Welcome Home Taylor

The Ultimate Jean Tip

 

Last Friday my sister and I went shopping to purchase our first pair of Madewell jeans. I was on the hunt for a quality pair of black skinny pants that wouldn't fade or get ruined so quickly as many of my cheaper black jeans have. I tried on the most comfortable pair of jeans ever and before I left asked the worker if she had any tips for washing jeans so that they don't fade or shrink. And this is what she said:

Put them in an air-tight zip top bag and place them in the freezer over night.

Then the Heavens sang and my world made sense. The freezer disinfects them and brings them back to original size after being stretched out from wearing them. She also said that she originally read this on the Madewell blog, which should be mentioned for being so awesome. Now I'm going to go read their blog more often.

 

Have a great weekend!

Two Week Boost

Today I'm starting a two-week boost! What is a two-week boost you ask? Well, I want to get my butt in gear for eating a little healthier and working out a little bit more. The goal of this is not to lose weight or to be more physically attractive; I only want to feel better. I don't eat outrageously unhealthy (no fast food, no red meat, I don't overindulge), however, I do know that I don't eat enough fruits and veggies. So my main goal is to begin to incorporate those into my diet more. I've talked about my hip problems a while ago on here, but for those of you that don't know, I have a sore hip. There's nothing terribly wrong with it, but if I don't make a point to exercise it often, then I'm left in pain. A lot of pain. I fell off workout wagon a while back, but the past month I've been making a point to practice more pilates, which helps it a lot and I so I obviously want to continue with that.

My two-week plan will look like this:

• Alternate days for strength training and cardio (ex: Monday strength training 15-20 minutes; Tuesday run/jog 20-30 minutes; Wednesday strength training 15-20, so on and so forth). Sunday will be resting days.
• Incorporate more fruits and veggies into my diet. Make a point to have at least 2 of each a day.
• Start my day off with a healthy breakfast. I am already a breakfast fanatic, but I tend to lean more toward cereals, which are usually high in sugar. I'm making a point to eat whole grains and protein.
• Enjoy it! Which is the most important goal.
  

See? Nothing too crazy or absurd. If one day I become a health nut and an exercise junkie (nothing wrong with either of those things, in my opinion) then I will do it slowly. Right now, I enjoy my life and want to continue to live it the same way while making a point to be slightly healthier. I'm hoping that this two-week boost will encourage me and help to motivate me to do these things continuously.

Does this sound like fun to you? If you'd like to join in, comment below and follow me along on Instagram (@welcome_home)

 

photo by Glen Carrie via Unsplash.

Flying with Anxiety

Recently, we went to California for a wedding. And I was terrified. When I say that I was terrified, I don't mean a deer-in-the-headlights, I mean that I shook; my stomach twisted and turned; my eyes stayed wide-open at night as my mind raced and my mouth watered in a rotten way. I spent four months in agony. Whenever I wasn't thinking about work, school, this blog, or the few things that kept my head above water in other parts of my life, I was thinking about this flight.

I can't tell you where my terror came from, but come it did. And it enveloped me whole. The anxiety came in waves and at times I could breath and at others I seemed to drown in it. I knew that I had to go through with it though and after months of struggling with this horror, I was finally able to find a few things that helped.

I'm not sure what changed, but all of a sudden, I was able to think of things other than flying. I was able relax a teeny bit and when I thought I flying, I didn't get the sudden urge to run away from my fear, but I had a calm feeling in the pit of my stomach. A few things had helped me during my flight (along with some prescription medication) and I wanted to share them with some people that may struggle with the same thing. I'm not sure if these will work for other people, but I hope that they do because they sure helped me.

1. Take a math-related distraction with you such as Sudoku or a small workbook of math problems. I was once taught that math helped to force the mind to think of something else by using separate parts of the brain. I can honestly say that this was my saving grace when things got rough. Even though my medication helped, I was still really anxious and while we were taking off, I just focused on Sudoku and it calmed my entire mind.

2. Bring music or your favorite t.v. show. I still own an old iPod (you know, pre-Wifi) and so I was able to watch some episodes of The Office during take-off, which helped. Focusing on things that are funny always help ease my anxiety so I made sure to fill up on those. I also brought some movies to watch on my laptop during the flight.

