heroinetraining-blog

[heroinetraining-blog]

I’m Obsessed with Daily life because it pertains to all of us. ✨ No matter what you’re reaching for, or what you're working towards - the steps towards them happen in your daily life. ✨ When you picture the 'successful’ version of yourself, who is living the dream you strive for - that version of yourself will participate in daily life too. ✨ If you focus on your journey one day - one minute - at a time, the future will fall into place. ✨ My old courses used to required hours of time each week. ✨ Everyday Wonderland takes one minute of your time each week (and costs $7 a month). ✨ How are you overcomplicating your journey? Your happiness? Your career goals? How can you make it simpler? ✨ I would love to help you answer these questions this month in Everyday Wonderland. ✨ The gates are open today only. Visit everydaywonder.land (link in bio) to explore more and sign up 🌟

[heroinetraining-blog]

Here I am on my last day at Disney World, in my pajamas! 😴 More on my minimalist wardrobe: 🌟 Most of my clothing is multi-purpose - able to be dressed up or down for whichever occasion. Pajamas are my luxury item, as they are just for sleeping. 🌎 That is, until I discovered @atla.is! Their Flight Pyjamas are designed for travel, and perfectly acceptable to be worn outside the house. Plus, all their creations are ‘heirloom pieces’, and my jammas came with a mending kit! ✈️ On my last day of travel I usually wear the top I’ve been using as a pajama top, and now I can do the same with the bottoms too! 💕 (Not sponsored, just Atla.’s biggest fan!)

[heroinetraining-blog]

I was waiting to meet a friend at a lovely cafe around the corner. With a pocket full of nothing but money to purchase a tea, I arrived early, and selected a seat. ☕️ The venue was perfectly situated, as I had an appointment next door at the end of the hour. ✨ My friend was running late. No problem. I took the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful magazines the cafe carried. 📖 Half an hour passed — we discovered that she was waiting at a different coffeeshop. 😯 With mini adventures on my mind, I granted myself the gift of the rest of the hour to enjoy my tea and spontaneous reading materials on my own. 🎁 Here's the funny thing: 💌 If I'd intended to have a solo outing, it wouldn't have had the same delicious spontaneity. 💖 The fact that this mini adventure was formed out of an obstacle made it all the more fulfilling, wondrous, and free of pressure to be anything. 🌟 This Thursday, I'm hosting my live, complimentary masterclass, 'What Would a Heroine Do?'. 👑 I’ll teach you the art of the mini adventure, and how to turn obstacles - like a location mix-up - into opportunities to be your own heroine. 💕 Join me: RSVP (for free!) at heroinetraining.com/masterclass (link in bio).

[heroinetraining-blog]

Writing + Music + Coffee 🖊 My formula for getting into the flow of my day and shaking off unwanted or uncertain energy. 🎵 Usually, this ritual is all I need to get back on track. But not always. ☕️ I’ve learned to accept that sometimes what usually works does not. When I reach the end of my playlist and I’m still tangled up, this is no need to panic. It’s all part of the process. 🌟 P.S. I miss this writing nook I found at @villabenvenutilucca at @kittycavalier’s retreat last year. ✨

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If you look closely, you’ll see that I’m wearing a shirt, skirt, AND dress in this photo! ✨ I usually travel with two outfits, so I can wash one while wearing the other. Sometimes though, I wear everything I brought at once 😂 ✨ Traveling with less lets me travel further. Because we brought only a backpack to Paris, we were able to walk further and stop for coffee along the way. ✨ I’d love to help you carry less on your travels. What packing obstacles do you face? What questions do you have about traveling light?

[heroinetraining-blog]

If you're a blogger or creater, I recommend taking a few minutes to review your archive of published work from the year. I did this, and was reminded of the lessons learned and experiences I had each month. I curated my favourites in a Best of Heroine Training 2018 post, now on my homepage at HeroineTraining.com (link in bio) 🌟

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One of my most memorable mornings in December was spending Christmas Eve morning with @helen.c.stark at @hellolovecrumbs. (She also taught me lettering! That’s her workbook in the photo). She invited us to bring art projects, and have a leisurely time, chatting and drawing. Here’s to more art dates in 2019! ☕️ What are your favourite activities to share with friends?

