We are living in unprecedented times. The pandemic has thrown our normal routines into chaos. If you’re lucky enough to be able to work from home (as I am), you have found yourself adjusting to the new work environment. Your work-life balance might be off as you navigate this new world. After a few weeks of adjustment, I found that I enjoyed working from home. Not having the commute, not putting on heels and a blazer in the morning, not having to pack a lunch, meant more time to be creative once the work day was done. Or so I thought.

I have struggled to produce anything of creative value during the lockdown. At the beginning, I thought that this would be a great opportunity – to work out, to learn to cook, to practice piano, to write my blog and create Instagram content. Instead, I’ve found myself producing very little. I’m watching more Netflix, reading more books, napping more, and delivering very little in the way of value.

And that’s okay.

If you’re struggling during this time, you’re not alone. Humans are social creatures and it’s very difficult to be separated from friends and family during an unfamiliar situation. It’s not as simple as “I have more time so I need to produce more,” especially if you’re beating yourself up about it. Which I know I have been.

Years ago my sister recommended I read the book “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. In the book, the author discusses his process of writing while fighting “the resistance.” I’ve encountered that resistance many times over the past few months. I sit down to the piano only to close the lid. I sit at my computer to write my blog, only to quickly open YouTube and spend hours absorbing the creations of others instead of working on my own. Even this blog post was meant to be about how my shopping habits have changed during the pandemic, but every time I sat down to write I felt that resistance pushing back.

I don’t have an answer for how to get motivated during the pandemic. Maybe there isn’t one. There definitely isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If you accomplished a little more than you did yesterday, that’s a victory. If all you did was make it through the day, that’s okay too. Be kind to yourself, you deserve it.

Whether you’re training for a marathon or eating ice cream while watching Netflix, you’re going to be okay. It’s all okay. Things aren’t going to be back to normal for a while. Hopefully we can each find a new normal that works well for us and allows us to accomplish our goals.

If you’re looking for a bit of mental clarity, I highly recommend a short meditation to get your thoughts in order. Headspace has some free resources for anyone to access during the pandemic, as does Calm. Headspace is also offering a free year subscription to anyone who lost their job during this time.

Be kind to yourself, be kind to your mind. Whatever stage of life you’re in right now, embrace it. Be okay with it. You are doing the best you can.

I hope you have a great day! – XO, Annette

I was feeling pretty stressed earlier this week about everything that’s going on. I called my sister on Facetime to talk about how I was feeling, and she mentioned that she was taking time each day to write down a few things that she was feeling grateful for. This simple act of self-compassion inspired me to write this blog post.

I’m so grateful that my job allows me to work from home. I’m grateful that I’m here with my family. I’m grateful that we have a roof over our heads and food on the table. I’m grateful for our health care workers, grocery store clerks, delivery personnel, and everyone else who is keeping things moving during this unprecedented time in modern history.

Practicing gratitude does not mean you have to be upbeat all the time. Things are strange right now, and it’s normal to ride a roller coaster of emotion (I know I am). But taking the time to think about all the things you are grateful for can help ground you when things start to feel overwhelming.

I’ve found a few techniques over the past few weeks that have helped me feel better when I’m down, and I’d like to share them with you. If you have any tips that have worked well for you, please feel free to share in the comments below.

Meditation

I started meditating a little over two years ago when I was going through a bit of a rough time. My first meditation session lasted a grand total of three minutes, and it changed my life. I have been using the Headspace app from the very beginning and would never be without it. Right now Headspace has opened up some of their content for free to help people get through self-isolation, so if you’re interested I recommend checking that out. There are also free apps out there (I’ve heard good things about Calm). If you’re interested in learning more about meditation and how to get started, I recommend the book Unplug: A Simple Guide to Meditation For Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers by Suze Yalof Schwartz as a fun read to help you on your way.

Staying Connected

Calling family and friends with a video app is a good way to stay connected. If you’re feeling down, make sure to reach out to someone. You might be by yourself but you don’t have to face this alone. You can also reach out to your connections on social media. Lots of local gyms and other groups are offering free workouts and online meetups, so be sure to check out what’s available in your area. Joining an online community can go a long way towards boosting your mood.

Not constantly checking the news

I have discovered over the past few weeks that too much news can be a bad thing for my mental health. I decided to stop continually refreshing my news feed, which has helped enormously. I try to check the news only once, later on in the day. You can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, and you don’t need up-to-the-minute coverage. You won’t miss much by distancing yourself a little from the constant bombardment of headlines.

Journaling

Although I was an avid writer as a child and always kept a diary, I moved away from this habit in my adult life. However, since self-isolation began, I’ve started writing down a few things I accomplish each day. Anything that feels like a win goes in my journal (and yes, making my bed counts). Journaling doesn’t have to take too much time – writing down something you’re grateful for, or something nice you did for yourself or for someone else, can really turn your mood around. I find it very satisfying to look back at the week and see everything I accomplished, no matter how small.

