It is what it is. That's a common little phrase we like to toss around. It's a handy line used to help us cope with unpleasantries, helps us deal with the unexpected in life.

It gets scary when we use it to justify things we shouldn't be accepting so easily...like settling into a safe ho-hum lifestyle or doing mediocre work. We often use it as an excuse to give up and not try harder. You know how it goes...just accept whatever it is and move on.

Yikes! Sound the alarm! That line just got worn out.

The good thing is, in life, we have options. We can choose how we react, how we respond...how we problem solve situations. Yes, every single one of us. We can choose so much more than settling for the mundane or whatever gets thrown our way. Let's create our way instead.

Personally, being a designer, we are creative visual problem solvers. I'm trained and encouraged to think through diverse perspectives and situations. It's not only my job but an excellent philosophy to live by. It's a lifestyle. There's always more than one solution to every problem. Sometimes you have to wrestle with ideas, put in the work and enjoy the process.

Just remember everyone won't always be on board with you. Anytime you create or show people a different way of doing things, you'll get resistance...and usually that means you're doing something right. Don't let others sway your thinking. Go head first making the most of situations.

I've learned that MOST of the time, it just isn't what it is...it is what you make it.

Often times in life we think quitting is a bad thing. That's what society tells us anyway. It seems like all we ever hear is along the line of quitters are losers. It's sadly just become a norm of thinking.


Society is wrong.
Quitting is ok, and can be a GOOD thing. Especially if it leads to growth & balance.
I've spent the past year being a quitter...reevaluating life and taking action...
No, I didn't go aimlessly quitting everything I was doing just to go lamely cry in a corner. (Sorry, no crazy quitting tirade.) I took a step back, slowed down and acknowledged that just because I was on the same path as everyone else, it didn't mean I was on the right path. The busy lifestyle, the goals of more money, the over consumption...everyone's doing it and I should follow along, right? - "C'mon Amy, what's wrong with you?...you aren't happy pursuing that?" Turns out that type of life just wasn't working.

I just recently read a snipet from Donald Miller talking about the same thing. He's a smart dude. He says, "The idea is two fold:
1. Get rid of anything that doesn't need to be in your life.
2. Realize you don't have to be stuck in a rut.

I was in a rut.
I had a lot of things that didn't need to be in my life.
I was focused on a lot of things that didn't need to be in my life...unimportant things.
So, yeah...I quit things. It was life changing.

I quit my job
I had a terrible job I felt I was stuck at. So I left. By quitting I no longer had to deal with the stress and poor work environment. I no longer chose to deem the company's behavior acceptable by working for them. I was then free to pursue a better career path. I now carefully choose who I work for and with. I choose options that align with my values and propels me into growth as a person and in my field. I pursue mutual respect. I pursue things I love. It seems to work out.

I quit over consuming
I spent a lot of time buying things and thinking about buying things. This dulled the pain of the crappy job and I was far from understanding what it meant to live intentionally. I worked so I could buy things. I created and followed an "American Dream" type of lifestyle. That's what I was taught. I didn't really know any other way. Society tells us to overwork so we can overbuy. It's a perpetual process, it doesn't end. So yep, quit that too. Don't get me wrong, I still love the artistic qualities and culture of fashion but I don't let it consume me.

Those are just a few examples of how I chose to change my life by quitting. So be encouraged to not feel stuck...feel free to quit! You don't have to stay in a rut. Be intentional about what you pursue in life. Take a look at your life and quit any un-healthly lifestyle you find yourself in.

{ N E W  D E S I G N  in the  S H O P }

Because no worthwhile aspiration can be accomplished from within our comfort zone. Let's live our lives in boldness, bravery & love. What happens when we actually do the things we dream about and take action? ...not tomorrow or in the future, but right now today. It can mean taking a step of faith, owning your present circumstance or take action for change. Let's let our lives speak bolder than this shirt - while inspiring others to do the same. 

How do you live boldly? Wear the shirt, share & tag your stories with #boldnessbemyfriend

You Are In Control Of Your Time

A week or so ago, I was going outside to relax and enjoy the sun. Someone very special to me stressfully said they wished they had time to do such things and they needed more hours in the day. I was so saddened by that statement but understood it completely. I used to let phrases like that spill out of my mouth as well...I used to believe it as truth. But luckily the truth is, each person controls how they spend their time and what they value. Some people really believe that needing more time is just a fact of life...but don't buy into that lie! Prioritizing your time is key.

Simplify Your Life 

I broke free after having a string of meaningless jobs which consumed my days. At the time, I thought these jobs were just life & that's what others around me told me. (wrong) I thought I had to keep showing up each day because "that's just what you do" (wrong) and especially because it was paying for the lifestyle I had created.