3. If you can, go with someone who understands your anxiety. Seriously. I pretty much hit the jackpot with David because he is the most patient and loving man I have ever met. During the three months when I was a wreck, David was always by my side to comfort and calm me. He is my breathing safety blanket and so I was extremely fortunate to have him not only on the plane with me, by all the time before that when I spent nights wide awake in fear or minutes that felt like hours because of anxiety.

I know these tips are few and there is a lot of really great advice out there that may help you out. I wanted to share a bit of my personal life on here that I don't normally talk about. Anxiety is a thing that people either completely understand or it makes people look at you like you're insane. I would love to share more about my anxiety and my sixteen year journey (yep, I've been dealing with it since I started having panic attacks at the age of six) with you if you'd like to hear it. I've become more aware over the years the amount of people that share this struggle, and I'd like to add my own story to the mix. Maybe it will help others and maybe you will just be able to understand me more. If you have any tips for flying, leave them in the comments below!

p.s. packing essentials for a carry on.

Finding Your Store Soulmates (a.k.a. storemates)

First of all, you're welcome for making up the word storemates for you. These are the kinds of things that I think of while on my walks daydreaming about being the next Tina Fey (am I close yet?). Anyway, back to the clothing!

One of the best things you can do for your shopping experience is to find your favorite go-to stores. It will make your future shopping trips sooo much easier (and we really need that when it comes with shopping for what we actually want). There will always be a store out there that has you in mind. Yes, you! They design their clothes and their brand just to make you happy! There may not be just one single store that you go to, so it's okay if you choose a few different ones!

To find your favorite stores just shop around -- online, at the mall, on your favorite blogs -- and then make note of your favorite pieces. Chances are, they are from stores that you will love and will also love you in return.

Here is a list of my favorite stores and why I turn to them:

• J. Crew: tops, sweaters
• ASOS: tops, shoes
• Madewell: tops, outerwear
• Gap: jeans
• Everlane: basic tees

 

5 Tips for In-Store Shopping

Last week, I shared my tips for online shopping. This week I'm here to tackle in-store shopping and my tips to get through it safely. In-store shopping can sometimes be a little more difficult because you have to deal with more outside forces than with online shopping. There is specifically-picked music that will make you feel more pressured into buying things, sales people that are trying to get you to make a large purchase, and signs all around that are screaming "SALE! SALE! SALE" It can most definitely be overwhelming. Here a few tips that are going to help you though! I promise.

1. Make a list of what you want. Before you leave, take note of what it is that you already have (this is especially important if you are partaking in a minimalist wardrobe). Then jot down what you're looking for on the day's shopping adventure. Do you want an awesome pair of jeans? Are you searching for that super cool military jacket? Sometimes it even helps to look at their online stores prior to get an idea of what it is that they have at the moment. Also make note of your favorite stores that you want to stop at.

2. Set a budget & bring cash. Setting a budget is good no matter what it is that you're purchasing because it ensures that you won't (or at least are less likely to) overspend. Before you leave, go to the bank and withdraw that amount (unless you're cool and already have cash on hand) in large bills. Bringing larger bills will make you less likely to spend them on impulse purchases.

3. Go alone. Seriously, just go alone. While you're at it, also bring a pair of headphones so that you can listen to calming music instead of the stuff that they blare in Forever21 that makes your nerves go wonky (or is that just me?). If you're someone that likes having a friend's opinion, just ask an employee at the store or a fellow person trying clothes on how those jeans make your butt look. I've never had anyone deny me a honest response. If you really, really need and want someone to go with you, just make sure that they're prepared to take some time and will be honest with you. The last thing you want is to feel pressured to hurry up.

4. Put clothing on hold. If you're unsure about something or you're feeling too overwhelmed, just ask a store associate to put your pieces on hold for an hour or so. This will give you a chance to sit down, relax, and revaluate your budget and list of wants. While your things are on hold, go eat lunch or munch on that granola bar that you brought with you because you are awesomely prepared.

5. Go during slow periods and give yourself time. Plan on going to the mall during the slow hours, which are typically morning, lunch, and dinner time. This will ensure that the experience is slightly less overwhelming. Also, be sure to give yourself enough time. Carve out a couple of hours to shop around and don't rush yourself otherwise you might end up with pieces you don't really love. 

