In other words

Sometimes, Mondays are hard.

And sometimes, quotes make them easier. Here are some words inspiring me lately:

You can follow my quote board on  Pinterest for more!

xx,

Rachel

Thursday Inspiration

Hi friends,

Today's post is pretty simple. Found a quote that spoke to me, and wanted to share - in case it speaks to you, too.  Have a lovely day.

xx,

Rachel

Friday Five

1. The Many Shoes of Carrie Bradshaw from Pop Chart Lab
I got a surprise in the mail yesterday, in the form of this print! I am (shamelessly) still in love with Sex and the City. The print has 50 pairs of hand-illustrated shoes from all the iconic scenes. I'll be adding it to my gallery wall as a daily reminder that really great shoes can make life just a little more fun.

2. Lonely Lingerie
I stumbled across Lonely Lingerie and love their delicate designs, like this Sabel bra in cobalt.

3. Quote
It's no secret I'm addicted to quotes. This one popped up on Pinterest, and I thought it was a lovely sentiment.

4. Elizabeth Mayville print
Simple, pretty, and bright - this print (available from Design Darling) will be another great addition to my apartment.

5. Kenneth Jay Lane Weave Cuff
This cuff (on sale!) would be a fun addition to spring and summer looks. It strikes the perfect balance of intricacy and simplicity.

What's on your radar this week? Happy Friday!

xx,

Rachel

On Settling for Less

Recently, I heard that most people choose significant others that are around the same level of attractiveness as they perceive themselves. One example of this effect, called the matching hypothesis, is that we are more likely to choose partners who are within one point (+/-) of how attractive we perceive ourselves on the famed 10 point scale. I know this is old news in the psychology world, but I was so fascinated! 

Learning about the matching hypothesis served as a catalyst to a barrage of thoughts on aspects of settling. In Perks of Being a Wallflower, the broader impact of settling in relationships was conveyed with “We accept the love we think we deserve.” 

I’m not suggesting that you should choose your significant other based on how hot they are or break up with your loving boyfriend because he never takes out the garbage when you ask him.  I wonder, though, how many people accept less because of skewed self-perception?

I have a whole lot of love for people – it is part of the reason I adore Humans of New York, why I’m the first person to chat up a cashier or bartender, and why I tear up at every one of those “restore your faith in humanity” photos that circulate Facebook. I like to be open to meeting all kinds of new people, but sometimes this allows the wrong kind of people to enter my life. For example, I somehow attract pathological liars and sociopaths on a semi-regular basis (kidding…kind of). While it’s lovely to want to see the best in people, when someone shows you who they are…believe them. Red flags pop up in our minds for a reason.

Settling has a snowball effect. You start with a simple compromise, and somehow it leaves you feeling less-than in so many more aspects of your life. Here’s the problem with choosing the comfortable path – we are dealing with a finite amount of time. If you are with someone you aren’t crazy about, you are closing yourself off from meeting someone that does give you the cliché butterflies. If you settle for a job that you dread every morning, you are exchanging hours of your life that could be spent inspired.  If there are people in your life that display one of those aforementioned “red flag” behaviors, you’re setting yourself up for an unhappy ending.

You can pour positive energy into your job, love into a relationship, and time into a task, but at some point serious evaluation is needed to determine if it’s worth it. If you determine something simply is not working despite all your valiant attempts, stop settling.

xx,

Rachel

On Being a (Terrible) Runner

I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I don't particularly enjoying feeling like I'm performing any activity at a less than excellent level. As a result, I've sometimes avoided activities that don't come naturally to me. This trait has certainly made me miss out on some amazing experiences.

I've made it a personal goal to do things at which I'm terrible. Running is one of these things. I am prone to injury, slow as molasses, and usually miserable every step of the way. That's exactly why I keep doing it.

Chasing perfection instead of progress only hurts you. I might never have the best mile time or become an ultra-marathoner, but I am okay with that. I do it because it's good for me - for both my cardiovascular health, and for my level of humility.  I don't just risk failure - I readily invite it into my life. While I still devote myself fully to projects, work, and reaching my goals, I think it's healthy to have a "Phoebe" moment every now and then:

This weekend, I will be volunteering with my sorority alumnae group at the Disabled American Veterans 5K. We will be pushing veterans in wheelchairs through the Honor Roll course, and I am so excited to participate in this event. It's such an amazing privilege to be able to use my body freely and push it to its limits. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to thank some individuals who gave up this privilege to protect our freedoms.

xo,

Rachel

P.S. Online registration for the Cincinnati DAV 5K is closed, but you can still register on the day of the race! Details here. 

Ditching the Sweatpants

Whether you go to bed alone or happen to be in good company, there is something luxurious about pretty sleepwear. Two beautiful (and famous) blondes have expressed differing opinions on the matter:

   

I tend to side with Heidi on this one. I actually blame Gossip Girl for my love of beautiful sleepwear, though. It seems like nearly every episode displays Blair and Serena looking chic even when going to bed.

Even for those of us not living drama-filled lives on the Upper East Side, putting a little more effort in to what you sleep in is a simple way to indulge yourself. I can guarantee my hair doesn't typically look as good as Blair and Serena's while I'm wearing them, but here are a few of my favorite pieces:

 

Cheers,

Rachel

 

P.S. In the interest of full disclosure, I feel obligated to tell you that I do still own sweatpants. There are days when nothing silky, lacy, or pretty works quite as well.