Hello again lovely friends! Instead of writing a Friday Five post this week, I was busy catching up on all of the missed blog articles for corresponding videos. This post is a summary of one of my most viewed videos on how to dress feminine. I recently posted an updated fall style video on this topic, and I would love for you to view that one as well!

The 80/20 principle

I began the video by essentially explaining the differences between classic and romantic style - the two most dominant types of feminine fashion. Classic style follows that Jackie Kennedy and Grace Kelly type of look; clean lines, solid colors, and sturdy fabrics. Romantic fashion on the other hand, adheres to rather flow-y and unstructured garments - think, the Victorian Era. My personal belief is that a mix of 80/20 between these two types of dress, will provide you with the best balance in your wardrobe. It is also more practical to put the most weight on the classic portion of your wardrobe, due to the simple fact that we can find more of these types of garments in stores.

Color

I accented the importance of seeking to pair colors that are close together on the color-wheel, if you are seeking to mix-and-match colors. I also stated that any color can be paired with neutrals - white or black, for example. You can create complete outfits with blue and pink for example, by pairing different shades.  You will still look "put-together", since you are remaining close on the colour wheel. 

Waist to hip ratio

This is one of the easiest ways to accent a feminine body shape. Opt for tie-waisted dresses and high-waisted skirts. If you do not have that natural hourglass body type, you can create a waist by wearing skirts and dresses with ruffles at the bottom and/or a slip with fabric at the bottom of the trim (think of creating a triangle shape from your waist down). You can also similarly add details such as ruffles to your top, to highlight a smaller waist. It is essentially a game of balance.

Details

This adheres to the 20% of your style, which will be romantic. You can include subtle bows, flutters and ruffles. You can also include floral patterns, however try to keep these as as small as possible. I like to this of this technique, as adding elements of girlishness. 

Textures

Remember, living in your feminine means embracing the experience of getting dressed. Try to opt for luxurious fabrics. I also encourage you to vary your wardrobe, with a range of textures and try not to repeat similar textures (with the exclusion of sleepwear and exercise clothing, which can be of the same fabric). An easy way to do this is to "shop with your hands" - touch clothing items as you move through the racks of clothing. The goal is to get your closet to a state of variability and truly embrace the experience of putting on each garment of a different material.

Shoes

The rule of quite simple: the shorter the dress/skirt, the shorter the heel. I encourage you to buy mid-length heels, as they are the classiest. I also encourage a solid color heel, as it is easiest to match to your outfit and your bag, for a more "pulled together" look. I also mentioned that my recommended casual shoe is the ballet flat.

Accessories

I love scarves and I recommend adding them to any outfit, to add a pop of color, or to accent the color in focus. The material of the scarf is also important in giving you that luxurious feminine feel.I mentioned my love of hats. You can easily incorporate romantic style by opting for a sunhat with a bow.I encourage you to always opt for balance in your accessories - for example, a big bracelet would necessitate a small necklace (or none) and earrings. 

Personal grooming

This is the basis of all feminine style. You can dress impeccably, but fail to exude femininity if you are not well-groomed. I encourage you to choose one makeup item that you can commit to everyday. I also encourage you to try to wear your hair down, if you find that this style is most flattering for your facial features. 

Happy Thursday everyone! I am trying to become more effective in writing the corresponding blog posts as I release my videos. I realize that I have so many to catch up on and I plan on actually sitting down an entire day and getting that work done! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy today's video and post on how to sit like a lady.

This video is a part of my femininity series, but also a subset of videos I began on carrying ourselves in a graceful and elegant way. If you have not yet watched my video on posture (blog post) and feminine walking, I would encourage you to explore those topics first. 

Welcome to my new readers and viewers! It would mean so much to me if you would share my content with a friend who might enjoy it. Being a small influencer, the initial stretch is always the most challenging. My goal with this platform is not personal fame, but to reach as many women as possible with the messages that have indeed changed my life. The bigger we grow, the more I can give back to you! P.S Once we reach 1k on Youtube I have a giveaway planned and I would love to do that at every milestone.

