My Dream Closet

I love Instagram and Pinterest.  They allow me to live vicariously through those living the lifestyle I aspire to.  A minimal home, financial security, and great style are all things I hope to someday lay claim to.

When I recently came across MakeSpace and their new "dream closet" idea, I was really excited to make a vision board of sorts for my very own minimal and beautiful closet!

Why don't you come along for a virtual tour?

Colour Scheme

You know me, black and white all the way.  White walls, an industrial concrete floor, and a plain white rug set the stage for my closet dream.

I don't dream of a massive space - a medium size room will do nicely.

High ceilings and a wall of windows along with some vintage lightbulbs bring the industrial minimalism together.

image from who what wear

Of course, I always love a little hint of life - so a large plant or two bring in that tiny touch of colour which is otherwise absent.

And an oversized mirror leans on one wall, reflecting the space.

image from who what wear

Storage

I love to look at my clothes.  I spend the time curating my capsule wardrobes and they become an external representation of where I am in my life.  The clothes I wear on a day to day basis would be displayed on two simple clothing racks, in a gradient from light to dark.  

image from remodelista

A simple chest holds my off season clothing, and a small modern chest of drawers holds my undergarments and accessories.

A small white vanity by the window displays my favourite makeup and jewellery pieces and is the perfect place to get ready in the morning.

Wardrobe

My clothing pieces are all ethically sourced and vegan, from fair trade factories and made with sustainable materials.  They are made to last.

Simple cuts in black, white, and gray are matched in infinite combinations.

A classic white tee.  Black skinny jeans.  A chunky grey sweater.  White sneakers.

A black pencil skirt, a white blouse, and black pumps.

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Pieces are timeless, with an Audrey Hepburn feel, yet somehow current.

Equally feminine and masculine, the clothes are structured and soft, form fitting and relaxed.

Want to see more of my favourite outfit inspiration?  All of these outfit shots come from my 'Style' Pinterest board!

Vibe

High quality speakers play my favourite music (the beatles, the beachboys, hamilton the musical) while I get ready under the watchful eyes of my two kittens.

My fiance sits at the small chair and table where I did my morning pages and drinks his coffee as we chat about the day ahead.

A green smoothie in hand, I pick out my outfit for the day and touch up my lipstick.

I get my man to take a couple shots of my outfit with our Fuji for my Instagram, and head out the door to take on the day.

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Now, I realize that this minimalist lifestyle doesn't work for everyone.  I mean, even I still have trouble parting with more colourful clothing that I just don't wear anymore!  An awesome option for that is to store your off-season clothing (or clothing you're just not too sure about anymore, but aren't ready to donate) off-site with a storage company like MakeSpace.  They're a new full-service storage facility that can be managed from your phone!  (So much more convenient than storage companies I've dealt with in the past.)  They make it super easy to have your items picked up, stored, or delivered back to you, with just a couple of taps.  Check out their self storage locations here!

I hope you enjoyed today's post and I would LOVE to hear about your dream closet in the comments below!

Until next time,

Vegan Drama On YouTube

Lately, the vegan community on YouTube has been rife with drama.  Today's video is a little rant about why this behaviour is destructive and needs to stop.

As always, watch the video here or check it out on YouTube!

Rant over.

Until next time,

Get To Know Me Tag

It's been over a year since Plant Based Bride went live, and some of you have been with me from the very beginning!  I thought today was as good a day as any to get a bit more personal and do the 'Get To Know Me Tag' on my YouTube channel!

Watch here or on YouTube to see my answers to these 30 personal questions!  (Don't forget to ask me any other questions you may have in the comments!)

YouTubers I mentioned in the video...
Rhian Hy: https://www.youtube.com/user/rhianhy
BananaBlondie108: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfffzKIBXWK6h3FTqADLUfA
Bite Size Vegan: https://www.youtube.com/user/BiteSizeVegan
Femme Head: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRxM7IbVgPEOPvi_2qBd3mw
Happy Healthy Vegan: https://www.youtube.com/user/HappyHealthyVegan
Rachel Aust: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvIaf-RCk5mQiH8rI0rODlg
Kick-ass Compassion: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc43z_LzqazE3E-BitsqqAQ
Lavendaire: https://www.youtube.com/user/Lavendaire
Light By Coco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp12IFoANz_tEY6YgZFqohA
Mark Crilley: https://www.youtube.com/user/markcrilley
Naturally Stephanie: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJwqpwIzRiAR1eglS3bguQ

Watch my Q&A #3 for more about how Jason and I met! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAQ_sGlXsfE

Until next time,

How I Cleared My Skin

I have always struggled with my skin.  I haven't had serious acne, but it has been constant.  Since I hit puberty I have had steady breakouts.  As soon as one pimple or grouping of pimples healed, more would appear.  Not matter what harsh chemicals I used topically, no matter what hormones I ingested orally, my skin just wouldn't get clear.  Even going vegan wasn't enough.

But for the first time in my entire adult life, I feel comfortable ditching the concealer and foundation and letting my skin show.

So what changed?