[heroinetraining-blog]

My textbook for minimalism. Whenever I get bogged down in the details of daily life, and the frustrating pace of home projects, I think of Thoreau in his cabin in the woods, with minimal furniture and maximal time in nature. He was the first author I read who inspired to be a personal development writer 🌟 At the beginning of the year I wonder - who inspired the beginnings of what you love to do now? 📗 this beautiful volume of one of my favourite books from @goldenharebooks, who always have exactly what I need

[heroinetraining-blog]

Since welcoming home our bouncy pup Snug, I've done more running around aimlessly than I have in a long time. Steve and I both love adventure, but before Snug that meant following a route from start to finish. She reminds us to play, and find our own way. ✨ PLAY is this month's theme in Everyday Wonderland. Read about 7 more ways to add play to your day at HeroineTraining.com & link in my bio!

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Press play on my Christmas mix (and 7 other ways to add play to your day) on the blog today! HeroineTraining.com & link in bio. ✨ Merry Christmas!

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(This is my Blair Waldorf in winter look.) Remember when all Serena wanted for Christmas was a tree, and all Dan wanted was snow? And they made it happen for each other? Gossip Girl may be glam, but the lessons are shockingly simple at times. Happy holidays, upper East siders. Xoxo. 💋🎄❄️

[heroinetraining-blog]

I tend to find that the rush leading up to Christmas is about others, while the space between Christmas and the New Year I have more time for myself, reflecting on the year's end and thinking ahead to the new year's beginning. This year I'm running my signature masterclass in that special space: Heroine Training 101 will get you ready for the new year - without all the pressures of overplanning and over-resoloving! RSVP to mini adventure with me (it's free!) at HeroineTraining.com/101 (link in bio).

[heroinetraining-blog]

A year ago I had to draw boxes into my schedule to make sure I prioritised my writing first. I no longer have to do this because this habit is so ingrained. I know for sure that I love to write. Giving myself the time to do that daily is a better goal than any 'achievement' from having written. If you struggle with setting New Year's Resolutions, check out my new video on why they don't work and what to do instead. HeroineTraining.com & link in bio!

[heroinetraining-blog]

Favourite Christmas song? I'm working on my fourth annual holiday mix! If you're on my mailing list, the link is coming your way soon! ✨ If not, sign up at HeroineTraining.com/spell (link in bio) 🌟

[heroinetraining-blog]

Snug turned one! And yes I match my outer wear to my dog. 😛 In fact, you can knit with Samoyed hair so one day we will all have matching Sammie winter coats! But our criteria for getting a dog was simple: I wanted a soft dog, and Steve wanted a large dog to take on adventures. We love huskies, but learned that they prefer to live in at least a pack of two, so we discovered another snow dog breed, the Samoyed. Sammies are smiley and enjoy the company of humans. I think Snug in particular is an introvert (like me); she is very friendly but needs her alone time to recharge.

[heroinetraining-blog]

Anyone else struggle with the 'where are you from?' question? It's complicated! I've had many homes: 🇺🇸 born in Virginia, hence the ongoing Five Guys nostalgia 🇺🇸 raised on roller coasters near King's Island in Ohio 🇺🇸 homeschooled in Boston, Massachusetts with the city as my history class 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 read English at Exeter College, Oxford, aka Jordan College 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 practically lived at the theatre in London - especially Punchdrunk - inspiring an academic career change 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 returned to Edinburgh after spending a summer as a fringe critic to study the local theatre scene. And here I am! As for these mugs, I wrote about them on the blog today - link in bio!

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Edinburgh winter can get a bit miserable, but I have a plan! ✨ Every year I have a style project. I choose one piece that is both warm AND fabulous and glam through the grumpy weather. ✨ Pictured here is last year's statement piece, a vintage scarf from @armstrongs_vintage_edinburgh. See the rest of my style projects at HeroineTraining.com & link in bio! ✨ What's on your winter statement piece wish list? ✨