might hurt. Many women feel constant pressure to have a certain kind of holiday–that looks like their mother's or that looks nothing like it! Whoever you are, it is likely that hearing those words stirs up something in you. And that’s where this month’s issue comes in. We thought, “what if every year when the Holidays come, you are truly full of joy?” When you see the word joy all over town in decorations, you are able to identify with it and realize that’s what the Season means to you. Joy. How can we create joy in a time that is full of so much, hmm, so much not-joy? And so we are here to give you freedom this month. The freedom to say yes to an extra glass of champagne; the freedom to say no to spending too much on gifts; the freedom to create your own holiday traditions; the freedom to do everything the way your mom did it; the freedom to share your decisions and values with some people and politely smile with others. Because here’s the thing, imagine if there were no guilt, no anxiety, and no pressure. Can you picture what would be left this month? I see a world with extra parties, twinkling lights, lots of baked goods and champagne, pretty dresses, cozy mornings, and more hugs and kisses and friends and family than any other time of year. Doesn’t that sound like true joy?
Join the movement.
realize to align your daily practices with your
ever-evolving desires
Freedom
Find in Unplanning T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Every moment is enormous and it is all we have. — Natalie Goldberg
As children, our Christmas day family tradition was simple: Don’t plan anything.
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arly in the morning my brother, mother and I would gather to open our gifts, and once the gift exchange was complete, we were free to do whatever we wished, including nothing at all. Get dressed, or stay in your pajamas all day; eat a formal meal or spend the day grazing; explore your new gifts or play with your old favorite toys; stay up all day or nap until your heart's content; clean your room or bask in the holiday mess. The expectation was quite simple, for one entire day of the year we didn't plan anything. I grew older, and the holidays slowly morphed into a season of commitments rather than a time to relax and do nothing. My early adulthood was spent resisting
most of the expected holiday commitments because they were too overwhelming. The stress robbed me of the holiday cheer I possessed as a child. My husband and I are preparing to embark on our first holiday season together. I am excited to be sharing the holidays with him and I already feel the warmth, joy and excitement of my childhood years creeping back into my heart. But I can’t help wondering: how do we maintain the nostalgia and joy of the holiday season in a world that never stops moving, planning, and doing?
continued on next page
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7-Day Challenge To take our 7-day "Unplanning" Challenge, designed by Katie and beginning on Dec. 11, join the Society and stay tuned for details!.
Start Today Here are a some ways to infuse the spirit of unplanning into your holiday season: Take a Meditation Moment. Once a day, make a conscious effort to stop everything and take five minutes to yourself. Breathe slowly and deeply. Inhale joy for the present moment, and exhale any worry about future plans.
Pick One to Pass. Choose one holiday invitation or expectation to gently decline. Grant yourself permission to do so and release any feeling of guilt, regret, or fear of "missing out on something."
Schedule Unplanned Time. The time frame for this can be as short or long as you wish. Allow yourself the gift of not doing anything pre-planned during this time. Take the opportunity to rejuvenate during the busy holiday season.
To answer this question, I simply have to turn back to my childhood years and remember the joy that not having a plan brought to my family. I must embrace unplanning. As I enter this year's holiday season, I bring to mind the Christmas of my childhood. Everything felt magical as we basked in the warm bubble of love and relaxation that only a day of doing nothing and the aroma of my mother’s freshly baked coffee cake could create. The release from the expectation of planning was incredibly freeing—a simple act that brought our family incredible joy. When we spend all our time planning the future, we miss out on the joy of the present moment. I challenge you to commit to yourself and to freedom this holiday season. Focus on the present moment. Embrace unplanned time and choose joy.
Plan a “Do Nothing” Day. The day after your last "planned" holiday event treat yourself to a free day. Take the day as it comes, mindfully, and release thoughts of what you “should” or “could” be doing.
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Katie Lynch is a wannabe Buddhist, mindful psychotherapist, newbie wife, avid baker, and blissfully recovering perfectionist. She really believes that there isn’t any problem a hot cup of tea and a nice long nap can’t solve.
freedom
in a Great Heroine
Society Members Learn why you should love A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in this month's edition of, “Did she really just...”
