July Lifestyle Ideas

I apologize for such late ideas u_u

• Add a bit of summer flair to an outfit with an over-sized handmade sea shell necklace
• Try a tropical new flavor of tea like lychee nut or hibiscus mint 
• On the subject of tea, check out this adorable strawberry tea leaf strainer!
• Turn your favorite bakery item into an accessory! Etsy carries oodles of yummy cabochons suitable for pins, brooches, necklaces, earrings, rings and more!
• Try a new style of make-up - blush near the corners of one's eyes is a popular trend in japan among many different styles ♥
• One of my favorite places to shop for (super cheap) is Ebay! Most companies ship internationally and you can find mori-esque or even gift items from Japanese magazines ♪
• Like air mail/par avion motifs? This Etsy seller creates wearable paper bows
• One of my favorite ice cream flavors in Japan was local sea salt - while I can't find a recipe try experimenting with your own unusual flavors of ice cream, try different nuts or exotic fruits
• Give yourself a honey facial ♥ It may be a sticky and a bit itchy but after 10-15 minutes your skin will feel baby soft. Honey also has wonderful antibacterial properties
• If you are a fan of both Mori girl and Lolita fashion, consider checking out Midori's style book. I didn't know she liked "natural" fashion also ^_^ it's full of great style and beauty tips as well as cute tidbits from Midori

June Lifestyle Ideas

• It's summer, and that means watermelon! Not only is it delicious and hydrating, it's great for your skin
• Try unusual summer drink flavor combinations, like cantaloupe and basil, strawberry and rosemary or watermelon and grapefruit
• Time to break our your sailor collars, I particularly love this TaoBao find (about $8 USD)
• Send a letter to a friend or spruce up your usual correspondence with cute (and cheap) stationary
• Sun is essential to healthy skin and overall health so try to spend 10-15 minutes outside everyday (remember your sun screen)
• Sunflowers are my favorite summer flower - try adding sunflower seeds to a yummy summer salad
• Stuck inside? Take time a browse these lovely photography tumblrs (here and here) Oh, and here is my summer-themed tumblr
• Here's a simple and quick hair bow tutorial
• Enjoy looking through Japanese street fashion snaps? Try RID SNAP
• You can find many Japanese embroidery and craft mooks on Etsy

May Lifestyle Ideas

• Swap butter and sweeteners for honey - it's good for your skin, antibacterial, never expires and tastes great on toast!
• Try a different color scheme than you are used to for your outfits. Consider soft plumbs, light teals and faded oranges
• Relax with a nice Ghibli movie - one of my personal favorites is Kiki's Delivery Service ♫
• Go for an early morning bike ride - pack a picnic breakfast and relax in the shade
• Find your inner Heidi and crown your head in braids. Looped braids with a beret also look cute ♪
• Ever tried milk tea? Here's an easy recipe ♥
• Experiment with unusual mori silhouettes - such as baby-doll style dresses or loose, saggy pants
• I'm thinking about trying yoga this summer - it's said to be a great stress reliever and tones your core, which helps you loose weight!
• Escape the early summer head with an afternoon at the Library. 
• Save table tops from cool drinks with these cute fabric house coasters!

April Lifestyle Ideas

• Buy a packet of your favorite wildflower seeds (or seedlings) and grow them indoors - remember to try to avoid picking wildflowers (it's illegal in my state)!
• Add a pretty shade of pastel to your outfits - try bags, shoes, scarves, accessories or yummy Easter candy ♥
• If it's still chilly where you live, stock up on clearance winter accessories from ASOS.com - plus enjoy free shipping! (it takes a bit of page digging but they have faux fur collars, mittens, gloves, earmuffs, cuffs and more)
• Familiarize yourself with a new variety of herb or edible flower - consider lemon grass, orange balsam thyme, pineapple sage or lemon verbena 
• Looking for new music? Sóley and Sea Oleena have very refreshing voices ♫
• Consider coordinating a lovely cotton apron into your wardrobe - or a more practical one for cooking, crafting or working in the garden 
• Make easy photo displays using a rock and wire
• Decorate a sleep mask with soft lace or velvet for more luxurious slumber~
• Embroidery hoops with porous fabric such as tulle make easy and cute earring storage - hang them on the wall like cute frames
• Aluminum cans can easily be cleaned and re purposed as rustic pencil holders - make sure that the edges are not sharp!

