wardrobe update

I have read. And re-read. And Pinned and googled, anything and everything about minimalist wardrobe. There several main stream solutions for this. There is project 333 where you choose 33 pieces of clothes to use for three months. Emphasis is mainly on finding items that match that you can keep combining and changing outfits all the time. And then there is 10 item wardrobe by the Daily connoisseur, who two times a year creates a 10 item wardrobe of beautiful outfits and then sticks to those until the next season. None of these seem to fit perfectly. But I think I am finding my path to my minimalist closet.

I don't need to have everything match. 10 items seem a bit extreme, but what attracts me in that one is that she focuses on rather having 10 perfect, high quality outfits that hundreds of H&M pieces that unravel within months. A good example is underwear. I have been struggling to find good underwear in Tanzania. Firstly all except one set from Finland has lived its life. Sadly last time I was in Finland I didn't focus on quality, and living in 30+ degrees with uncomfortable underwear is not fun. Learned that lesson. The one pair that remains was a gift from the hubby in 2010. It is still like new, and crazy comfortable. So good quality items definitely are the key.

So is it 33 or 10 items that I will go with. Actually I think it will be close to 30, excluding (as the "rules" state) lounge wear, underwear, workout gear: that I currently need several because of the daily coaching sessions. And a couple of nicer dresses that I keep around for the weddings, embassy events etc that seem to be somewhat frequent.

This step took me a lot longer than I assumed it would. Actually identifying the clothes that I want and need. I actually had to think about the weather, and my life style as well as the style I want to portray. I think I am somewhere between fun and chic. I want to look like an adult: put together and polished to a certain extent but I also want to look 32 (soon 33) instead of 52. So finding the balance between fun, young, energetic and chic, polished, poised has been my challenge. BUT I finally feel like I have been able to identify the list of clothes that don't overwhelm me in quantity and options but also offer me enough variety to work with my different roles.

So without further rambling here you go, my updated minimalist wardrobe plan:

If you would go through your closet and choose just the clothes that you love, really truly love, how many would that amount up to? Could you live with just those? Do you think it would make you life easier or harder? 

I love the fact I can get dressed in seconds every morning, that everything (except those jeans) are super comfortable, and fit me perfectly. More variety? Maybe at some point, but for now I'm happy with my selection - or will be once it is complete.

Inspiration board

I've stumbled (in my endless blog reading) several times on the internet into Inspiration boards. These are not new years resolutions, but thought to inspire you and keep you on track, as well as give the room for your mind to travel to new extremes instead of going the adult route of why CAN'T this idea or a goal work.

I loved how Christy (as if I know her :P) wrote on the meaningfulmeandering.com about inspiration boards:

First of all, if you are rolling your eyes and thinking this is just another “time-wasting touchy-feely hippy-dippy” exercise, I challenge you to hang in there with me and read on. This is not about giving self-hugs and visualizing a trust fall with yourself. This is a truly effective way to unstick your overly programmed thoughts and perceptions and discover or rediscover pieces to a larger picture that realistically illustrate your true nature, desires, creativity, and even fears.

I'm going to have a very heavy couple of months of work up until our holiday trip to Finland. I can't wait, and I want to keep my eyes on the price but also enjoy the ride. So I wanted to try to make one. Instead of printing one out and figuring a place for it, I've put it as my desktop background, something that I am bound to look at several times per day. I did it over the weekend, and every time I close my browser and see a glimpse my spirits are uplifted. It contains motivation to work out, quotes to work hard and believe in myself. Something that provides focus on my work in the world of social media and my gymnastics business. But it also contains picture of winter, to uplift me when I'm tired and need a reason to work hard (Christmas in Finland) but there is also a silly one of perfect nude manicured nails to remind me not to stress out and bite my nails :). It is not the end of the world, but it's a piece of my world.

Try to sit down and think - what would keep you inspired and motivated without rules and boundaries that limit us in life. What would you put on your inspiration board?

Trying new things, and finding myself

This year has been hard, and amazing, and amazingly hard. While I think we actually haven't struggled with culture shock, and there haven't been any major happenings, it is still hard. I don't know if I know how to explain it, I feel like making the big move, both physical and mental, has changed me and forced me to look into the mirror.

