Cents of Style Blog

We’ve made it to August. There have been 10 Fridays thus far this summer. I have officially taken 4 “off.” And the word “off” has taken on a new meaning for me, what I thought was going to mean, “self-care, no work, mom” just means, “different work.” And instead of chastising myself for this, I’m actually really thankful for this space to do different “work.” The “mom work” of swimming pools and outings. The “writers work” of putting thoughts on paper. The “personal work” of exercise, alone time and journaling. The “CEO work” of employee alignment and strategy. Taking these days “off” has allowed me space to pursue each of these endeavors.

The Gift in our Flaws

I spent this past weekend in my hometown of Boise, Idaho. And although I have lived in Utah for nearly 20 years, Boise is home. I gathered with my immediate family, 33 of us, to reconnect with one another in the city that made us. And as I was there, I couldn’t help but think of the lessons I learned in this city and the people who taught them to me. 

The biggest lesson I have learned, so far,  in my Summer of Slow, so far, is ironically that “I’m not so good at slow.”

Chase Courtney Brown

When I was pregnant with Ryder, I decided I wanted to cut my hair off into a pixie. My hair was half way down my back and it didn’t “fit” my personal style…at all. Most of the time it wound up in a ponytail, because I was never cool enough to master the top knot.

 I was in a meeting in early May, when my executive business coach asked me, “If you could have anything in the next 3 months, what would it be?” A thought crossed my mind and it was so unlike “me” that I was going to deny it or say another answer. He then proceeded to say, “not what you think you SHOULD do or NEED to do, but what do you WANT?” So in an effort to be honest with my feelings, I blurted out, “A break. I want a summer of SLOW.”

Numbers. We love numbers. We love to follow them, let them tell us others and our own importance.

Sometimes the thought of being limited to only the 12 items in your modern capsule collection is daunting. Most of us love choices. Options. Like a salad bar. Sometimes we're in the mood for ranch, and sometimes balsamic is where it's at. Does that mean that we still don't put lettuce, cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes as the base of your salad? No. Because the basics don't change. Just what we put on top does. 

With that in mind-- for our Summer Capsule collection, we decided to mix it up! (Pun intended!) We wanted to essentially give you four basic capsule wardrobe elements for summer- and show you how to mix them together and seperate with extra "toppings." 

If you've ever stood in front of your jam-packed closet and exclaimed "I have nothing to wear!", the capsule wardrobe is calling your name, sister. Simplify your choices to make getting ready a breeze. Here's the basic four pieces a great 2018 summer capsule wardrobe can be created around. 

A fog. A heavy fog that you can feel pressing on you. Have you ever felt that there was something keeping you from being what you know in every cell of your body that you’re destined to do? That bright, piercing desire to go from where you are to where you desperately want to be… and there’s just something in the way. Something big.  Something you can’t quite see through or around. But you can nearly feel whatever is waiting for you on the other side.