SARAHVZMUSIC

Hi! Every alternate week I aim to share 5 Small Wonders of the Week, five things that I find inspiring, uplifting, and interesting – and I hope you find some value in them too. This is the very first one, enjoy!

1. For the mind: HAPPIER podcast

I want to share one of my favourite podcasts, HAPPIER with Gretchen Rubin. It is a hugely successful podcast that Gretchen co-hosts with her sister, Elizabeth Craft. I enjoy the mix of research-based advice and shared wisdom from the hosts, guests and community of listeners. It’s a lighthearted podcast, filled with helpful tips and practical ideas to boost everyday happiness. I always feel uplifted, inspired, and a little happier after an episode. 

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2. For the body: Mid-size Fashion

I recently discovered “mid-size” fashion content creators and realised it’s quite novel and powerful to see women with similar figures modelling gorgeous outfits. I don’t often say positive things about social media, but nowadays you can find fashion inspiration for all shapes, sizes and ages.
I’ll share creators below who have inspired me with new ways to dress and to be more confident. 

• Julia Parzyck @fitfatandallthat
• Mollie Campsie @molliecampsie
• Sarah Morales @fromsarahsleeve
• Ilona Maher @ilonamaher (not a fashionista, but an inspiring Olympian)
• MM Personal Styling (Youtube channel with tons of tips for all ages/sizes)

If you know any more, let me know in the comments. 

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3. For the spirit: Dress A Girl Around The World

I want to spotlight the wonderful ‘Dress A Girl Around The World’ campaign. Founded by Rachel Cinader and run by Hope 4 Women International, this program gathers dresses sewn by volunteers and distributes them to girls who need them all around the world. The dresses sent may be the only dress a girl is gifted in her life. 

What differences do these dresses make? In their words: 

“By providing a new dress you may well be changing a young girl’s destiny. We all know that a new dress makes us feel good, so imagine never having had one! … wearing a new dress presents an appearance that she is well cared for and may discourage would-be predators.”

This program runs in many countries. If you enjoy sewing, or know somebody who does, check their website to find your local representative. There are guidelines as to which fabrics and patterns to use, so make sure to check those. I buy fabric on sale where I can, and have managed to use offcuts from other projects. 

For those in New Zealand, check out the Dress A Girl NZ Facebook Page. 
Here are some dresses I have sent:

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4. For your creativity: Op Shops

This one pairs very well with No 2. If you do get inspired to update your wardrobe but don’t want to support consumerism or fast fashion, try Op shops (a.k.a. second hand/charity shops). 

I have primarily shopped at Op shops for my clothing for years. Trust me, there are so many wonderful gems to be found at great prices, and I get so many compliments on my Op shop purchases. I find Op shops are also good for jewellery, handbags and sewing supplies. You also find more interesting items that can’t be found in stores. 

Op shopping is one of my favourite hobbies. I love visiting the local op shops when I’m in a new town or area.

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5. Something uplifting: Project Finish

This week I learnt about something cool called Project Finish (thanks to Erin Azar @immrsspacecadet on Insta). Established in 2016, Project Finish is a group of people who gather to cheer on the last finishers at the New York City Marathon. I’d never really considered it, but the runners who finish last don’t have the crowds that the earlier finishers have as they cross the finish line. So this group stepped in to fill the void and make every finisher get the encouragement they need. I love this idea, and hopefully it catches on! 

That’s all for now. Do you have a small wonder to share this week? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear about it!

Until next time,
Sarah

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Happy Birthday to my mom

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Music News

I released a new song today, called Easy To Love. You can listen on any online music stores, including YouTube and Spotify (below).

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