Clothing

Ensure that you are wearing appropriate clothing. A simple trick would be to actually sit in the dressing room when purchasing clothing. You can also actually place your hands down the garment as a way to ensure that there is enough "wiggle-room". Always keep in mind the context of where you are going and how you will have to sit.

Descending

Keep your chest elevated and do not look or veer your torso toward the floor. You want to exude confidence in descending into your chair. A trick instead of looking behind you would be to ensure that you calves are touching the chair and gently reach back to grab the chair before you place your bottom.

Knees

Ensure that your knees are always together when sitting. You do not want to expose your private parts (which is why you do not want to keep your legs open). This ranges back to the point I made about vulnerability and the fact that accentuating these regions exudes insecurity. 

Angle

Your vertical side angle should be 90 degrees (thighs down to angle).

Slouching

You want to maintain a fist length between your back and the chair.

Crossing your legs

You can veer your shins to one-side (this is the simplest way). You can choose to cross your legs at your ankles while doing so, or placing your calves one over the other; each movement, always remaining in that side-to-side manner. Please avoid the standard American leg-cross. View the video for more information.

Standing

Ensure that your legs are together in that 90 degree angle when standing. Use your hands to push off the chair, if you need the extra assistance.

This post almost did not happen. I am completely behind on my to-do list, and I have not even gone on my daily walk today! I might have to settle for some light stretching and a "power-hour" of cleaning along with my favorite cleaning podcast (Clean With Me).

We are heading into the second week of September in a few days (eek), and I wanted to wish you many blessings in this busy season. 

1. I know many of you are going back to school. Throughout my studies, I found One Class to be particularly helpful for note sharing and searching past resources written by students who have already taken a particular course. I also recommend that you search, Rate My Professors, to know the level of difficulty and testing style of your professor. Do not be afraid to switch class times before the dropout date. Finally, recording lectures on your smartphone can help you study and summarize your notes more effectively (make sure your professor allows it). 

2. I am packing away my summer clothes, and I am feelin' all the feels. Spring and Summer are my favorite seasons. I talked about my issue with fall, in my previous Friday Five post. Speaking of packing, I have found that stuffing scarves into purses helps them keep their shape when putting them into boxes for storage. In addition, the cheapest storage bins are definitely found at Walmart and/or Canadian Tire (I know, I have moved 3 times in 3 years LOL).

3. I have been loving hair bows, and have begun incorporating them into my wardrobe. You can surprisingly find a good variety of them at Dollar Tree (you all know I love this store). I am still on the fence about those trending pearl clips - I will get back to you on that one.

4. It is time to incorporate darker lip colors as we transition into fall. I am planning on wearing the "Stay all day MATTE'ificent Lipstick" from Stila (shade: Framboise). I basically like all my makeup products to be of a matte finish. I find that it gives my face a type of 1950s glamour- matte makeup is so timeless. 

5. I spent about an hour thrifting for Fall clothing today. I have already ranted about the fun and importance of thrifting. I am so grateful that my husband and I have been financially blessed throughout these past few years. We are at a place where we do not have to shop this way, however, I will always continue to thrift regardless of income level. Thrifting is environmentally friendly and a certain percentage of the purchase usually goes toward a good cause. I encourage you to consider thrifting. 

If my Youtube video brought you here, welcome! If you are a continuous reader of this blog, I would love it if you would check-out my videos.

Today's post is a summary of Monday's video. If you enjoyed this post or video, I would be so grateful if you would hit the "like" button - it really helps grow the community of women supporting the homemaking and femininity movement. 

Homemake with me

1. I love buying and using more "natural" cleaning products. I used a store-brand all-purpose cleaner today, and my usual Method Daily Granite. 

2. I encourage you to buy flowers while grocery shopping, especially if you find this to be one of your least favorite chores. You can usually revive sale flowers, using your own sugar/water mixture or the one provided in bouquets.

3. I mentioned in a previous post, that I derive my handy-dandy-notebook inspiration from an Instagram homemaker called, "Mrs. Hinch". I like to write all of my tasks for the day, including bills I need to pay in my notebook. 