March Lifestyle Ideas

Eek! It's already a week in to March! Please forgive me and enjoy these tips ♥

• Tie a vintage silk scarf around your shoulders like a loose collar
• Make a mood board of things you're looking forward to this spring or summer. Include photos, soft ribbons, dried flowers and anything else that reminds you of the season. Hang the board somewhere you will see it often
• Bloomers are a pretty easy sewing project - try making your own with lots of soft cotton lace. Loose bloomers keep a coordinate looking simply and very mori ♥
• Alternatively, try making a cute scrunchie - earth tones with thin lace look very nice
• You know that alpacas are adorable, but have you ever worn something made from alpaca yarn? Or what about Angora rabbit? Check Etsy for these handmade items.
• Brown leather school satchels add a very cute "prep school" feel to an outfit and are very practical bags!
• Design a coordinate around your favorite musical instrument - extra points for originality 
• Love berets? Check Ebay for inexpensive plain berets and decorate them with velvet ribbon, pearls, lace and polka dots!
• Did you know that over-the-door shoe organizers are a great way to organize your tights, socks and other small accessories as well? Give it a try? 
• Award style (aka "blue ribbon" style) ribbons are currently trending as very popular brooches. Pick a ribbon with muted earth tones and hints of gold for a subtly frilly addition to an outfit. 

February Lifestyle Ideas

Image via here

• Start an indoor collection of seedlings to plant in the spring - try strawberry plants, sweet peas, pansies or herbs ♥
• Winter isn't over yet! Don't forget to treat your skin right and drink plenty of water and tea 
• Pearls are great accessories, why not add them to your beret, cardigan or scarf? Sew-on pearl beads and inexpensive and easy to use.
• Add some fung shui to your life~ Open windows, de-clutter and opt for natural materials like wicker baskets and light cotton.
• Take a nice warm bubble bath with fragrant salts, candle light and nice music. It's your time to relax after the hustle and bustle of the last few months.
• (Shameless self-plug ahead) stay on the lookout for my new shop! I will be adding items soon ♥
• Check out Pixie_late's new cute mori and otome coords!
• Sit down and draw your meal. Watercolors and pens work beautifully.
• Visit a cute bakery or cafe and take photos of the food and decor. Film and Instax-style cameras work especially nice. 
• Dress your significant other up in mori for a quick photo shoot. I think it would be particularly interesting to see mori-styled men ♥

November Lifestyle Ideas

• It's not to late for pumpkin everything (tastes, scents, colors, you name it!)
• Fawn prints, fawn prints, fawn prints, am I right? 
• Spice up an outfit with an inexpensive, versatile beret and dress it up with detachable pins and other accessories
• Adhesive lace is a cute and easy way to decorate stationary, gifts, photo frames and more!
• Slowing start incorporating plaids and tartans (via scarves or skirts) to get you in the mood for winter
• Dress up a simple shirt with a lace collar. Sew it on to make it permanent or layer it over other clothing
• I am a huge fan of brooches, like this adorable bunny. You can make your own using Scuply modeling clay and paint. Pins can be found at nearly any craft store.
• Here's a cute decorating idea: collect small antique embroidered handkerchiefs, frame them, and arrange them like art
• Check out this cute lace jewelry holder tutorial
• Take a second to sit down and breath. It's fall, enjoy it.
  

October Lifestyle Ideas

• As the weather becomes cooler, consider volunteering your time to those who will be the most effected (such as the homeless or the animal shelter)
• Make a festive door wreath out of autumn leaves and acorns
• Start thinking of your Hallowe'en costume! (I'll post an inspiration list soon)
• Two words: Pumpkin. Everything. (i.e. pie, tea, spice, ice cream, basically anything and everything)
• Decorate your room with small decorative pumpkins and gourds of different colors and textures
• Since autumn is basically the season of food, why not theme an outfit around your favorite? Think not only of motifs, but colors and textures as well~
• Get lost in an old fashion corn maze
• Scarves, scarves scarves!
• Munch on traditional Hallowe'en/autumn candies like candy apples, caramels and rice crispies
• Try making your own jam from scratch. The simplest way is to much up fruit, add sugar and wait till it comes to a boil. I'm not very skilled yet, so look up sealing and important things like that ^_^ (We just started a jam club at my school, that's why I'm so enthusiastic)

September Lifestyle Ideas

 

September is my favorite month! Why because it's the beginning of Autumn and my birth month!

