Let's Talk "Personal-Development" and French Chic

...since I refuse to call it "Self-Improvement."
That would imply that I need fixed. I don't need to be fixed. I'm just building on what's already present. Like the wardrobe project. Fine tuning.
I'm always reading personal development books. Reading blogs to get information to help me tighten up my act. Finding groups and forums to engage with like-minded people.
Be it from something as simple to closet organization to living for the first time on my own, there is always something that can be simplified. After all, why re-invent the wheel?

Where am I going with this?

Years ago, I joined a Yahoo Group called French Chic. The first version of it. Then joined the second encarnation after the first one up and vanished one day. Was not a contributing member. Really. All I did was read and make copies of whatever interested me but I'm not French and really could not bring myself to pretend something that I was not. So I stopped going.

Until this past weekend.

Instead of fixating on the fact that I'm not French, I decided to take what I could use and discard the rest.

Where am I going with this?

Alot of what I'm doing right now as far as getting my affairs in order and just tightening up my act in general is based on ideas I got from the FC group.

Don't worry, I'm not going to be dropping French phases in the middle of my English blog unless it's a quote.

More on The Big Wardrobe Purge

I was wanting to fine tune my wardrobe and had no idea how to go about it. Other than get rid of what doesn't fit my body. So I started reading different blogs a couple of days ago to hopefully get some kind of idea or plan and got hooked on the Dead Fleurette blog. One of her posts has a list of her entire wardrobe separated by category.
How brilliant!
So I made a document with each category, put plenty of space between each category and am using that to organize. All that I'm listing right now are the non-negotiables. My skinny jeans, flowy hippie-shirts, cardigans, workout gear and so on... Everything else is going to be based on whether or not they get worn during the Summer. If not, to Goodwill they go.
Then I start the process again come Autumn.
I still have way too much stuff but the amount is now somewhat manageable. Hoping to fine-tune some more in the coming weeks. One thought I've been swinging around is to have separate lists for seasons since we do get all four of them here in northwest Pennsylvania.
Anyway, today's project will be shoe purging. The winter gear will wait a little longer.

Back to Basics

This blog started off as a beauty blog. I really wanted it to be that but I couldn't justify the huge amounts of makeup and skincare I would have to buy in order to make it truly successful. So, I threw in the towel on that.
But I like makeup, skincare, perfume and clothes so if I get something that I consider worth talking about, I'm going to do a post on it.

More to come...

Clothing Purge V 1.0

Today I started culling my wardrobe. By that I mean I'm going through everything in my wardrobe and getting rid of what I do not plan on wearing again. So far one big Hefty bag is filled.
My basic wardrobe is pretty good which helps. Have to get a few things but not very many.
Also have some good bags.
Have to go downstairs tomorrow and start going through the winter stuff.
This is fun!

What is Well-Preserved?

I guess it's time to come up with some kind of mission statement or something for this blog. Or at least, give it some direction.
The past three years have changed me from someone with no self-worth to a scatter-brained twit and now to someone who is growing into herself.

So what does "well-preserved" mean to me?

From a non-physical sense, someone who is:
-Engaged with life
-Knows and accepts his/her self. Flaws and all
-Constantly learning and growing
-Takes care of their emotional/spiritual needs
-Does not need validation from anyone else

From a physical body sense, someone who:
-Takes care of his/her health.
-Eats a quality diet of real food.
-Exercises. Not where it interferes with the quality of life but to maintain health and musculature.
-Takes care of skin
-Looks well groomed
-Neatly dressed

From a lifestyle sense, someone who:
-Lives within their means
-Has few close friends
-Lives with integrity
-Keeps personal and private lives separate
-Lives in a clutter free environment

This is obviously a work in progress. But it will do for a start.