4. I mentioned how Dyson has an excellent customer service center. They are pretty pricey

5. I bought my olive oil dispenser from the Dollar Tree.

6. I love writing my favorite recipes in my Kate Spade recipe book. 

7. I learned the concept of shining my sink from FlyLady. I do this every evening. 

8. I spoke to you about my minimalism journey, briefly. Adopting a minimalist mindset has helped relieved my anxiety and focus on what truly matters in my life. 

9. I do at least one load of laundry per day. I like to use the baskets from the Dollar Tree - one of these small baskets fits a 

10. I talked about how I love my Airpods. I think they are worth the price. I use them while doing housework; I listen to music and podcasts. 

11. I chatted with you about the importance of being nice to others. 

12. Lasagna recipe: Italian sausage + ground beef, garlic to taste, 1-2 cans of crushed tomatoes, 1-2 cans of tomato paste, chicken broth, 2 tbsp sugar, basil + fennel seed + pepper + salt and oregano to taste, mozzarella, parmesan, lasagna noodles

filling: 1 container of ricotta + 2 eggs, nutmeg, parsley to taste

*you have to adjust most of these measurements depending on the size of your lasagna

Happy Friday lovely friends! Tomorrow is going to be a day full of yard work - I am mentally preparing for it, haha. I treated myself to hiring house cleaners this morning, and I am so happy that I did. Having the inside of my house tackled and perfected by professionals, has been such a treat. We finally finished renovating our house, and are putting together all of the final touches. As much as I love cleaning to relieve anxiety, I sometimes need a little bit of help. 

1. I noticed that there exists a phenomena, whereby millennials associate having dogs as replacements for children. There are particular reasons why I do not have children yet, and I hope to someday soon! I am definitely sorry if my "dog vlog" perpetuated this stereotype - it was not my intention. 

2. I pulled out my autumn wreath, but I am not quite ready to put it up. I might purchase myself a more yellow-tone wreath as a consolation for this in-between month. I am thinking something like this. If I do end up purchasing one, I will be sure to show it on Instagram stories. 

3. As the weather turns slightly cooler, I find myself craving comfort food. You can find some of my favorite recipes on my Pinterest board. This week, I cooked a large batch of lasagna. I would love to know your comfort food recipes. 

4. I'm going to be honest and say that I usually dread the end of summer. The transition of seasons always brings me feelings of dread. I associate fall with all of the negative back-to-school feelings. I was always one to overachieve in the realm of academics, and as a result, suffered from debilitating anxiety throughout my years of study. As some of you know, I studied and worked in a STEM field. There IS a reason why few people "make it" through these degrees; these programs are actually designed to pit overachieving students against each other in pursuit of advanced degrees. Despite what the internet trolls say (LOL), I did indeed graduate Sum cum laude. I however sacrificed so much of my well-being in this pursuit, as I unhealthily tied my identity to scholastic achievements. 

Perhaps I will get more into this some other day, but for now I wanted to give you some context on the feelings I will be experiencing in the upcoming months. September is an unusually difficult month for me, and I WILL be pulling out my anxiety workbook. 

5. I am spending my Friday afternoon scrolling through juicers on Amazon - I know, I am a nerd. I used my Jack Lalanne Power Juicer until it burned out - I am not kidding, it was actually smoking. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Juicing has tremendously helped me clear up my skin and alleviate cravings. I have not had the chance to juice this summer, and would love to get back into it.

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend! 

How to be Intelligent

Hello friends! Today, I am summarizing a video that many of you enjoyed - that is, the one surrounding the topic of "Feminine Intelligence".

There exists this misconception that feminine women are unintelligent. Please realize that women bashing other women based on their intelligence, is often a subconscious mating strategy - the practice of tearing someone else down in order to make themselves appear more or of equal attractiveness.

I wanted to emphasize the importance of developing your intelligence in order to bond with others - an essential feminine trait. If you are single, please be advised that masculine and high-quality men seldom pursue unintelligent women - this is a misconception propelled by culture. Intelligent feminine women serve as the backbone in their households, raising the next generation of individuals and being receptive to the needs of others as excellent homemakers.

If you have not yet watched the video, I think it is a great addition to this blog post. Some of you indicated that the speed is slightly fast - I recommend changing the playback speed to a slower setting if it suits your preference.