Getting enough rest

It can be tough to go to sleep when you’re feeling anxious. I use Headspace for Sleep to help me drift off in the evening. If I’m feeling stressed or worried, I also do a brief meditation before settling in for the night. Small things like dimming your computer and phone screens can be very helpful. If you’ve never established a nighttime routine, now could be a good time to start. A nice cup of tea and a hot bath could help you relax enough to be able to drift off to sleep.

Taking care of your body

I try to approach taking care of my body with a lot of self-kindness. I’m not here to tell you what to eat (or what not to eat), whether, when, or how to exercise, or anything else. This is all about you. What is right for someone else may not be right for you. Listening to your body and paying attention to how you are feeling is a great way to approach this. Personally, I have found that adding a daily walk to my routine has been a great mood booster. It gets me out of the house and enjoying the early spring weather. Be kind to yourself here, and unfollow anyone on social media who is making you feel like you have to achieve some kind of “quarantine body.” Love yourself, as you are, right now. You’re already perfect.

Working on your hobbies

Is there something you love to do, but you never have the time? Is there something you always wanted to learn? There are lots of great online classes out there on pretty much any topic you can imagine. You don’t even have to pay to learn new skills; no matter what the subject, someone has posted a video on YouTube about it. A lot of websites have made their courses free for the month of April (Nikon, for example, has made their entire online photography course catalogue available for free). Do some research on the internet and see what comes up. You may discover a new passion!

Doing what’s right for you

I’m sure there is a lot of content kicking around the internet right now about how to use your time productively and get “the most” out of quarantine. You are not on a schedule here; don’t put any pressure on yourself to achieve something. If all you’re doing is hanging in there, that’s amazing. I wish you health, happiness, and finally getting to the end of that Netflix series you’ve been meaning to watch forever.

Take care. xo – Annette

Hi there! I know I’ve been quiet on the blog lately. The truth is, I took a little break to put some thought into how I want Muse in Bloom to take shape. I took a vacation. I read a lot. I did some knitting. I talked to my friends and family. And I made some decisions about the future of my blog.

When I started this blog back in 2017, it was supposed to be about embarking on a weight-loss journey. The change in direction of my blog reflects the tremendous personal growth I’ve experienced over the last two years. I’ve changed careers and changed cities. I’ve gone from hiding from cameras to posing in front of them. In the face of all this change, both personally and professionally, I feel that it’s time to put more time, more energy, and more of myself into this blog.

I’ve been reading a lot about the fashion industry and its impact on people and planet, and I was a little torn about building a fashion blog when I know that the industry has a lot of problems. I was thinking very seriously about only showcasing ethical fashion on my blog. The problem I came up against was scarcity – almost no one is making plus size clothing at all, let alone ethical and sustainable clothing. If I made this choice, it would be next to impossible to build content at all, and the future of my blog would be in doubt.

At the same time, I know that there is a real visibility problem when it comes to plus-size people in fashion. We rarely see ourselves reflected in advertising campaigns, movies, television, or anywhere else. So staying silent didn’t seem to be the right thing to do either.

Visibility matters. Representation matters. My voice matters. If someone can read my blog and see themselves reflected back in the content that I share, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

So I’ve decided to pour my heart and soul into this blog, showcasing ethical and sustainable fashion when I can and, when I can’t, choosing well-made clothing that will last. I’m going to use this blog to show that plus size fashion can be cool, quirky, and fun, and that women like me deserve to stand up and be seen. I’m going to write about other things that I care about as well – things like self-love, mindfulness and meditation, money and personal finance, fitness, productivity, travel – and much more!

I care about people and planet. I care about self-love. I care about food, fun, friends, and family. I want to share more of this with you.

So to you, dear reader, welcome. I hope you find something here that inspires you, that informs you, that makes you smile. Welcome to my world.

Fashion Revolution Week really got me thinking about how my clothes are produced. In our fast-fashion world, we often don’t pay much attention to what we’re buying. We don’t pause to ask ourselves questions like: Is this a quality garment, or a throwaway piece that won’t survive a few cycles in the washing machine? What was the environmental cost of production? Was the person who made it paid fairly? Personally, I would like to know more. I would like to learn about fabric and garment construction so that I can tell whether a clothing item is of high quality. I would like to shop from brands that I know are putting people and planet at the forefront of their business model. I’m not interested in having mountains of cheap fashion finds in my closet; I’m more interested in purchasing and wearing beautiful, high quality clothing that reflects my values and stands the test of time.

