Feeling Lucky Sale (1/2 Off the Whole Shoppe!)

We have never done a BIG sale before.  Sounded like a fun way to say THANK YOU for a great holiday season.  

Excludes necklace bar.  

See you soon!

Too Busy

Lately, I have noticed a lot of people posting on Facebook, "I am too busy to be sick."  (What does that even mean?  Isn't being sick your body's way of telling you to slow down?)  Last month, I was too busy to remember much of anything.  (Because that's healthy.)  Yet, being "too busy" has become a badge of honor we wear.  When we should be saying, "I am too busy.  I need to slow down, so my body and mind can rest, so I can reflect, so I can be," we are saying, "I am too busy for sleep, too busy for illness, too busy to spend time with my family, and too busy to take time for myself."  And we say it with pride.

It is as though our value comes from how busy we are.  If you are an attorney, you are SO busy at work.  If you are a stay at home mom, you are SO busy shuttling kids from school to soccer to dance.  We tell people how busy we are to demonstrate how important and useful we are.  And we praise each other for it, because the busier you are, the more important you must be.

I recently finished a book for my book club called Still Alice.  It is written from the point of view of a woman with early onset Alzheimer's disease.  It made me reflect on the societal value we put on being busy.  It made me reflect on my own need to be busy.  I wonder how our lives would be different if we started valuing NOT being busy.  If we praised spending the day in a hammock, instead of seeing it as a glutonous luxury.  If our children spent hours playing in the backyard with sticks, instead of being constantly entertained by one activity or another.  If our lives were about less, instead of more, more, more.  I wonder if we are really getting more out of our lives or if they are so full, we are getting less.

This is one of my themes for the year:  Doing less.  When you are trying to run a small business, trying to make a long distance relationship work, trying to give back to the community, trying to have meaningful relationships with friends and family, and trying to improve yourself as a person, it is easy for your life to get out of balance.  It is easy to be "too busy."  And it is even easier to keep doing, when you are praised for it.

I hope you all won't think less of me if I learn how to spend time sitting and doing nothing.  I hope you won't think I am lazy if I don't go to the office everyday.  I hope you won't think I don't care about the community if I don't join another board.  I hope you won't judge me if I am not so busy.  But if you do, that's okay, because I know to make my impact on the world, I need to allow enough time to see what that impact is.  When I am too busy, I can not see.

What were you too busy for today?

Image form:  http://gapingvoid.com/2006/02/23/too-busy/

Trend I Love: Wedges

Who doesn't love Prada + gold studs?  These wedges are elegant, edgy, and comfy.

I have pretty much decided I am a flats girl.  Ballet flats.  Loafers.  Flat boots.  I look at these girls walking around in these super cute 4 1/2" inch heels and I can't even imagine how they can stay upright, let alone walk up stairs in them.  I strongly believe quality shoes are more comfortable, but after trying on some 4" Manolos, because everyone told me how "comfortable" they were, I realized what they meant was they are slightly more comfortable than the sensation of walking on razor blades that you get when you wear 4" heels from Forever 21.  Not comfortable in my book.  

But one high heeled trend I can get on board with is the wedge.  Wedges have platforms and wedges have support.  Wedges... I can walk in and sometimes... I would even say are comfortable.  I am still at risk of teetering off the edge and taking a dive on the sidewalk, but I can roll my ankle in running shoes, so operator error might be at play.  Needless to say, in a sea of shoes that are meant for museums, wedges are made for walking.  Here are some great ones.  

$35 at Target?  Are you kidding me?  Go buy these.  So cute!

Charlotte Olympia is my new fav shoe designer.  But all of the shoes are sooo high...  Except these wedges.  Gorg and comfy!

Love these for a spring/summer/winter vaca basic.  And right now they are on sale for under $50.

And the wedge trend isn't just for summer shoes.  Check out these super cute Coach booties.  

My wedges for today.  I can even walk in them!

Do you love wedges?  Or can you demystify the world of high heels for me?

January Giveaway!

The holidays are over.  It can be a little bit of a let down.  No more holiday parties.  No more Christmas presents.  No more excuses to wear sequins from head to toe.  (You don't need an excuse.  Do it!)  

So...  Lets do a Bon Lemon giveaway!  Follow the steps below and you can win 6 pairs of earrings of your choice!

Here's what you have to do:

1.  Take a picture of yourself wearing your favorite Bon Lemon earrings.  If you don't have any Bon Lemon earrings (we don't know why you wouldn't, but just in case) you can pick a pair from our website, www.bonlemon.com.  

2.  Tag yourself in the photo and post it on our Facebook page.

3.  On Saturday, January 12, we will draw a winner randomly from all entries.  

The winner gets to pick their 6 favorite pairs of earrings under $100.  We really did say 6.  Up to a $600 value!  Who is feeling festive now?

Woo hoo!  I love January.

Bonne Chance!

Trend I Love: Stripes

Aren't you just loving the stripe trend?  I don't think I will ever get sick of it.  Stripes, stripes, everywhere.  Pants, shirts, dresses.  Love!  