1. Emotional Intelligence

This is an excellent tool to develop to better understand and be receptive of the emotions of others. If you are working in a traditionally feminine career, emotional intelligence will definitely help you succeed in your chosen field. In the home, this will better help lay the foundation

2. Academic Intelligence

Take the time to learn the importance of referencing scholarly studies and resources, when fact checking. This will prevent you from falling pray to false media and misconstrued facts. If you do not have a library membership, use google scholar to research topics. Remember to reference the citations, ensuring that they do n

3. Current Events

Learn to filter your bias and look at what opposing political viewpoints are saying. Women are often the dialogue creators in the household. You are going to want to learn how to properly debate, so that you can equip your family with the tools necessary to battle adversity in modern culture.

4. Languages

Continue to develop your language - implementing new vocabulary on a monthly or weekly basis. If you have the gift of another language, continue to practice it. Language skills are proven grey-matter development tools. Writing in the form of journaling can also help you with this.

5. Pursue your Passions

Engage in a hobby that helps you practice focus and fortitude.

6. Nourish your Body

This one is fairly straight-forward. Ensure that you are sleeping, staying hydrated and nourishing your body with excellent nutrients.

7. High Quality Friends

I like to surround myself with people who inspire me and help me grow as an individual. People who provide stimulating conversation are my kind of friends. These people help me reflect on my own thought patterns, and lead me in the direction of fostering new ideas.

Hello lovely friends! If you have been around here for several years, you will know that I used to conduct a "Friday Five" series. I have since deleted some of these posts. In an effort to be more active in the blogging world and to try to revamp my Pinterest (Lawd help it), I thought this would be an excellent way to begin incorporating more stand-alone blog content. I know some of you enjoy reading more than you do watching my videos - I understand, my voice might not be everyone's cup-of-tea LOL. I am hoping that my blog can appeal to you and grow this "Femininity Movement"; p.s, this is what I like to call the influx of women talking about the importance of femininity (which is something I 100% support and LOVE). 

I am going to be experimenting with the structure of these posts. For today, I want to organically list some of my favorites for the week. I am wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Stay tuned for Monday's video, where we will be talking about marriage. 

1. Today is the first day where the morning feels like Autumn and in case you were wondering, I am NOT ready. I do not usually engage in "Fall Hauls", since I like to adopt a more minimalist mindset to my home decor practices. I do however enjoy decorating to some extent, and get my decor fix from the Dollar Tree (you bet I do). An Instagrammer (stepfordwifeuserguide) recommended that I follow #dollartreehaul and #dollartreefinds, and I wanted to pass this on to you!

2. I wanted to share with you my favorite organic casual wine - it is called, Bonterra. I recently learned of the harmful effects of pesticides in wine, and how they tend to be more potent when talking grapes. I am cautious to recommend wine, because I know many of you do not drink alcoholic beverages. I wanted to put a disclaimer out there: you should wait until you are of legal drinking age (I did not drink a sip of alcohol until then), and only consume in moderation. Drinking to get drunk is neither a Christian (and I would bet it is also not a Jewish/Buddhist/Hindu etc.), nor classy, thing to do. 

3. You all must follow Mrs. Hinch. I have been following her for at least a year, and I noticed that she is back from her maternity leave. She is a cleaning Queen. If you have watched some of my Vlogs, you will know that I have a handy-dandy notebook that I use to list everything in my life (from the things that I need to buy, to the tasks that I need to accomplish). Her "Hinch List" actually serves as inspiration for this notebook. I also derive inspiration from her cleaning routines - particularly, her bathroom cleaning techniques. She lives in Britain, so her cleaning products differ slightly. However, I have come to notice that there exists Canadian and American version of these products often by the same company but with differing names (for example, "Cif" is called "Vim" in Canada).

4. Have you watched my collaboration with Ina from, That Feminine Housewife? I would recommend that you watch both of our videos, and that you definitely subscribe to her channel. I know that many of you are seeking more homemaking/feminine inspiration. Her channel is similar to mine, and I know that you will love her content.