Bonus Tips!
Don't be afraid to return stuff late on if you realize you don't love it and/or it doesn't fit with your wardrobe. Also, take along my handy-dandy print-out! Not only does it help you to clean out your closet, but also to make the right choices while purchasing new items!

 

5 Tips for Online Clothes Shopping

While building my minimalist wardrobe, I've been doing a lot of my shopping online. Obviously, everyone partakes in online shopping now-a-days and can give you some advice on it. Here, I've compiled my top tips for online shopping and techniques I've been using for a while now. They've not only helped me create an awesome wardrobe that I love, but they've also helped me save a lot of money! I hope this helps you with your online shopping ventures too!

1. Keep an Amazon Wishlist. You can keep a wishlist on Amazon that allows you to click a button on your browser and then add anything from the internet to it. This will help you make a list of all the items you want and then from there you can adjust based on what you like the most and what you really, really want. It's also helped me to figure out what kind of style I prefer, which has been the biggest accomplishment in this whole venture.

2. Don't Purchase Things Right Away. I know a lot of people that this is really hard for, including myself at times. We justify our on-the-spot spending with stupid excuses that really have nothing to do with buying these items. But I assure you that you will feel so much better (i.e. powerful, awesome, and like you have the greatest will power ever) if you do not purchase things right away. This is also where that Amazon wishlist will come in handy for you. There you can still put things aside and save them for later.

3. Sign-Up for Shop Emails. I know that those emails every day can get really annoying and that's why I have a separate email for these things. I delete all the ones I'm not interested in immediatly and then keep the ones with coupon codes and sales from stores that I want to purchase something from off of my wishlist. I've actually received coupons after signing up for an online store and then leaving things in my shopping cart.

4. Wait for Sales. Be patient young grasshopper. It will all be worth it. I've seen most people who switch out their wardrobe quartly do it like this: Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, and Oct-Dec. That doesn't work for me for the simple fact that there is no way that my "summer clothes" can go all the way until September. I live in Michigan where at any point in time it may snow after Labor Day. So, I decided to time out my quarterly wardrobes like this: Mar-May (spring), Jun-Aug (summer), Sep-Nov (autumn), Dec-Feb (winter).It's definitely more appropriate for the Michigan seasons, but also for my budget. The wardrobe turnover happens to be when the biggest sales of the year are. Memorial weekend (the end of May) has awesome sales, always. Same with Labor Day weekend (end of August/early September). November obviously has awesome sales with Black Friday and more imporantly in the case of online shopping, Cyber Monday. Then the turnover for spring usually has awesome sales for people that are going on springbreak and what-not. It all works out fabulously as I can build my wardrobe while saving a few bucks!

5. Check Shipping & Returns Policy. This is obviously the biggest downfall of online shopping: not being able to see and try on your clothes before you purchase them. I always check return policies before I purchase an item when I don't know how it will fit me. With some stores, I know that I need to size down or up from my normal size and there are some stores (like Modcloth) that are sweet enough to let you know how an item will fit. It's a big bummer when you have to pay for return shipping when you're already bummed about the fact that you can't keep it. Most exclusively-online stores offer free returns. A lot of online stores that have physical stores allow you to return in-store, so also keep that in mind.

I hope this helps on your next online shopping ventures! xoxo

Cleaning Out My Closet + Printable!

Starting next month, I'll be adopting the minimalist wardrobe. A minimalist wardrobe is a simplified closet that consists of 30-38 pieces of clothing. Each season (every three months) you change it up. So, some pieces will carry on into the following season, some of them will be stored for another season, and you may have to supplement with a few new pieces. I'll explain my process more soon, but today I wanted to talk about my closet purging. In the past few weeks, I've gotten rid of (sold, donated, or given to my sister) about 3/4 of my current wardrobe. I've been gearing up for my autumn minimalist closet and slowly collecting new, better, and more durable pieces to keep around.