The Yorkshire Shepherdess
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Entertaining with Intention
by Amanda Owen, Pub 2015
by Betty Smith, Pub 1943
Susan B. Keene, Pub 2015
For Amanda Owen, becoming a shepherdess was a declaration of freedom. Never mind the early mornings, late nights, and snowed-in winters; her days filled with farming, mothering, hosting, and cooking are exactly the tasks she's meant to be doing. An example of the empowerment in finding the life that you are meant to lead, her journey also demonstrates the empowerment that comes along with living freely.
In this coming of age tale about a girl growing up in the slums of New York, the magic is in the Nolan’s daily heartbreak and struggle. Her impoverished parents shower her with love, wonder and hope that radiates through the slums and propels the young Francie into a life of art, words, and freedom. The simplest things like black coffee and family dinners reflect the simplicity of childhood and the endearment of family relationships. While reading such enchanting scenes, you'll appreciate the details of your own life all the more.
After planning a "perfect evening" that left her in tears, Susan Keene changed her approach to entertaining to one that began with intention, incorporated gratitude, and increased her awareness before, during, and after a party. Part-memoir, part-design book, and part-cookbook, Keene shares advice, recipes, and ideas in this useful entertaining guide for any woman wanting to experience more meaningful entertaining.
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The 12 toppings of a holiday breakfast buffet you can give to your true loves. 1. Cranberries 2. Sliced Almonds 3. Maple Syrup 4. Whole Milk 5. Currants or Golden Raisins 6. Dates 7. Pomegranate Seeds 8. Honey 9. Brown Sugar 10. Chocolate Chips 11. Star Anise 12. Cinnamon
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Freedom
in a
Magical Morning Let me tell you something about real, delicious, whole food. It’s magic. When you combine it with the magic of Christmas, family, friends, and a great atmosphere, you have the perfect recipe. Allow me to take you there.
T
he holidays are in full swing, you’ve been busy buying and wrapping presents, preparing and stocking up on everyone’s favorite holiday treats, going on family outings, and planning the festive activity calendar. The desire to spend time with your favorite people, be present, and truly enjoy this magical time is vibrant inside of you. But, you don’t want to make things too complicated for yourself. After all, you’re busy enough as it is. They’ll be plenty of elaborate parties, heavy meals and treats to be enjoyed, so you’re imagining something simple, easy and real. Picture your favorite people gathered together on a bright and sunny winter morning, enjoying a simple, easy, and delicious breakfast…reveling in the excitement, joy, and goodwill of the season. No one is rushed, stressed, overfed, or overwhelmed. Everyone is free to step back, breathe, appreciate. After all, isn’t that the point? Continue to let your imagination wander…the aroma and comfort of warm, creamy, oatmeal comes to mind. You see an ample bowl on the table with simple, beautiful, and wholesome toppings. A sort of makeyour-own oatmeal buffet. For your own bowl, you choose pomegranate seeds, brown sugar, and lush, creamy, whole milk. Your
closest friend sprinkles almonds, cinnamon, and maple syrup on hers. Your sister-in-law mixes figs and chocolate chips in hers. The atmosphere includes a warm fire, cozy sweaters, gentle music, natural lighting, and laughter in the background. There is warm herbal tea or strong coffee to pass around; for those who are young (or young at heart), steamy mugs of hot cocoa are poured. You take a bite and taste warmth, vibrancy, elegance, and simplicity. You chew slowly, savoring each bite. You see the same peace and content on the faces of those you love. You surrender to the full experience—the food, the company, the atmosphere, the magic. You emerge free, nourished, and glad. This holiday season, I invite you to claim yourself, your experience, your memories, and your taste buds and to share the goodness of whole food with those you love. Find freedom in a magical morning.
Amberle Evans’ calling is to explore and share the magic of life and true freedom through food, photography, design, coaching, and writing. A Certified Holistic Nutritionist through CSNN, she is passionate about real food and inspired, sustainable living. Some of her dreams include doing inspired living workshops/ mini-retreats, having her own show on Tastemade, receiving passive income, and living with her husband and a gaggle of children and animals in a big house in the country, all of which she believes will come true. T H E W E A LT H IS S U E
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Order Your Kit Get 10% off when you order your next cocktail kit from Crafted Taste .
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CRAF TE D COC KTAI L
Kat Rudberg, founder of Crafted Taste, explains why their Aged Manhattan cocktail kit let’s you Create Joy by Choosing Freedom.