ONE  I cleaned up my diet.

Yes, I was already vegan.  But no, my diet wasn't (and still isn't perfect).  

Cutting out high fat foods, oil, and too many packaged and junky foods has done WONDERS for my skin.

I also started drinking a lot more water and getting in as many green smoothies and juices as I could.

Check out my Instagram and YouTube to see what I'm eating day to day!

Hello, October! 💀🍁 What are you most looking forward to in the month ahead? I’ll leave my answer in the comments! 🍂

What would you want fo sip from this mug? ☕️ Hot apple cider? Chai tea? Pumpkin spice latte? 🍂

Continuing on with my fall-loving basic-b self... here’s a fall gratitude spread in my @archerandolive morning sun square notebook! 🍂 What’s your favourite thing about the fall time? 🎃🍁🕯 Swipe up in my stories to see the blog post where I walk you through the steps to make this spread 🍂 and use my affiliate code PBB10 for 10% off your @archerandolive purchase!

If being a basic fall-loving candle-obsessed white girl is wrong I don’t wanna be right 🍂🕯

The rolling weekly... where all the nitty gritty planning goes on in my bullet journal ✍🏻 The left side is for day-specific events and tasks, and the right side is for a weekly task list. I have a dedicated video explaining the method on my YouTube channel if you want a deep dive! Tap the link in my bio and scroll down for the direct link to the video. What kind of weekly layout do you prefer in your bullet journal? Or are you more of a daily person? Or are you like my husband, using your monthly spread exclusively? I’m always so fascinated to see how different our bujos are to suit our individual needs! ✨ Notebook: @notebook_therapy gentle giant B5 - affiliate code PBB10 for 10% off! Paints: @winsorandnewton designer’s gouache Nail polish: @lightslacquer citrine

Get you someone who looks at you like Yoda and I look at each other 👁👄👁

A little teaser for you 👀 My October Plan With Me is up on my YouTube channel now! Swipe up in my stories to watch 💀

Rocking my newest @analuisany pieces ✨ what’s your go-to daily jewelry? My necklace is the Ciel Locket (soon to contain tiny portraits of my cats), my earrings are the Rox Small Hoops, Mini Twisted Hoops, and Milo Huggies, and the jewelry case is their new green velvet Travel Jewelry Case 💫 Get 10% off your purchase with my code “ElizabethT10” and curate your own unique look with fairly priced sustainable pieces from @analuisany ✨ tap the link in my bio or swipe up in my stories to shop! #analuisapartner #gifted

The inner cover of my new BuJo, a constant reminder that we can always start again ✨ 2020 has made so many of us feel like our lives are on hold, but even with everything being thrown at us we can find a way to persevere. It certainly won’t be easy, but the older I get the more I find that life is largely made up of these moments where we must choose the path we wish to take to overcome the obstacles in our way. Don’t wait for 2021 to get back to living. Choose to leap into your new beginning on your own terms. 2020 won’t defeat us. Even if you can’t find a way to take that step for yourself right now, take it for the good of someone else. I’m setting up a recurring donation to @rainbowrailroad - a Canadian organization saving the lives of LGBTQIA people around the world (discovered thanks to @canadasdragrace 🇨🇦). @blklivesmatter also deserves your donation if you have a few dollars to spare. Let me know how you’re taking a step for yourself or someone else to tip the scales of 2020 towards a net positive impact in the comments below. With kindness and action we can be the change and make the world a better place for all of us❤️

Enjoying the afternoon sun ☀️ how’s your Monday going?

TWO  I cleaned out my medicine cabinet.

No more hormonal birth control.

I went on the pill to clear my skin, and it never worked.  When I realized that my hormonal birth control wasn't vegan shortly after making the transition, I decided to get off it for good.

And low and behold, not only did I drop a couple pounds without any other changes, but my skin got a little less rebellious!

That's a win-win if you ask me.

Do you want to know what I do for birth control now that I'm not on the pill?  Let me know in the comments below and I'll write a post or film a video on the topic!

THREE  I simplified my routine.

Bye-bye, 14 step skin care routines.  Bye-bye, products with 2,000 ingredients.  Bye-bye, harsh chemicals.

Hello, my new favourite thing.

My skin care routine went from a chore to the easiest thing I do every day.

It's literally one step.  I use one product.  That product is 100% natural and has only one ingredient.

How awesome is that??

At the end of the night, I head to the bathroom, turn on the warm water, plop some oil in the palm of my damp hand, and massage it into my face.  It removes my makeup and cleanses my skin, and moisturizes too.  I pat or air dry.  

The end.

This is BY FAR the best thing I have ever done for my face.

My favourite oils?

Jojoba, avocado, and sweet almond.

FOUR  I chilled out.

I took a step back, took a deep breath in, and a long breath out.

I am doing my best to remember that clearing my skin is a journey, not a destination.

I am pressing pause on my perfectionism and giving myself a break.

I still get pimples, of course.  But overall?  My skin is 10x better than it has been in almost a decade.

And that is MORE than good enough for me.

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What does your skin care routine look like?  Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,