When I was telling my older sister this the other day, she was really excited and asked that I post about how I purge my closet, which is really difficult for some people. I'll also be helping her purge her own closet as well. So, I sat down and wrote out the process I go through to minimize my wardrobe. Here's what I do -- and what you can do too -- to scale down my clothing. You can print off your own copy here for you to keep on hand while cleaning out your closet.

I did this first at the beginning of the month and was able to get rid of almost half my wardrobe. Then, a couple weeks later, I went at it again and decreased it another quarter of it's original size. I found that there were so many clothes that I no longer wore. In fact, I had pieces that I knew I would never wear, but never took the time to take it to a second-hand store and I didn't want to throw it in the trash. I made a point to dedicate an afternoon on a weekend to go through my closet, par down, and take them to a second hand store to sell. The pieces that I didn't sell, I let my sister go through, and the leftovers I brought to a Salvation Army. All of the money that I made by selling my clothing went toward better, more durable pieces for my new wardrobe.

This is a photo of what my closet looks like right now. The clothes on the left are my summer clothes and the clothes on the right are part of my autumn wardrobe. This doesn't show all of the bottoms or dresses that I have either. I'll be sharing my wardrobe soon and my process of shopping and picking out new clothes. I hope this helps!

xoxo

p.s. The title of this post should most definitely be sung to the Eminem song, obviously.

The Secret to the Best Scrambled Eggs

Is that title too long? Oh well, it's the truth. I love eggs, especially scrambled eggs (even more so when those scrambled eggs are put into a burrito with Ortega taco sauce. Yum.). I make them pretty much every day that I'm not working and eat them for lunch. I have a super secret and delicious way to make my scrambled eggs extra creamy and moist even after they've been scrambled.

Here's the quick tip that will give you deliciously creamy eggs every time.

• After whisking your eggs with a tad bit of milk, pour them into a pan that was sprayed with non-stick spray and set at medium heat.
• Once the eggs have slightly cooked on the bottom, take pinches of cream cheese and place them around the eggs. Season the way you want to and add whatever you would like (the perks of scrambled eggs). I use a spatula to not scratch my pans, and then swirl the eggs around to cook them.
• Turn the stovetop off just before the eggs cook all the way (they should just be a little wet) and they will finish cooking because the heat from the pan. The eggs will stay moist and oh-so creamy!

I hope you try this out the next time you make some scrambled eggs! What are some of your tricks that you use while cooking? xoxo

My Workout Regimine

Let me just start off by saying this: I did not start a regular workout routine with the intentions to lose weight. I was happy and still am happy with my weight (which, has not changed since starting this regimine). I started working out for a few reasons that were unrelated to weight and so if weight-loss is your goal in working out, then I don't think that these tips will really apply to you. However, if your goal is to feel better, both inside and out, and gain confidence and learn how to live a healthier life, then I think that this routine will work wonderfully with your life like it has mine!

For the past 3 or 4 years, I've had really horrible hip pain in my left hip. I'm not sure what is was that triggered it, but I do know that it was not from an injury. After going to the doctor's a few times and getting x-rays and having a long discussion with my doctor about my pain, what causes it, what makes it work, and what makes it better, he determined that physical therapy would be the best way to improve my health (pleast note: I was given advice after a thourough examination of my pain and got the okay from my doctor to do this. If you are having pain of any sort, then you should always consult with your doctor before starting anything to determine what is best for your lifestyle and health.) I really didn't want to go to physical therapy mostly because I didn't have enough time. I work full-time and go to school full-time and on top of that, I run this blog, so it's hard for me to fit in any other things in that crazy schedule. I have worked out regularly in the past and really enjoy it so I kind of already knew what I liked doing and what I really didn't like doing and I started with yoga.

I fit in the exercise that I could and have started with doing about a half hour of a yoga video three times a week before heading off to work for the day. I really enjoy Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown and Denise Austin: Pilates. They both have two videos in each; JM's are 1/2 hour long and DA's are 20 minutes long (I do her's on mornings I'm running late). I also really, really like Tony Horton's P90X3 yoga workout (and all the other P90X3 workouts as well). Those are obviously really pricey if you plan on buying the DVD's, so I would say those are for the much more serious than the just-starting-out crew. This has really been working out for me very well. I also have been using the app, Pacer, to track my steps. I try to reach 10,000 steps a day (it's really hard!) and that keeps me motivated after workouts while I'm at the office and on days when I don't workout, I know I'm still getting adequate exercise. I have plans to reward myself with a Fitbit Zip to help keep even better track of my steps and because I hate having to carry my phone with me EVERYWHERE (sometimes I just wanna go for a walk without having the opportunity of communication with anyone).