I will readily admit that it’s hard enough finding plus-size clothing at all, let alone clothing that is stylishly and sustainably made. Shopping as a plus-size woman can be a frustrating and demeaning experience. Blogger and entrepreneur Katie Sturino often calls brands out on social media for this with her #makemysize campaign. (If you’re not following her on Instagram, I recommend that you do. She’s awesome.) Even brands that carry a plus-size range often carry them online only, or in a small number of stores (I’m looking at you, Loft.) The fashion world can often feel like a hostile place for those of us who don’t look like the models.

My personal style philosophy – buy less, buy better

Often it seems that quality is a secondary consideration in the plus-size fashion world; sometimes it can feel like enough just for a retailer to carry my size. The truth is that women above a size 12 simply don’t have a lot of choice. There are a few brands out there that focus on ethical and sustainable production and cater to an extended size range (eg. Reformation, Girlfriend Collective), but not nearly enough. For now, I need to find a compromise.

You will absolutely see me wearing clothing from famous plus-size clothing chains on this blog (Eloquii and Lane Bryant are personal favourites of mine). However, you will also start to see me incorporate high quality, ethically made items into my wardrobe. I am uncomfortable with a high-turnover, wear-once, disposable approach to fashion and so have decided to walk a different path. I’m going to keep an eye out for brands that are doing good things for people and planet, and share them with you here on the blog.

In addition to clothing and fashion, I would also like to start writing more about other topics that are of interest to me as a young professional woman. I want to look and feel good in my clothing, but I also care about my money. I want to pay off my debt and save for the future. I’m interested in business, productivity, and personal development. I’m interested in taking care of my physical and mental health, and in being the best version of myself that I can be. If these topics are of interest to you, I invite you to stick around as my blog continues to evolve. I hope you like where it’s headed!

xo – Annette

What is Fashion Revolution?

Have you heard of Fashion Revolution? It’s an organization that was started in the wake of the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh. The group works to raise awareness of the human and environmental impact of the fashion industry. Every year for the week surrounding the anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy, Fashion Revolution asks consumers to reach out to their favourite clothing brands to ask for more transparency about how their clothing is made.

#whomademyclothes

How much do we know about the clothing in our closets? Beyond the country of origin on the tag, most of the major brands don’t volunteer a lot of information about their supply chains. You have to dig deep into brand websites for more information, which is often not forthcoming. During Fashion Revolution Week, consumers are asked to use the hashtag #whomademyclothes on social media to ask their favourite brands about where their clothing is made, and the conditions under which their workers are employed. Brands and individuals can respond using the hashtag #imadeyourclothes to share with you the faces and the names behind your favourite labels.

some ethical Canadian brands to check out

This list is by no means exhaustive; these are just some of the brands that I saw actively engaging in the conversation around Fashion Revolution Week on Instagram, and that I think are worth checking out if you’re interested in purchasing from Canadian companies who are transparent about their supply chains.

Clothing brands:

• Buttercream Clothing – Made locally in Calgary and sized inclusively up to a 3X, this brand is worth checking out. One caveat: items are made to order, so you could be waiting up to 2 months for delivery.
• Smash + Tess – This loungewear brand recently expanded their sizes up to an XXL, which fits up to a size 18/20. Their rompers have a cult following, and they often collaborate with Jillian Harris. Their new bodysuit is on my wishlist.
• The Garment – This unique small business curates pop-up shops to connect women with ethically made clothing. Many of the items the owner chooses are size-inclusive. They recently added the custom hot pink blazer of my dreams – out of my price range for now but it’s on my list.
• Franc – Not only are their beautiful basic tees and sweatshirts made in Canada, this company has recently started manufacturing their fabric here too. They recently expanded their size offering to XXL, but check the size charts carefully as the measurements differ for each item.
• Encircled – This made-in-Canada brand is all about minimalism and pieces that are made to last. Many of their clothing items can be worn multiple ways to give your wardrobe more versatility.

Accessories:

• Poppy Barley – This brand was started by sisters Justine and Kendall Barber in Edmonton in 2012, and from the beginning they’ve been dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards in their business. Check out the Behind the Label area of their website where they share factory tours, environmental standards, and more. I’m looking forward to checking out their pop-up shop next week here in Ottawa.
• Armadillo – I discovered this brand on Instagram during Fashion Revolution Week, and their designs are really cute. I’d love to have the opportunity to see them in person. This paper bag design is so unique.
• Unbelts – Proud of their ethical supply chain, this brand makes a belt that fits pretty much everyone. And if you fall outside of their size range, no problem – they’ll make one just for you.
• Lost in Layers – *Note: although I did not see them participate in the #whomademyclothes conversation on Instagram, this is a made-in-Canada brand that I have recently purchased from and I wanted to include them.* I discovered this company’s kimonos during a random stop by the JV Studios boutique in Westboro. I fell in love with a black embroidered kimono, but it was in the long length, which is not so flattering on my short frame. I immediately ordered the short version from the website and am waiting for it to arrive. It will definitely be showing up in my Instagram feed!

Learn More

For more information about Fashion Revolution, check out their website here.