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T HE PERPETUA L YOU
I
love the principle of choosing freedom to create joy. One of the reasons I struck out on my own to start Crafted Taste was to have the freedom to create the life I wanted to live, one that made happiness a priority. When I heard this month’s theme, I immediately thought of our Aged Manhattan Curated Cocktail Kit. This kit includes one of my favorite products: a cocktail aging kit. With a quick 5-10 minutes, you can prepare a batch of Manhattans in advance, ready for you to pour during the busy holiday season. Aging cocktails is not just convenient; the aging process also helps to mellow and add complexity to your drink. With our kit, you get all the Manhattan ingredients you need plus fourteen cocktail recipes and bourbon food pairing ideas. Prepare your batched Manhattan, let it age at least 1 week, then just pour and imbibe! Now you have even more time to have FREEDOM during the holidays.
Freedom
in
Exploration This month, go on a walking tour of holiday homes in your town center or a nearby "big" city. Enjoy the lights, sounds, and smells; breathe in evergreen and cinnamon. You deserve a break from the shopping, cooking, wrapping, hostessing... Let the beauty of the holidays free you of overwhelm.
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Shopping Tip 5
Use websites like Scoutmob to browse local, handcrafted or small batch products all in one place!
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T HE PERPETUA L YOU
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freedom
in Entertaining
Invest in these specially curated handcrafted entertaining products now—before you get too busy to do so! While you’re shopping, stock up on small batch cocktail mixers, appetizers, and desserts. You’ll enjoy the freedom of preparedness and your guests will love the tastes!
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Custom Printed Quote Coasters
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Small Batch Cocktail Mixers & Owl’s Brew
(set of 4 $34, Samsqwatch)
($16, Jack Rudy Cocktail Co | from $9.99, Owl’s Brew.)
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DRINK Linen Cocktail Napkins (set of 4 $28, Dot and Army)
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Wood Artisan Tray ($50, Coffee Diem Dry Goods)
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Vintage Stamped Cheese Markers ($20, Pumperknickel and Wry)
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Verterra Compostable Dinnerware ($15 - $18, Fallen Leaves)
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Bread and Butter Pickles and Beets ($12, Halifax Hollow)
Product Pinspiration
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Single- Origin Chocolate Bars
Click here for a full list of our product selections on Pinterest.
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Baroque Owl Gingerbread Cookies
($27.50, Posh Chocolat)
($6.18 each, Storica)
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Freedom
in Nontraditional
Gift-Giving
Hello, Holiday! Participating in the season is fun, if we do so while staying true to our modern selves. The practice of buying presents off of a gift “wish list” is hard to reconcile with an authentic life. Instead of relying on traditional gift giving where we put our creative energy toward the most perfect wrapping, what if we infused a spirit of adventure into our gift-giving?
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emember when your most prized gift was a coupon card good for “one free massage” or “chores for the day?” When resources were limited, whether due to youth or other circumstances, we rose to the challenge. As a young parent, I am equally appreciative of similar gifts received. So, what changed? When did a gift of “date night” for your friend and her husband or “a day at the beach” for your kids become a sign that you didn’t put thought into your gift? Or didn't plan far enough in advance? Actually, committing to an experience or outing in the future (be it with our family, friends) is a gift of more: a way for the recipient to carry the spirit of Christmas with them throughout the next year. If you appreciate the sentiment of alternative giftgiving but want to go bigger, skip the “gifts” altogether, and go on a holiday trip instead. Experience that culture and its festivities as a gift like none other. If now is not the time for you or your family to pack T HE PERPETUA L YOU
up and escape, infuse another culture's seasonal celebrations into your holiday and/or gifts. Cuisine, costumes, and stories all make wonderful gifts! Most importantly, enjoy what you choose to be a part of. If we are able and willing to find adventure and possibility in our gift-giving, we are able to further engineer a life we don't want to escape from. We can be grateful for traditions (and the memories they invoke) and also get creative in our gift-giving. Establish a gift-giving tradition that feels authentic to you and your lifestyle—that speaks to the person you are now, TODAY. This is the year to honor your past traditions by setting them free.