5. In messages with some of you, we have talked Faith. I was always reluctant to include this topic genre in my videos and blogs, since I did not want to exclude non-Christian women. I would say that my "Faith Walk" was somewhat unique, and has probably shaped my reluctance to incorporate it into my content. I feel as though, however, it may be time to begin sharing this with you. The truth is that I spent weeks praying over the start of my YouTube channel before actually creating it; I wanted to offer something unique but similar enough to build community with women of similar beliefs. The point I want to conclude with, is that I heard God whisper?say? that I needed to take a risk in sharing my beliefs. I also realized that God wants me to exert and grow my patience. It is not always easy being a small YouTuber talking about controversial things - real talk lol. Regardless, I try to put consistent everyday effort into forming genuine friendships with all of you (which, by the way, has been the biggest blessing in my life), and I believe this is exactly where God wants me to be. 

How to Have Good Posture

Hello lovely friends! Today's topic is a summary of my video on how to have good posture. Having good posture is an excellent way to communicate femininity through non-verbal cues. It can also help you in having good conversation, as it demonstrates respect through the mere act of "caring about" the way you present yourself in front of someone else. 

These simple things will help you be more mindful of your posture. Remember, practicing good posture is something that you must continuously remind yourself of, until it becomes an engrained instinct. I hope that you will also watch my video for demonstrations on how to apply these techniques. Love you all! 

1. Head and neck

Imagine a 90 degree angle from your collar bone to your chin. You can become more mindful of this, by standing up against a wall and taking note of how your head should always be touching the wall when practicing good posture.

2. Openness (invisible lines)

Imagine that you have lines perpendicular to the tips of your shoulders and horizontally at your belly-button. Try you keep your hands outside of these invisible lines. 

3. Strategic hands 

Place your hands on your waist (the smallest portion of your torso). Remember to move your hands one at a time (please see the video for the example).

4. Hips

To elevate your posture, twist your hip upward. Refrain from "sitting in your hips". This will not only help you appear taller, but will also help you look more feminine. 

5. Shoulders

Practice what I like to call, "half shoulder rolling" - a 180 degree roll. This simple habit will help you "reset" your posture.

6. Core (abdominals)

This is the most important element to having good posture. Activating your abdominal to a place where you feel as though you are slightly tilting back, and your hips are pushed forward. This is the secret in the modelling and pageant industry. 

Hello lovely friends! Today's entry is a follow-up to the video I posted about "Casual Party Etiquette". I have a great interest in all things etiquette, since it was something valued in my household growing up. My mom attended the traditional finishing school classes, and instilled in me all of the knowledge she acquired along the way. I took such an interest in it that in university I was actually assigned to teach my sorority these traditional etiquette skills.

In the beginning of the video, I emphasized the importance of using etiquette as a tool in expressing femininity. Etiquette is a form of respect that lays the foundation for good relationships. Having excellent manners helps others feel comfortable in your presence - the opposite causes distraction. Exuding this comfort is a very feminine thing to do, as the feminine woman is inherently nurturing in her interaction with others. 

Every season I will be bringing you new etiquette tips. I wanted to begin this series with a simplistic lesson on casual party etiquette. Many of these tips are quite straightforward, however, I believe that it always helps you have a coach cheering you on! As always, I have summarized the video below.

1. Attire

I mentioned the importance of bringing a cardigan, as we transition into fall. I also emphasized the importance of wearing shoes with ankle support, due to potentially transitioning from indoor to outdoor spaces (uneven ground). I highlighted the fact that flip-flops are only appropriate for around the pool. As always, the rule of thumb is that you want to dress in a way where you would feel comfortable having someone take a picture of you at all angles. Remembering this concept will help you dress both modestly and fashionably. 

Take note that you will want to bring a bag with a zipper, to ensure that you possessions do not fall out. You are also going to want to bring a change of clothes and a bag for your swimsuit, if you are attending a summer pool party. 

2. Timing

For casual parties, you want to arrive on-time or within the first 10/15 minutes. For more formal events, it would be acceptable to arrive slightly early. In comparison however, last minute details might be thrown together at casual parties. You do not want to arrive when the host is in the middle of finalizing details.

3. Host(-ess) gift

For casual parties, you want to bring something that will add to the party. Think, food (snacks like chips) and alcohol.

