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The first frost suddenly arrived before I’ve even had the chance to wear my Part & Parcel over-the-knee suede boots. This chill in the air hits below the surface, when everywhere I look headlines is shouting about “the new decade”. There’s pervasive pressure to pull together a transformative plan for new intentions in a new decade. All of this chatter has given me new decade anxiety.

We’re two months from January, but that doesn’t have to mean any more than turning a page on the calendar. For as long as I can remember, I thought of 2020 as “the future”. Weren’t we supposed to living in space with our flying cars by now? Lack of cosmic living aside, the arrival of a new year doesn’t have any more power than we give it.

Instead, try sitting in stillness with your ambition. Take stock of the momentum – or lack thereof – that has moved you along your current path. Embrace the uncomfortable feelings that the silence brings. Growth doesn’t come from maintaining the status quo or staying within the same boundaries, so being uncomfortable means you’re on the right track.

In that same vein, this month I want to explore personal style from the inside out. The routines that give us comfort and the practices that keep us centered are essential to our mental & physical health, especially during the holiday season. Push aside any imposed urgency to make future vision boards in favor of embracing the present. The next 60 days will pass at the same speed, regardless of our enthusiasm (or lack thereof) to rush past. There’s a reason the adage “slow & steady wins the race” still rings true.

What I’m Shopping

Universal Standard Nicole Cashmere Blend Turtleneck Sweater, $240

I’ve been wearing the same black 3xl turtleneck from Talbots for at least the past five years and I’m desperate for an upgrade. This is the truth about “basics”: basics are only essentials if they have an irreplaceable function in your wardrobe. Wearing the same black turtleneck season-after-season gives me confidence that investing in a premium fabric is worthwhile.

If turtlenecks aren’t already a staple in your winter wardrobe, perhaps a classic cashmere-blend sweater is more your speed?

What I’m Wearing

Target Plus Size High Rise Camo Cargo Pants, $31

When I tell you that I have been waiting for ELOQUII’s Camo Cargo Pants to come back in stock since August, believe me, because I have the receipts. Imagine how delighted I was to find Target had a similar high-rise version that was not only more affordable but was available immediately in-store, so of course, I bought them.

Wearing camo print in the south can be a little tricky, because for me it’s a fashion choice, for many of my fellow Arkansans, camo is a lifestyle. To avoid looking like I have a deer hunting license, I glam them up with heels, jewelry, and avoiding any brown or green tones.

What I’m Reading

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, $12.99

If it seems like Brianne Huntsman is the only person I take reading recommendations from, you are correct. Just this morning she recommended reading Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, which was a huge hit when it first came out, but I never quite got around to reading. Now that the hype has died down, the audiobook was available to borrow immediately from my local library & I am hooked.

If you enjoy instant gratification as much as I do, you can listen to the Year of Yes right along with me by getting a free Audible download credit and a 30-day trial by visiting Audibletrial.com/RascalHoney.