Life is so full of everyday moments that are worthy of recognition. Summer is finding her way, living this dream and taking a moment everyday to say thank you. You can find her at airabess.blogspot.com and Instagram @airabess or #findingmywaylivingthisdream.
The more you celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. — Oprah Winfrey
Do This at Home! Offer an expression of your love and appreciation that isn't just about filling the space inside a prettily wrapped box. Instead of buying something tangible for your loved ones, set a date—once a month for a year—in which you will “go on an adventure.” Try a new restaurant, museum, or local attraction. Or travel to a nearby city! The true gift you're giving is a commitment—to be a part of their lives and also a part of the present, thus deepening your relationship and creating an openness to the way you celebrate together.
#fromwhereistand
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REALIZE
This month’s Self-Care Toolkit
Freedom
in Self-Care
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Garlic Eucalyptus Rose Quartz Ishtar
Each of us deserves a magical, joyful holiday season. It is the time of year when we want to slow down, snuggle by the fire, and drink delicious concoctions. Instead we often feel hurried, anxious or stressed, which can lead to us feeling run down or even becoming sick. The following essential wellbeing ingredients will help you stay refreshed for the whole month:
H E RB
ESSE N TI AL O IL
CRYSTAL
GO D D ESS
Garlic
Eucalyptus
Rose Quartz
Ishtar
B E N E F I TS
BE N E FI TS
BENEFITS
BEN E FITS
Fights internal and external infections
A natural decongestant
Helps with emotional healing
Goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex
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arlic is a delicious spice found in the typical pantry. Garlic can be used to fight both internal and external infections. Add it to all your winter stews, pickle it in vinegar, chop it and add to butter or olive oil, or try your hand at making Fire Cider, a traditional remedy used to fight off colds and boost your immune system. A familiar essential oil and plant, Eucalyptus, is known for its wonderful effects on the respiratory system as a decongestant. At the beginning signs of a cold, put a drop or two in a bowl of steaming water with a towel over your head and breathe in this effective oil. (Since Eucalyptus oil is too strong to be used with children under 5 years old, defuse lavender essential oil in their rooms instead.) Rose quartz is the stone that helps us heal our heart chakra by assisting with emotional healing and love— making it the perfect stone when you need more love for yourself or others. Meditate with this stone close
to your heart, wear it on a necklace, or keep it in your pocket so you are able to access its healing powers wherever you go. The message from this month’s Goddess, Ishtar, is: Love yourself enough to say no to others’ demands of your time and energy. What a great reminder that to really be caring, healthy individuals, we must first love and nurture ourselves. Using these simple tools to care for yourself on a daily basis will get you through the holidays feeling strong, confident and free.
Ashley Dees frolics around Saint Augustine Florida, picking herbs, finding herbal remedies, and playing with aromatherapy, tarot cards and crystals. Learn more about her, and how she teaches and gathers goddesses together frequently at her website greenharmonyaromatherapy.com.
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Freedom
in Re-Wearing
Picture yourself in the midst of all the holiday goodness—beautiful decorations everywhere you turn, special finds for friends and family, an oven full of cookies, presents in pretty wrapping paper, sleigh bell-filled music, steaming cups of peppermint mocha, special family traditions, parties filled with your favorite people, outfits and outfits and more outfits....
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o you read that list and feel overwhelmed? We often take something wonderful and create a culture of chaos in our lives. We desire to do it all and to do it better than before. Here's a simple trick to bring some much deserved joy in your life: wear one dress, styled in different ways, to all the holiday parties you attend. No more living in anguish over what you’re going to wear; no more spending hours trying on everything in your closet; no more 4-hour shopping trips to find “the perfect thing” to wear, and then wearing it only once.
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Whether you have a favorite dress in your closet, or buy a new one each year, you can style this same dress in different ways to meet your needs. Best of all, the accessories you need are likely already waiting in your closet, begging to be chosen for the next special event! By choosing one dress and styling it different ways, you’ll save more than just money and time. Your mental and emotional energy can be redirected toward what is most important to you during the holidays—the family and friends that fill your life with love and joy.
“Like a frame to a painting, black ensures that the person is the first thing you see.� - Donna Karan
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freedom
to Wear It Again
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Here are a few ways to restyle that favorite holiday dress:
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Keep it Classic There's nothing wrong with choosing classy: a beautiful statement necklace; an elegant clutch; and some holiday-colored flats are your go-to ensemble for any occasion.