4. Help the host(-ess)

Offering your help is a very feminine thing to do. Instead of asking if there is anything you can do to help, insert yourself naturally into the situation. You can therefore say: "Let me help you with that". Being naturally receptive to the needs of others is going to help you further grow and develop in your femininity.  

5. Conversation

It is important to steer clear of topics surrounding sex/money/gossip/politics. Casual parties are intended for everyone to mingle. When you begin speaking about sensitive topics, you narrow you socialization circle. Remember, the feminine woman exudes openness. You may also cause for tension and discomfort in others. Please watch and read about good conversation, here. 

6. Eat and drink beforehand

When we are engaging with others in a high stimulus setting, it is easy for us to forget if we are hungry or thirsty; this will cause us to feel "hangry". If you are swimming, your body may also feel falsely hydrated due to the physical presence of water around you. In addition, if you are drinking and/or in the heat, you will become dehydrated more quickly. It always helps you drink water and eat a snack before heading-out to a social event.

7. Exiting

Since this is a casual party, you do not have to say goodbye to all of the attendees. What you must do however is thank you host prior to leaving. 

8. Put you phone away

Our tendency is to overshare on social media. When you are preoccupied with capturing the perfect moment, you forget to actually live in the moment. Being able to live in the moment and soak in new experiences is a very feminine thing to do. 

Hello friends! Today's blog post is a follow-up to a video I posted several days ago. This is a first video of a series of videos that I will be sprinkling-in throughout the upcoming week surrounding the theme of striving to be a high-value woman. As we work through this topic, we will begin to deconstruct the nature and values of the high-value woman. My ultimate goal, is that by the end of the series you will be able to concretely define the high-value woman.

I believe that striving to be a high-value woman is a continuous lifetime process. You can always improve, even after you have found your spouse; human nature seeks progress and this can be an incredibly beautiful thing. It is important that we continue to improve for the sake of our relationships and children, and to serve as positive role-models for other women.

Below is a quick summary of some of the tips discussed throughout the video. Love you all! xo

Inner happiness

The high value woman is able to be independently happy. She walks with purpose and ease. Her happiness radiates as a type of welcomeness. People are usually awe struck by her happiness, because it is so dimly opposite so what we usually see in the world. This is what makes her intriguing and special. 

A) Awakening - The realization that you are responsible for your own happiness is essential in building inner-happiness. I encourage you to meditate or pray on this issue, depending on your beliefs. If you are a Christian, understanding that a significant portion of your happiness is found in Christ, will be one of your greatest lifetime motivators. You can also incorporate affirmations into your daily routine - for example, exclaiming that you are happy. Please read/watch my Habit Formation article/video here.

B) Slow living - Adopting aspects of minimalism helped me live in the moment. I began to slow down, as I made time for those I loved through the process of being less "stuff obsessed".

C) Gratitude - I am a naturally pessimistic person - keeping it real here ladies. The positive angle to this, is that I am well versed in the everyday practice of practicing gratitude. Gratitude is a mindset, where you implement moments of thankfulness throughout you day. Stop and take a look at your life and your surroundings. I guarantee that there is at least one thing that you can feel thankful for, even in the hardest moments. Remember to implement 3 things on the daily that are for YOU (read/watch it here).

E) Personal responsibility - Begin taking the blame for your own actions. Realizing that you are the captain of your own life, is incredibly liberating. This allows you to make mistakes and correct them. There are of course tragic circumstances, that we cannot control (this is not what I am talking about). Remember, a good person realizes what they have done wrong and takes the steps to correct themselves. A bad person realizes what they have done wrong, but continues on the same path.

F) Grief - There are certain things in life that we cannot control. Set aside time to grieve, depending on the magnitude of the problem. I like to constructively set aside a few hours, days or moments, where I can ponder my sadness - once that time is up, I make the decision to focus on something else until my next allowed period of grief. Come to terms with the fact that you may never "get over" said thing, but that your circumstance does not have to rob you of all joy. There is incredible peace in acceptance.

G) Who you are - I truly believe in the power of living in alignment with your core values. This is why I am so passionate about women choosing to express their femininity and reject the "masculine= the only successful path for women" narrative. Make the decision (NOW) that you will begin showing the world all facets of your soul and personality.