• Load up on cheap socks (summer clearance) before it gets cold and experiments with layering
• Give your outfits a slightly nerdy, school-esque look with a uniform ribbon
• Go all-out nerdy with cute braids, large-rimmed glasses and drawn-on freckles!
• Be on the lookout for flavors like pumpkin and apple cinnamon. My grocery store even carries pumpkin ice cream!
• Make biscuit-themed accessories, like hair clips and brooches (I really want to do this)! 
• Make a monthly/seasonal shadow box filled with seasonal items (like leaves, pine cones, acorns and dried flowers for autumn). Change the contents of the box as the season/month changes
• Sew a cute sleeping mask 
• If the weather permits, try to spend an entire day outside, or just go on a camping trip!
• Spend time on a walk collecting acorns (I did this when I walked home from school last year) 
• Add dark greens, burgundies or plaids into your wardrobe for a warmer look

This is the sleeping mask idea~

August Lifestyle Ideas

• Cool off with a floral bath - spread rose and violet petals in the water and add essential oils like lavender and mint to relax
• Make a cool treat by topping off yummy chocolate ice cream with raspberries, mint leaves and almond slivers
• Use cute vintage tea and cookie tins to store small hair accessories, jewelry and school supplies
• Spend the day (and night) at a beach-side carnival and take vintage-style photos of merry-go-rounds and ornate food stands. Use a lomo/Holga or polaroid camera for the most vintage feel.
• Send a surprise package to a friend that you talk to often - they will not expect to find a cute package for them in the mail! Include a cute stationary note, hard candy, small toys and other sweet things ♪
• Denim shorts can be mori too - I saw a pair of mid length distressed denim jean shorts with doilies and other lace trim sewn on that made them look positively adorable!
• Make a mori-accessory strictly with things you already have lying around. Scraps of velvet, lace, doilies, ribbons, charms and fake flowers will do
• Take this one step farther and make a cult-party inspired collar - notice how they used washing instruction tags!
• Start a scrapbook of small items like stamps, ribbon, deco tape and decorative paper. A cute Japanese scrap booking mook can be downloaded here
• Vintage metal locker drawers make cute storage solutions
• Dab a drop or two of essential oils like lemon, rose, sage or lavender on your light bulbs. When the light bulbs heat up, the oil's scent is released~

July Lifestyle Ideas

• If the weather permits, plan a strawberry picking outing. Use a straw basket and a wear a soft, cotton apron
• Innocent world has a wonderful mori-able jsk to match!
• It's never too early to plan for school! I have a year of high school yet but I'm already looking at mori-style interior design books for dorm ideas (Japanese apartments and dorms are about the same size, aren't they?)
• This Japanese furniture website has a gallery of bedroom ideas
• Here's a simple craft to try: make simple bow brooches using different colors and textures of ribbon and lace and sew/glue on a pin. Experiment with layers of fabric too
• Try unusual accessories like big-rimmed granny glasses
• Create a light scarf by sewing together vintage lace doilies 
• Nothing makes a more perfect summer bag than a straw basket or small picnic case with a doily attached to it
• Tokyo Jam has a selection of Japanese mori-esque craft and embroidery tutorial mook scans
• Wondering how to add mori-style to the ever-necessary summer shorts? Add eyelet lace trim to the leg hole or add patches of lace around the legs and pockets

June Lifestyle Ideas

• Look for accessories for this month's challenge (Sailor!) at beach-side vintage or antique shop
• Try a sweet "Pink Lady" soda I tried at a vintage candy shop - Mix (your preference) of 7-up, Orange Sunkist, a hint of raspberry flavor and top off with Italian cream
• Coordinate outfits with soft tulle and gauze instead of lace for a unique look 
• Practice making "Zakka" pouches - they are a simple sewing expenditure! - Here are some cute fabrics and zippers
• Have a yummy breakfast of waffles topped with fresh strawberries, whipped cream and powdered sugar - so sugary and delicious! 
• Take a visit to your local botanical center to enjoy wildflowers and wildlife
• Bring a sketch book or camera along with you to record the beautiful life you observe there!
• Layer decorative lace collars over a simple shirt or blouse
• Try sewing cute felt cakes and sweets
• Collect vintage decorative tins to store your mori treasures

