In My Solitude Boutique Blog

January 1, 2008

Welcome to the first edition of my blog. Yes, I know the company is called, In My Solitude, but sometimes a girl has to break the silence and talk about her journey. So here we go...

When I started the boutique online six months ago, my goal was to make beautiful, handrafted, eco-friendly things and share them with people who might appreciate my work.

But in order to grow my business, I had to cut back on a lot of wonderfully expensive habits that I could no longer afford. At first it took a while for my inner "Kimora Lee Simmons" to get the message that the spending spree was over. But eventually, "KLS" sashayed away out of pure boredom with her collection of Louis Vuitton luggage in tow.

Who knew that selling my quilts and pillows, online and now in several stores, would open the door to a much larger conversation about what is a "good life" and was I truly living it?

One of my biggest lessons in "07" was seriously learning how to love the life I could afford to live right now... so I can have the future I want!

There are so many ways to live a luxurious life for less. I've produced many shows on the topic of "simplifying your life" over the years, so I know all of the tricks. But, "2007" was the kind of year that had you digging for change at the bottom of your handbag to pay for a cup of organic coffee and coming up with lint. I don't mean to be so "Sex In The City" about it, but I have to ask the question, "Where's the beauty in being well heeled if you can't afford your shoes?"

I discovered that many of my friends were in the same boat and we were constantly sharing information about how to cut corners and still be fabulous. This bi-weekly blog was inspired by those talks and our sincere desire to live well, but not at the cost of our well being. So, if you too are wearing sunglasses from the season before last (just kidding... never that!), my hope is that you find useful and unique ideas here on how to make your home and life more gorgeous, cozy, cool, organized, joyful and most of all affordable.

I'm really excited about some of our recurring features. If you're like me, it's impossible to walk through a store without saying, "I can make that!" Well, this year I'm going to make things I never thought I could make and show you how to do it, too! And if we can't make it, Derek will tell us where to find it at a really amazing price.

Who is Derek you say? We all have a best friend in our life that is fabulous and "fiercely" frugal. Well, Derek Che is my best-kept secret and now I'm sharing him with you. Whether we're in Chinatown, Crenshaw Mall, or the Coach store, he knows where to find THE low cost luxury or high-end bargain of the moment. Derek is a notoriously, tight-fisted fashionista and an Emmy award-winning TV producer. He will be a regular contributor to this blog, so start thinking right now about how to invest all of the money he's going to save you this year.

I know, living with limits is not especially glamorous especially if you're not working toward a goal. But now that the new year is upon us, decide what you want to accomplish over the next 12 months and go for it! And while you're busy creating and visualizing a better tomorrow, try to remember that a "good life" is the life you can afford with ease... today!