New year, new series! I spent a lot of time thinking about how Lemon Stripes would look this year over the break and based on your responses to my survey, I decided to commit to 5 monthly series here on the blog.
This year I have a more organized system for my content calendar and will be scheduling time towards the end of each month to plan content for the following month, giving myself enough time to shoot and write each post, so here’s hoping I actually stick to everything below.
1. Sustainability Challenges: Last year I shared wellness challenges each month where I’d challenge myself and you to things like like meditating every day or not drinking alcohol for a month. I was excited about them but they were kind of a bust so I cut them out halfway through the year.
I love challenges where we can all support and encourage each other to be better and I’ve been so impressed with how far you have taken the water bottle challenge. So I’m turning it into a monthly series of attainable, easy-to-navigate challenges that you can complete in your life to reduce your carbon footprint in one way or another. I’ll be announcing January’s challenge tomorrow and I really hope that you will join me in it!
2. 5 Random Things: This was my favorite monthly series last year because it was fun to share my quick thoughts on 5 things I was really loving each and every month. It always felt very organic and natural to write and you guys loved it so it will be sticking around. This year, though, I’ll be changing it up so it isn’t just 5 products. It will include TV shows, books, podcasts, and products and I’ll continue to cap it at 5 things. So it’s basically Life Lately and 5 Random Things rolled into one.
3. Recipes: I consistently posted recipes last year and will continue this through 2020 based on your feedback. I love to cook and create concoctions in my kitchen so this is always fun for me too. And if you want more recipe content, check out the recipes highlight on my Instagram page. I do a lot more 0n-the-fly food content there.
4. Fitness Posts with Anel: It is kind of crazy that I have a fitness expert living in my home but I don’t use him for content. My husband knows more about working out and the human body than anyone I’ve ever met. He’s constantly reading books, going to classes, and listening to podcasts to gain more knowledge on things like how to avoid back pain (for me!), not losing strength as you age, and post-partum workouts. He and I are sitting down later this week to map out the content he is going to create for Lemon Stripes this year. It will most likely be a mix of workouts and tips.
5. Wear it 3 Ways: To be honest I had a hard time with this one. Half of you loved my re-wear it posts and half of you said they were your least favorite series when you took my survey. So I’m amping it up and taking it in the direction of my last few re-wear it posts by styling one piece from my closet 3 ways. This will showcase how to wear one item of clothing more than once and forces me to get a little more creative. I really want to encourage all of us (myself included) to re-wear clothing that we already own in different ways instead of buying new clothes for every occasion. And I think this series showcases that well.
Bonus: Decor As We Go: Decorating my home is one of my all-time favorite things to do. If I had unlimited funds and time I would spend my days learning about interior design. I’m so fascinated by it and love how small tweaks and decisions can change your entire house. We are slowly but surely decorating our new house and instead of only showing you the finished product, I am going to give updates on rooms as we go. This series won’t necessarily be monthly but as projects come up, I’ll post them. For example I’m working on a gallery wall for our basement stairs right now and will post about how I did that on a budget in a few weeks when it’s all done.
Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see more consistently around these parts!
Photo by Julia Dags.
I really enjoyed your series featuring what you wore daily, I would always end up buying at least one thing after 🙂
I loved that one, too!
Agreed! This was my favorite thing you did last year and very original! Even if you just post the outfits with links and w/o commentary, I think it would be super helpful. I also bought some new items this way.
So funny that so many poeple loved it! I had a hard time keeping up because I tend to wear the same things every day but maybe I’ll post it once a month when I have enough good outfits to make a full post.
I think you have done a great job of trying to be more sustainable and I think every little thing we can do makes such a difference.
Regarding decorating your home-have you considered potentially trying to use more antiques, vintage, second hand and custom items? I am local to Fairfield County and there are SO many local resources. Custom is not necessarily more expensive (it is less expensive in many cases) and it helps small businesses. This does not have to be all or nothing. Buy what you love from Serena and Lily but also try to mix in some older/used items. It gives your home more character. I feel a huge part of being more sustainable is being cognizant of what we are putting in our homes. It may take a little longer but is with it.
I was going to ask something similar to Kate’s post, as a tie in to sustainability.
I am *so* glad to see that “Wear it 3 Ways” made the cut! I’m trying to be more mindful of my budget and the environment by purchasing fewer pieces of clothing that are higher quality. One way that I’m doing that is only buying items that I can (and will) wear multiple ways, but I struggle finding inspiration sometimes. I can’t wait to follow along! I appreciate your content!
Really happy to hear this, Dane! I’ll try to do you proud 🙂
Love the “piece three ways” series!! I loved your Shop my Closet, but I think re-framing it as a “3-style challenge” keeps it fresh, AND encourages sustainability!! As you plan that one out, you could even share anything you’ve read about the impacts of not shopping/shopping less/shopping more sustainably so there’s some crossover!
Been a reader for years and years – can’t wait to see what’s here for me to gobble up in 2020 🙂
Thank you for telling me this. It helps to hear it! I will do my best for you 🙂
I’m so excited about all of these!
So glad to hear it! I am too 🙂
Does Anel know much about closing an ab separation post-partum? I have a 2 year old and still have a separation, even though I graduated from PT for it. Would love any tips!
He does! He actually helped mine (almost) completely heal. That is a great idea for a blog post. Adding it to our list. I’ll see if he has enough to say on the topic for a full post.
Sounds like something I would enjoy to read! I’ll follow you on Bloglovin! Looking forward to see what you do in the future.
I loved the food diary post if you’re continuing that!
I love writing those! I won’t make it a monthly series but will pepper them in seasonally for sure.
wonderful ideas- super excited to read along! And GREAT photo of you!! so healthy and happy!
Thanks Jennifer!
Definitely agree with the need for more thrifting and antiquing for furniture and decor. There are so many unique, well-made (much more than things made today!) items in antique stores. The waste and pollution of the furniture industry is also up there with fashion.
I hadn’t thought about that but will start looking into it for future projects. Good call!
Can’t wait to read these posts!!
And I can’t wait to write them!! xo
Love this! Especially the sustainability challenges! Where is your desk from?
Thanks Amy! My desk is from PB Teen (http://bit.ly/2RarfIM)