The results have been wonderful and I am happier than I ever could have imagined. No, not because I've lost weight or have a ripped six-pack (ha!). First off, my hip feels FANTASTIC! The pain was getting to the point when after I walked 20 feet I'd be in pain and limping. Now, I very rarely have any pain at all and on the days I do, it doesn't last long at all and is very minimal. It's such a wonderfully free feeling! I've also found confidence in myself that I never had before. I wasn't necessarily unhappy with my body, but like anyone else in this world I have some insecurities. There were times in my life that I would cry when I looked in the mirror (that was some time ago though). When I first started this regimine, I was at a point when I had accepted my body and had felt alright about it. Now, I embrace it. I see how strong my body is and what it's capable of and it makes me so proud. In fact, it brings tears to my eyes seeing how much I've grown in self-esteem just typing this out. I even bought a bathing suit! I definitely have plans to continue this and grow my abilities in yoga and pilates, which I have found to really enjoy. I used to run a lot, but cut that out for the time being while I strengthen my hip muscles by walking and other exercises.

I hope this has helped you with anything that you're looking for in a workout! There are so many different types of working out and healthy living, but this is where I have found my happiness and my love. I would really enjoy hearing any tips that you may have though because I'm always open to wonderful ideas!

xoxo

brown butter tips + easy sauce

Brown butter is my go-to for so many things. In Jenny Rosenstrach's book, she comments how when she doesn't know what to cook for dinner, she starts to saute an onion and then gets inspired by that. Well, I do that too, but instead I start to brown butter (much less healthy, but soooo yummy). It's my go-to when I need a homemade dinner, but don't have much on hand. I've had a lot of friends and readers ask me about how to brown butter because they say they have a hard time with it either burning or not browning at all. So, without further ado, here is your personal guide to browning butter!

1. Patience. This is the most important rule because browning butter can take a while. Just take a deep breath and be patient is all I ask. The wait is well worth it!

2. Don't Look Away! Seriously, don't. I promise you that the moment you do, will be the moment when it browns and then instantly burns! It happens quickly, so watch it!

3. Cut the Butter into Equal Parts. This not only makes sure that it all melts at the same time, but that it also all browns at the same time!

to make brown butter:

Using however much butter you want or your recipe calls for, cut it into equal pieces. In a skillet over medium-low heat, place butter in pan. It will melt, bubble profusely, turn clear, then become brown and nutty. Once is starts bubbling, keep a close eye on it and stir it with a wooden spoon.

It will take a few minutes, but you'll instantly start smelling nuttiness and little flecks of butter will be browning in the pan. Continue stirring and scraping the bits of brown butter to ensure that you get the most browning in all the butter. I wait until it seems as though most of the butter on the bottom of the pan has browned, then I turn the heat off immediately. It will continue to brown for a second, but it's important to turn the heat off because it will burn in a second! This may take some trial and error the first few times, but it is well worth it!

to make easy brown butter sauce:serves 2-4

6 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon chopped sage2 Tablespoons heavy creamsalt & pepper, to tastefreshly grated Parmesan cheese

Follow the directions above to brown the butter with the sage. After the butter is done browning, add the heavy cream and stir. It takes a minute for it to mix together, so continue stirring until creamy and combined. Add salt and pepper to taste then freshly grated Parmesan. I use a few tablespoons of Parmesan, but add however much you'd like. That's what makes this recipe easy and fun. Mix whatever pasta you'd like with the sauce and serve with more cheese grated on top because it's yummy.

 

Here are some of my favorite brown butter recipes around the web:

• my version of a family classic.
• brown butter in crispy treats.
• Joy's version with malted milk balls.
• I will eat any vegetable this way.
• Donuts? Yes please.
• Perfect way to enjoy in the summer.
• I keep a log of these in my freezer at all times.

If you have any favorite brown butter recipes, comment with them below!