Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum
November 18, 2025
November 10, 2025
Crunchy
PLASTIC - it’s everywhere!! I’m pretty sure my underwear is made of plastic. I am just so over plastic. & Chemicals. Unnatural clothing, bizarre body products. PLASTIC. …
Post-birth of each child I give myself a pass — the generosity to be gentle and relaxed with my otherwise crunchy ecological, home and health rules. (EG processed foods ordered in, tacky crafts or mittens overnighted in bulk.) But, youngest BΓ©bΓ© is now three, so I am no longer in ‘survival mode’ and am empowered - aka ruthless and rageful - against the world’s BS once again. π All crap must go.
November 9, 2025
Fashion Rules
As I am perpetually attracted to and distracted by bright, shiny objects and innumerable looks, modas and trends, I have to condition myself not to try every cut, color and material …
We should (in times of limitless options) make our own little unspoken edicts (whilst free to disobey and evolve said mandates constantly). Such as :
FOR FASHION (currently) -
1. No writing. Strong personal pet-peeve, should be its own post.
2. No logos. Especially not on heart or head!!
3. No black. Unless for equipment, like sports.
4. No polyester. Though also OK for athletic / specialty purposes.
5. No bands around the diaphragm. Camisoles in lieu of bras.
6. Streamlined underwear sets.
7. No high-heels. Low heels on occasion. Thick soles for dusty country living.
8. Soft style hair ties.
9. Mascara is for special days.
10. Shop while on vacation. Too taxing during regular family-life days.
11. The word ‘fashion’ gets a bad rap - and I keep hearing use ‘style’, but I like the practicality of fashion being a ‘system, manner, method, approach’, and the DIY aspect that to fashion is to ‘make, manufacture, construct, build’.
November 7, 2025
Your mat as an island
Your mat = your own little world. Today I left my rose quartz colored, woven cotton yoga mat in the yoga studio’s ladies room. Sob! I’ll pick it up next time, of course. I use a yoga rug and cannot believe this style has not caught on (I’ve seen only one other) as I give it zero complaints and many acclaims. π
October 30, 2025
Not crabby
October 23, 2025
Gaseous π¬️
Handpick preferences and priorities. Your own, not others’.
October 9, 2025
Eras
Be true to yourself in this present-day era: balance inner knowing with open curiosity. There is always room for improvement.
September 15, 2025
Mirror rorriM
When we lessen our own material requirements, (persistently removing those pesky impulses and cravings one-at-a-time,) the incessant worldly demands of our children (and other household members) no longer vex us, as the mirror aspect is removed. πͺ
August 14, 2025
July 28, 2025
Peppy steppy
More PEP in my STEP this AM thanks to the husband who scooped up and brought back with him a small assemblage of attire from my main closet at home whilst there on a work day (I am on a month-long uninterrupted ‘reclusive’ vaycay). I didn’t realize how fatigued I was of my pathetic selection of duds (it is ASPEN, after all,) until I donned a neon swimsuit, gingham dress, silky cardi, pink suede sneakers and got a NEW LEASE ON LIFE!
P.S. The procuring of such items was made possible by strategic, color-coded closet organization (and periodic paring down,) allowing myself to plainly explain and my husband to effortlessly locate the 10 or so sought-after items in mere minutes via FaceTime. π️
July 23, 2025
July 21, 2025
My Armoire
As a former clothing COLLECTOR (hoarder-squirrel πΏ️!) this is a new frontier for me —
Wear your SEASONAL (shop once quarterly max) wardrobe so much that there is no question as to whether you love and keep the clothing longer OR, NO QUALMS, they’ve fulfilled their destiny and you don’t!July 20, 2025
Dirndl
July 19, 2025
You are yours π
What’s the next ITERATION of YOU?? Decide as though no one else gives a !&*% — because they don’t!! πππ
July 2, 2025
Collect stars
June 18, 2025
π Freshies π¦
April 21, 2025
Close and Click
It’s finally here. Mommy’s ‘off’-season. No birthdays or holidays in this home until October and I’m giddy. I sat at the coffee shop this morning practically levitating; Easter was my final hoorah and it’s behind me.
Of course, there will still be endless playdates, gatherings and pool parties in our near future, but those parlous (albeit winnowed* and well organized!) DECORATION BINS are now clicked shut and closed up in the cupboards — for nary half the year !!!!! π₯
*Some sizable, substantial decorations have only lived with me through 2 years, 2 rounds of celebrating, but were a mistake that must be acknowledged and their donation pick-up is scheduled. I hope it’s not too inconvenient to pass along life-size trick-or-treating statues, giant glowing snowflakes, glitter encrusted cranberry wreaths, golden light-up nutcrackers, and stoic German Santa Clauses in May…
April 17, 2025
Get it together
SUPERficial
January 24, 2025
Outshine
Above - SunBum, Mineral Fusion, Pacifica, Physician’s Formula, Dr Haushka, Waleda, A La Maison, HoneyPot, ORL… fond of them from old fashioned trial and error. Personal, empirical data that no amount of “(online) research” could ever compete with. π€

