Would you rock these fab pants?

This tunic from Sail to Sable is a keeper.

I have died and gone to stripe heaven.

How cute is this striped dress from Old Navy?  Love it!  (Although, I would pair it with red tights and black boots + the necklace below...)

Stripes pair surprisingly well with big statement necklaces like this one.  

Give it a shot.  You won't be sorry.

I hope the stripe trend is here to stay.  How do you stripe?

Amy's 2013 (Not) Resolutions

It's 2013.  If you are like me, you may have missed the memo.  2012 is over....  

2012 whizzed by so quickly, there are many bits I have forgotten already.   (If I promised to do something in the month of December, you can assume I have completely dropped the ball.)  I haven't blogged for two months, because our group of lemon loving friends is growing and we were busy little elves.  (Wrapping pretty packages took precedent over my online ramblings.)  

Bon Lemon had our best year ever.  Merci to you!  

I have been reflecting on 2012 and thinking about how to move forward into 2013.  I like the idea of making New Year's Resolutions as a way to set goals for the following year.  I don't like the idea of focusing on all the things you aren't doing good enough. 

This year, I am declaring these my 2013 (Not) Resolutions.  They aren't even resolutions, just ideas and inspirations for a fabulous 2013.  I give you, 

Amy's 2013 (Not) Resolutions

In 2013, I am going to quiet the voice saying I need to be skinnier, wealthier, funnier, and more/better/different.  The voice may not go away, but instead of trying to drown it out with more activities, more work, more play, more everything (which is how I have lived for most of my life), I am going to focus on doing less, listening more, and hearing what I have been missing.  

  

In 2013, I am going to simplify my life.

In 2013, I am going to be happy.

In 2013, I am going to believe in the impossible.  I am going to believe in inspiring millions of people.  Not pretend to believe, but really believe.

In 2013, I am going to hold the door for people, say "Good Afternoon" to strangers, chew with my mouth closed, write thank you notes, set a beautiful table, share with others, be kind, and say please and thank you.

 In 2013, I am going to be me.  I am so good at being what other people want me to be, sometimes I lose sight of what I am.  This year, I will be me.

In 2013, I am going to celebrate everyday.

In 2013, I am going to keep furthering Bon Lemon's mission to:  Spread sparkle to inspire self-esteem.

In 2013, I will be inspired by the finite nature of life.

I am often afraid.  I fear Bon Lemon won't make ends meet.  I fear the collapse of our economy.  I fear many things, because I am so busy worrying about what might happen, I don't enjoy what is happening.  In 2013, I will remind myself that nothing worth doing is without risks and having the faith to take these leaps is what makes a life come alive.

Even though I am reasonably comfortable with my body, I have these moments (or weeks/months) where I feel fat.  In the realm of French fashion models, I am fat.  In the realm of the world, I am not.  I can tell myself over and over that having a balanced, healthy lifestyle is what is important, but when my muffin top starts to look more like a spare tire (whether this is in reality or my head, I am completely unsure), I take to self loathing.  In 2013, I am going to exercise and eat healthy, real foods.  And sometimes I am going to drink too much wine, eat too much dessert, or not have time to go to the gym.   And if this makes my pants a touch tight, I am going to remember that my body is a very small part of who I am.  

In 2013, I am going to make snow angels.

In 2013, I will not hold onto anger.

 I have often criticized myself because of my love of delicious foods, exotic places, unique wares, and things that can pinch your pocket book.  I have often thought I should take less pleasure in these experiences and things.  That I would be a better person if I didn't like them.  But I have realized, my love of king crab legs is just as much a part of who I am as my desire to volunteer.  My love of inspiring interior design in Istanbul, beautiful landscapes in Monte Negro, and kind people in Vietnam is an essential part of who I am.  In 2013, I plan to embrace who I am.  And ignore any voices to the contrary. 

 Because these things make me come alive.

In 2013, I am getting married.  Sometimes this scares the crap out of me.  What if we don't like each other in 10 years?  What if I want to be a journalist in Iran and he doesn't want me to go?  What if he wants to dye his hair green and get a nose ring?  I value my autonomy and independence so much that marriage can seem like an affront to that.  But what I know is that my life long relationships are the most liberating.  

My parents unwavering support of me is freeing.  My sister's undying commitment to my happiness is inspiring.  I have never trusted anyone else enough to rely on them in this way, but in 2013, when I marry 6 Par Farmer (who you are now picturing with green hair and a nose ring.  Hee hee.), I am excited about the possibility of creating a partnership that is more than the sum of its parts.  I can not imagine what it will be like to be more impactful and stronger with a partner than on my own, but I am excited.  This is one area, where I will be adding something to my life, instead of taking something away. 

Oui!  Oui!

In 2013, I am going to stop worrying about how everything is going to work out.  (Let's be realistic, I am going to try and stop worrying.) 

In 2013, I am going to recognize life's small successes.

In 2013, I am going to support people.  

In 2013, I am going to put my head in the clouds and see what happens.

It is 2013. 

What are your (Not) Resolutions?