In a time wherein there is a huge disconnect between the old and the new I have always felt that these 2 worlds are partners that compliment each other. I believe that one will not and cannot exist without the other. So, as we look forward to 2018 may we enjoy the process of aging and welcome the new adventures that come our way.
Here are my 5 Old and New favorite things. What’s yours?
Antique Typewriters
I am fond of antiques, especially typewriters, it may be the wannabe writer in me. As I look at the photo above, I realized that as we get older we start to devalue ourselves and put expiration dates on what we can or are allowed to do. But when I look at this typewriter I see a beautiful creation, an experienced expert who has worked with the best writers, leaders, educators, and creative minds. Some may see it as outdated and weird for not having any apps or voice control features but there is something to be said about its keyboard, the sound it makes when you tap a key; it all transports you back to a time when life seemed simpler. As we age, let us not look at ourselves as outdated. Let us present ourselves as the influencers, subject matter experts, mentors, teachers, and advisers. In that spirit, let us also continue to learn and improve.
Smart Watches
I have been a watch collector since I can remember and I think my affinity for watches came from my father. I still remember when I would sneak a peak into my dad’s vanity, see a drawer lined with watches and be mesmerized by the shapes, sizes and functionality. As the technology advanced, so have the functionality of watches. Classic watches are definitely still in but for someone with an active lifestyle (like me and the fam) smart watches are a beautiful blessing.
For Christmas the husband gifted me with this great watch from San Francisco company Misfit Wearables. I love the chic look and how user friendly it is. Some athletic smart watches are just too complicated for my active mind, some need additional equipment to get the information you want and some are used strictly to monitor heart rate and number of steps. But this recent addition to my collection is a great find. I call it my one-stop smart watch. Thank you to my “Husby” for the gift and Misfit Wearables for creating something truly wonderful.
Journals and Planners
When it comes to writing I love the old school feel. Would you believe that I draft my blogs on a physical journal before typing and that I use planners to electronic calendars? There is something about feeling the paper and ink as you write down your ideas and goals. I feel that I have already started accomplishing something just by writing it down on paper and seeing my own handwriting.
I support women-owned businesses such as Australian Planner and Journal company Leaders in Heels founded by Kasia Gospos. I started purchasing products from Leaders in Heels last year when I bought my Make Your Mark set which I gave as a gift to my daughter (who loves the old school way of writing, just like her mama). Then last November I purchased their leather bound planner with my initials on the cover. I love every page of this planner, it motivates you by helping you to be intentional with your goal settings and reminding you of the reasons behind your goals. To see more of their awesome products visit Leaders in Heels.
Online Shopping
I’m not a big fan of shopping. By that, I mean that I’m not a big fan of driving, finding parking, walking around stores, and then waiting in line to get one item (especially during holiday season). I don’t know how I managed without online shopping. Amazon is a family favorite. Things that are usually hard to find are now made easy to purchase. Now they have this fun feature where you can curate items in their Idea List and share that with others. Visit my list.
As a runner and remote employee, one of my immediate go-to’s is athletic leisure apparel. Fabletics is my favorite place to shop. Their apparel are affordable and they fit well for petite-sized me, as opposed to regular stores that sell sizes meant for models and giraffes. And for shoes, my go-to is JustFab. They have a vast selection of shoes and accessories.
Both JustFab and Fabletics are monthly subscriptions. I’ve heard a lot of reviews from customers complaining that they are being billed monthly so PLEASE NOTE that you have the option to skip before the 5th of every month (the important thing here is that you actually need to remember to skip the month) and you will not be billed and you can also cancel anytime. Another great find for me was SOKO Glam, a skin care curator store for all things Korean Skin Care Products, or fondly known as K-Beauty. One thing about SOKO Glam is that they have a blog site called The Klog where you can find the answers for all your skin care questions.
These 4 companies have saved me during last holiday season, try them out and see how they can help you.
Books
When I was a little girl my mother owned a bookstore so throughout my childhood we were surrounded with books. Then when we moved to New York City she became the Chief Operating Officer for a printing company whose clients were publishing companies such as Random House, Simon and Schuster, Macmillian U.S. I remember how these companies would send Mum the first copy of their bestsellers and I always got to enjoy reading them on the train. Because my family’s bread and butter during my childhood involved printed copies, my heart continues to have a soft spot for physical books and journals and all. Don’t get me wrong though I do enjoy e-books, especially during late night car rides, but there’s an irresistible charm about hearing the pages turn and smelling the matured pages of older books or the ink and fresh paper of new books.
As we push forward with 2018 let us embrace the NEW that life gives us while still appreciating and learning from the OLD.
happy reading!
your happy blogger in Cali
Cicelle
Note: all photos are from either the companies’ website or mine.
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