I knew there was more to living. The lifestyle I was aiming for started shifting. Wanting things became unnecessary when all I wanted was to take charge of my life and how I got to use my time.  So then I started to prioritize my time and live simpler. The less things you want, the less time you spend stressed out wanting. Note, the key is wanting less and realizing what is / isn't needed in life. If your focus is the pursuit of things, it will be a never ending chase and that has no value nor does it lead to personal growth.

Design A Life You Love

After making some major changes in life, I now spend my time doing what I love... creating...and I do so on my own schedule and my own terms. I work on various projects from my jewelry/accessory line to graphic design work. I can pick clients I align with. I'm happy to work with them and they are excited to work with me. It's a beautiful thing. I'm in control of my creative work, it's up to me to make it fulfilling. Even better I'm seeking a simpler life all together. I moved to a simpler and smaller space. I got rid of so much that I owned and now I'm surrounded by less clutter. That kind of beauty and freedom is far greater than anything.

There becomes a time when you're deep in meaningless routine, whether you're stressed or just lacking personal growth, you need to ask yourself: what do I spend the majority of my time doing? Does it align with my values? Is it necessary? What do I enjoy most? Dig deep and then take action.
Regardless of where you're at, you can simplify your life & create a life you love.

Ladies, Vinted & I also have a special giveaway for you! WIN a $30 Vinted credit to score some free items! To enter, comment on this post with your Vinted user name. You must be a Vinted member 

to enter...so go ahead & sign up! If you have any questions about how the credit works, read the

FAQ on Vinted's website.

De-Clutter Your Closet

I have a healthy and bold challenge for you all. You know your messy and overflowing closet you keep trying to ignore? Let's dig deep and actually take a look at what we've got...and nope this isn't your normal organization post...I'm just flat out encouraging you to simplify your wardrobe. Time to de-own the unnecessary.

I mean, let's be honest, your closet could use a breather anyhow. Besides, the seasons are changing and it's the perfect time to take a good hard look at what we should keep and also items we don't need. Getting rid of the items you don't wear will also help you to easily find & locate the ones you love, (sad but true).  Remember, The less external clutter in our lives = the less internal clutter.
If you want to read more about why it's good to simplify your closet, check out what cool dude, Joshua Becker has to say.

Vinted - Buy, Sell & Trade Clothing

Another HUGE plus, here's where Vinted comes in, you can sell your rad items you used to love but just don't wear anymore! De-owning is the easiest way to organize and you'd be making money selling your clothes on Vinted! Also, you can get rid of a handful of items and then maybe buy a great neutral fall sweater or denim from a fellow Vintie. Win - Win!

My Fall Style

This season I'm trying to focus on a limited color palette, neutrals (as pictured above and here). This makes it easier to mix and match my clothing. I also, picked up a great pair of Free People bells on Vinted from Vintie, Heyitsaprilll. Absolutely perfect!

"Live less out of habit and more out of intent." This is where I'm at.
I've been letting this phrase guide me lately...because of that decision, it's been a great year. Daily, I ask myself how I'm applying this to my life and what it truly means to live this out. Other questions include: "how do I want to spend my time?" and, "Am I doing anything of actual value?" Let's be clear, I'm not just talking about life outside of a desk job... I'm talking about lifestyle...your relationships, how you spend each day and who you want to be. You have a choice.
I used to spend a lot of time wishing for more time to do the things I actually wanted to do or cared about doing, when in fact, I just wasn't being intentional about how I used my time each day. My day was based around a desk job I absolutely hated. It wore me out. That job was some decent experience in my field but wasn't necessary in the grand scheme of things. It held no value. I only kept habitually showing up day after day to fund the lifestyle I had created and been taught to have, a typical American lifestyle of having excessive objects and things which led to wanting more and more. In the mean time, I highly enjoyed my design endeavors and community involvement outside of that desk job. Why was that?...because it's based on growth and relationships. I decided those were the things I wanted to pursue because those things have lasting value.
Currently, I can (happily and excitedly) say I'm boldly restructuring my life around living intentionally.

I'm starting a new series here at Glam & Grace. I'd like to give you a glimpse of my journey with Minimalism & intentionally living with less. This, of course, includes why I walked away from my desk job and why I'm leaving my 2,000 sq foot house. Sounds a little crazy, right? Well, I guess it depends what you value (that's been my phrase lately). It's a very different lifestyle choice from the typical Americana sense of more, More, MORE!

Minimalism is about clearing the clutter of life and focusing on what's important. The past few years I've really been struggling with what it actually looks like to live out what I value most in life and I personally value my faith. I've been attempting to consistently take steps outside of my comfort zone to grow and learn what it's really like to live out what I believe.

I follow some pretty cool minimalist bloggers which you should check out: Becoming Minimalist and  The Minimalists. These dudes are pretty legit and I love reading what they have to say.

Right now I'm currently in the process of minimizing what I own and moving into a smaller space. I should have some interesting posts coming your way. Stay turned for the journey, guys and feel free to join me if you'd like.