And while it has been hard, as I said it also has been amazing. Living in a new country, facing new situations has forced me to find myself. I've been on this path for a couple of years now, but coming here actually has escalated the process. I realize I don't know myself very well. I don't know if you do, but I suspect that many of us haven't had the time to think about it for quite some time. Here are 32 silly but important facts that I have discovered this year.

    One of the most amazing moments in my life. This beach was truly untouched, the sand so soft that you sink in by 30 cm with each step and the water so hot as if you are taking a bath. Yes, I swam with my clothes on, I wasn't about to miss that opportunity.

1. As I am writing this I am 32 years old. I feel old and young at the same time. Random.

2. I try to exercise 5 days a week, but most of the time it's more like 3 times a week.

3. I would love to buy all organic, but unfortunately relocation and limited funds have made this impossible.

4. I admire minimalistic living. I am trying to find my way in that world myself. Since our possessions are actually very limited it is more about fighting the feeling that I need to buy this, that or something else. I am doing excellent in my closet, not so well with house decor. 

5. I struggle in new situations, but once I put my gameface on I can get things done.

6. I miss my family a lot, almost as much as my bathtub ;)

7. My mothering skills are put to test in the heat of Dar es Salaam. A/C or seabreeze makes me a better mother.

8. I was able to go from idea to execution with starting my own gymnastics club within 3 weeks.

The kids loved their first class. There is almost 60 kids enrolled in the classes.

9. My hair is curly now. And I love it.

10. I use baking soda, vinegar, soap and oil as part of my beauty routine for my hair and skin. They are doing better than ever.

11. I still struggle to breath through my mouth, I suspect it is because of my years of thumb sucking. This made snorkeling extra hard, but I loved how I was able to face my fear, just to get that amazing experience.

12. I still don't know exactly what do I want to do in my future, but when I picture it, it's starting to look like a fuzzy water color picture. So I am on the right path.

13. I am happier now living our simple life, than I was in my big new house, driving our big new car. 

14. I am more connected with my life than I was in Finland.

15. I get physically sick if I push myself too much. Fever, nausea, you name it. I have learned to pace myself. A little.

16. I start biting my nails and sweating immediately when I have to think about money stuff.

17. I am trying to start budgeting our spending. I want to be in control of my wallet, not the other way around.

18. I want want want to go to Finland over christmas, but I am trying to be reasonable about it. We will try our best.

19. Pinterest is my newest addiction. I can get lost in it, but try to control it to times when kids are sleeping or not around.

20. I am grateful that the kids have "Afrikka", what they call their grandparents place, and that it is a 5 minute drive from home. They love to go there, there is always alot of people to take care of them.

21. I am trying to do new things in my life. Next year I want to commit into a swahili class and pole dancing class.

22. I am in love with passion fruits. They make my day and luckily are super cheap.

23. The next thing I want to buy is an oven. But I am battling in my head on is it practical, do I really neeeed it, or do I just want it (this atleast shows some personal growth). 

24. My kids are turning into big boys, and I am desparate to have another baby. (Trying to quiet this need for a while still. I don't think we are settled in yet, and I'm definitely not ready to start the vomit fest again.) 

25. I have realized that all of my business passions will not be fullfilled with one job. I will need to combine many different jobs.

26. I am learning about social media as a business tool. It is suprisingly hard.

27. I painted our wall with a beautiful three colored geometric design. It was the first time I painted a wall.

28. Knowledge is a strange thing. On the other hand I love it, on the other hand it fears me. 

29. I love the new design of my blog. If only I could figure out how to edit the menus.

30. I love doing things by myself (llike painting the wall), so much here requires still help from other people, so my little DIY's make me feel empowered.

31. I love my husband and kids more than anything. The best moment of my day is saying I love you and they reply alot alot alot or infinity much <3

32. My new motto is fake it 'til you make it. Starting new businesses, in a new market make it very handy. :)

    My very first snorkeling :) definitely won't be the last. I saw a purple sea star immediately after entering the water..