May Lifestyle Ideas

From Syrup's new collection

• Outfit your breezy dresses with a simple white cotton smock or apron
• Adopt your own "signature animal" - wear themed jewelry, colors and accessories. I personally love deer and rabbits myself :)
• Host an outdoor evening garden party. Use mason jars with tea lights, dainty flower centerpieces and hang lanterns or fairy lights in trees. Serve berry themed drinks and desserts as well! 
• Coordinate thin sailor stripes or polka dots into your outfit. Navy and white are traditional, but Syrup has included green and white stripes and lots of polka dots in their new collection
• Make a small silk flower crown with tiny white flowers and greenery 
• Wear a floppy sun hat to protect your skin from the approaching heat 
• Grown a small tea herb garden - try chamomile, mint and even a mini lemon or lime tree and experiment with tea blends
• Add some nautical flair to blouses and shirts with sailor collars or ascots
• If your house or room is over do for a spring cleaning, now's the time to do it! Open windows to let in some fresh spring sun and air 
• Add small pops of pastel yellow for added spring energy in your outfits

April Lifestyle Ideas

• Try incorporating bunnies, lambs and baby chick motifs into your outfits (think brooches, jewelry and prints)
• It's not too late to start a small flower or vegetable garden, beans and carrots are easy to grow. (Or better yet - grow the seedlings indoors in egg shells)
• Egg shells also make cute tiny flower vases or planters
• Create you own spring centerpiece with (fake or real) eggs (try different colors and varieties), moss, lace, flowers or anything else that reminds you of spring.
• Make a cute carrot cake in the honor or baby bunnies!
• Start pressing spring flowers before summer withers them up. Use them to make cards or decorate a diary
• If it's not quite warm enough to romp around outside yet, why not research mori-esque movies? I plan to do a large post sooner but why not try Anne of Green Gables, Princess Mononoke or (maybe a stretch but she does have a lot of cute outfits and forest scenes) Pan's Labyrinth.
• Suzy's Zoo characters aren't very popular in the US, but I think they would be quite cute for mori-esque stationary and accessories. I have a cute calender I got for $1!
• If you usually drink hot tea, research new ice tea blends. Peppermint, floral and fruit flavors make delicious cold tea.
• If you're looking for a new friend, consider adopting a bunny from your human society. Many baby bunnies are given to children during Easter and then grow bored and abandon them. The same applies to chicks and ducklings!

March Lifestyle Ideas

• This season's hot trend is pansies! Try press flowers to decorate art, make jewelry or display a whole plant in a cute container
• Pansies also remind me of violets - and Choward's Violet Mints! 
• Start incorporating more soft creams and fawn browns into your outfits
• Have you read the Anne of Green Gables series (or seen the movie)? I highly recommend it! (I'll probably do a Who's that Mori-girl post on Anne soon)
• Always wanted a flower or small vegetable garden but couldn't find the space or good soil? Why not a container garden? Choose fun pots or unusual containers - don't forget little garden critters!
• Straw hats are cute, but why not try a full brimmed straw sunhat - both stiff and floppy styles
• Try making new, fragrant spring desserts like Strawberry Mille-feuille, rose brownies or lavender macaroons
• The band The Album Leaf creates some soft, sweet music perfect for spring
• Try to take a small walk as often as you can. I recently discovered how exciting it is to watch birds chirp to other birds 
• Speaking of birds, try attracting them with a yummy blend of fresh seeds in a cute feeder. If you don't have a backyard, try a park or preserve to spot wild birds

February Lifestyle Ideas

I almost forgot to do lifestyle tips for this month, sorry!

• For Valentines day, make mori-themed valentines. Use pictures of forest animals, cute mushrooms, doilies and lots of lace!
• Make this yummy rose cake (recepice by agewa) I know I'm going to try it!
• Coordinate greens and browns with soft pink for a lighter look
• Make more Valentines treats like rose brownies or lavender macaroon
• Accessorize with mini silk or fabric roses - add them to your hair, scarves, jacket, wherever!
• Bring a miniature rose home with you 
• A simple lace or crochet collar adds a sweet touch to a coordinate
• If you have a willing someone, give them a mori-makeover (couple photos, perhaps?)
• Be your own Valentine and treat yourself to a gift from the mori-esque shop Ruche
• If you have the time and space, why not adopt a small friend as your valentine?