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Try on Trendy Take a risk and rock a trend. Faux fur and fringe are both trendy and widely available. Accessorize with these for your dressiest of occasions.
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Dress it Different My go-to "layer" is a button-up shirt underneath my dress. White is a timeless look, while a festive print adds something unexpected. Add in sparkle and metallic accessories to stay party-friendly.
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Go for More Layer something over your dress. A cardigan...a scarf... or both! A blanket scarf, cape, or shawl are all winterworthy accessories. Adding warmth means you can take your dress to the streets. Caroling anyone?
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Alice Tegtmeier is a Personal Stylist and mother of three who uses personal style as one way of helping women live authentically. You can see more of her passion for personal style, coffee, and encouragement on Instagram and Periscope: @aliteg.
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Society Members To share your own feelings about freedom with likeminded women, join our Society Facebook group.
This year, we aren't traveling to be with family so that our six-year-old can wake up in his own house on Christmas morning and see what Santa brought him.
We want to hear your perspective! What is the most beautiful thing about your body? Email hello@theperpetualyou.com for a chance to be featured in next month’s issue.
Although it was a hard decision to make, since it means his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins don't get to see him, it will free us from the stress of holiday travel and allow us to slow down and enjoy our own Christmas and start new traditions. My son is still in the magical, innocent stage where he believes. Since that time is limited, we want to give him the gift of enjoying the holiday and give all of us the freedom to embrace our own family time. Katie H. (Arlington, MA, USA)
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
PE R SPE CTI VES from THE P E RP E TUAL YOU
How do you choose
freedom
during the Holiday Season?
By surrounding myself with the people I love and amazing food. Creating lasting memories rather than worrying about who is getting what, or that we're taking enough pictures. Enjoying my holiday season the way I did when I was a kid, when everything was magic. Emily H (St. Augustine, FL, USA)
By spending time with my family—Being together and enjoying each others company brings the freedom to share, reflect, and dream together. Marcie I. (Moscow, ID, USA)
By practicing yoga daily— creating the space in my mind to respond and not react to my eccentric loved ones! Meditation gives me freedom that enables me to stay vibrant and festive. Francesca (London, England)
By creating healthy boundaries, fewer
By focusing on the simple joys of life and the magical time of the season. Blessing and releasing stress, the need to please and perfection. Celebrating all the beautiful milestones that were made in 2015 and finding joy in the journey. Slowing down to make memories with those who matter most. April W. (Houston, TX, USA)
expectations, and new definitions of family. Tuning in to what my body and soul crave this time of year: candid dinnertime laughs, uninterrupted naps, and cuddles with some of my favorite people (and pets!) who know the meaning of unconditional love. Amanda S. (Atlanta, GA, USA) T H E W E A LT H IS S U E
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“ You were
wild once;
don't let them tame you. ” — Isadora Duncan
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
3 QUESTIONS WITH OUR
Cover Story Superstar
Tessa Chit tle
How do Joy & Freedom intersect in your daily practices? Those are definitely the two words that my husband and I have talked about in the past year or two—and we include our daughter in the conversation as she gets older. To make our joy and our freedom nonnegotiable in our lives, we put aside all the rules about what parents are supposed to look like and what entrepreneurship is supposed to look like and what homesteading is supposed to look like and really just decided what we want for our lives, consciously and intentionally, and created that life.
realize
What part of your home brings you the most Joy? I get joy by being creative, and I’m able to be creative because I have freedom in how I spend my time. I love making my spaces beautiful and making our home cozy: painting my front door and hanging a homemade wreath made from things we collected from our forest; including my daughter in those projects, getting her really engaged with the chores around the land; having the whole family be able to co-create and collaborate. This helps me feel connected, like I’m not on my own mission. We are all in the trenches, creating this property and this homestead together.
dwell
How do you keep your thoughts centered on Freedom? A quote I love says, “99% commitment is a bitch; 100% is a breeze.” Being 99% committed to the way you want to live or your values or your self-care feels really hard because every moment you are having to choose if you are aligned or not. If you are 100% committed, you don’t even have to think about that: you just know. You have clarity and you don’t have to waste your energy talking yourself into doing it. I live by that—I’m 100% committed to freedom.
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