January Lifestyle Ideas

Here is your monthly dose of lifestyle ideas!

• Buy a new pair of pattern otk (over the knee) socks while it's still chilly
• Stock up on left-over candy canes to snack on or make peppermint bark (bonus: try making realistic tree patterns in the chocolate)
• Make this year's calender by collaging scraps of lace, inspirational photos and delicate fabrics
• If you're crafty, knit or sew a pair of anklets or boot toppers
• Search for antique keys at antique stores, make jewelry or decorate your space 
• Buy a new watch, add charms and accessories to mori-ize it
• Experiment with new types of hats; bonnets, night caps and scarves 
• Try different techniques of braiding to style your hair
• Get a hold of a felt stuffed animal pattern book and sew up a few new friends, have a photo shoot too!
• Start small seedlings indoors to prepare for spring

December Lifestyle Ideas

It's officially winter now, so here are a few ideas to keep your mind off the cold, brrr!

• If you haven't had the chance yet, try making clove oranges with pretty red ribbons
• Collect holiday cookie tins to store treasures or maybe as reusable gift wrapping
• Make handmade tree ornaments in empty glass balls - I will make a tutorial on this soon!
• Use cinnamon for everything! Tea, food, candles, decoration, it's the sent of winter!
• Create paper snowflakes to string or tape to windows
• How about a snow photo shoot? Or simply photos of your winter landscape
•  For less chilly evenings, wrap a silk scarf or crocheted lace shawl around your shoulders
• Incorporated berry and winter colors into your wardrobe - cranberry, pine cone-brown and evergreen
• Start collection decorations for holiday presents, look out for small pine cones, sprigs or berries and evergreen branches (I'm also going to write a post on gift wrapping of course)!

November Lifestyle Ideas

• Make a list of 5 things that make you happy or grateful everyday (like curled ferns and baby squirrels), keep the list for the whole month
• Play photographer for the day and capture the changing colors of the season - even better, Send out vintage-style fall greeting cards or postcards to your family and friends using your art
• Frame your photos or other fall-themed art and display them all season
• Plan a camping trip to a rustic forest cottage while the weather is cool
• Rake piles of leaves with your friends and jump in them!
• Nibble on snicker doodle cookies accompanied by a cup of warm tea and a cute book
• Try your luck at water-coloring a fall forest scene 
• Search your local flower shop for special seasonal flowers and bouquets
• Make a fall-themed wreath of flowers to wear - experiment with both real and silk flowers and accents

October Lifestyle Ideas

Autumn is the season of mori! The season to celebrate the forest and start layering your look. Here listed are a few simple ideas to inspire your every day mori-girl (or guy)!

• Go acorn hunting! Prepare a pretty basket or treasure pouch and collect acorns of different shapes and sizes. Use them for decoration or add them to your ourfit.
• Collect oak or other large autumn-esque leaves and string them into a garland. Hang it above your window, bed or mirror. 
• As the weather gets chillier, faux fur is a smart and cute way to add layer to your look. Add a faux fur caplet or collar like this one to your outfit. Bonus points if it's spotted! (If anyone finds spotted fur like a fawn's, please tell me)!
• Consider adding a crochet lace collar to your outfit. Something like this would work beautifully.
• If you live in an area that grows apples, why not take a trip to an apple orchard? Not only is it a beautiful backdrop for photos, but you can also make many delicious treats with your basket of goodies!
• Take a trip to a forest, or maybe just your backyard. Bring your camera and look for little ferns, moss and maybe a critter or do. Perhaps an outfit shot as well?
• Start thinking of scarves, mittens, earmuffs and other winter accessories. Try making a light scarf by sewing together lace doilies.
• Dress up in a mori-themed costume for Halloween! Perhaps little red riding hood, a wolf, scarecrow  deer, rabbit, owl or woodland nymph.
• Decorate your space with unique varieties of pumpkins and other autumn gourds.