The Farmer Wears Prada Has Relaunched - New Address - www.thefarmerwearsprada.com

The Farmer Wears Prada has moved to a new home - www.thefarmerwearsprada.com

My blog has relaunched. I will continue to share my own stories, as well as draw on experiences and contributions from other women and men as they embark on their own life journey, doing just really cool things.

This blog started as a very simple, honest and personal journal of my life change 4 years ago - from fashion city girl to country mumma, starting a family and making sense and sanity of it all along the way. I am so grateful for the support and the love I have received.

Please continue to follow me on my lifestyle blog. If you would like to continue to subscribe to The Farmer Wears Prada, please visit me at www.thefarmerwearsprada.com and enter your email details in 'About'. I very much look forward to seeing you soon!

You can also follow The Farmer Wears Prada on Instagram @thefarmerwearsprada for my daily visual journal.

If you have any contribution enquiries please email me at mail@notitleproductions.com - I would love to hear from you.

Warmest, 
Sascha Jones
The Farmer Wears Prada

The Year I Threw Away

I have been travelling a lot lighter these days. The month of May was a big one for me. I just completed my Blog Society Digital Bravery E- Course in Marketing and Social Media. I took on Mindful in May, an online meditation and mindfulness course designed to kick start daily meditation. A friend gifted me Arianna Huffington's Thrive course. This is an amazing series of online lessons, assignments and reading to renovate your life. By reconnecting with ourselves and focusing on the importance of wellbeing and health, we are able to redefine what 'success' means personally and professionally. I have been training for a 12km Fun Run on 14 June. Phew. Who knew with my busyness and lack of time I would find space in my schedule to complete all of the above. I have to say I am a different person now than I was a month ago. I am more present, less anxious, more mindful, more focused and more confident in how I go about my day to day personal life and how I approach my business. I am not screaming at the kids (as much). I am more calm within myself and with my partner and when things get chaotic or the house gets messy - it is ok.

I have also been throwing things away. I began with small ambitions about 6 months ago. Recently, as I have processed emotionally, spiritually and even physically, I have been shedding in hyper drive. I look at it like a spiritual and emotional purge. Another friend told me about the 30 Day De-Clutter Challenge that is circulating #30daygetchuckedchallenge - each day you throw something away. Day 1 one thing, Day 2 two things and so on. In a month you chuck out 465 items. Be it an old comb, a kitchen plate that has chipped, something broken you ain't never going to fix. I have not followed this by the book but have to say each day I get rid of something I am loving it. As I build my start up business we are operating as a one-salary family, so I am not able to be the constant consumer of all things beautiful and 'necessary' that I used to be. However, as I carry a small pile of things to the trash each day I am feeling like my load is lighter and I can breathe just a little better and more deeply than before.

There has to be a growing global shift in consciousness if that many people are onto it. You would think. Why has it taken so long and why are we so over laden and attached to 'things'? In the West we live in a consumer driven, money driven, technology driven world. I love my retail therapy as much as the next girl (so much so I am still paying in some way or another for the debt I accumulated in my 20s and 30s). We tend to fill unresolved emotional holes in our lives with things, instead of dealing with the real core issues and stresses. As a result, the holes are only temporarily filled, so the need for the next fix is pretty quick. It is like an addiction. Retail and consumption are the drugs. Clutter and hoarding are the come down.

We take medication as a quick hit to treat emotional and physical ailments, rather than facing fears and dealing with the cause. Medications are prescribed pretty casually and are rattling around in most people's bathroom drawers. As an over-medicated society, we are disconnected from ourselves and those around us. We are so very 'busy', sitting on our digital devices and operating in a potently digital world for both work and play. Even I am a great example. I live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, run an estore and take all my courses online. I use Social Media as the key method in building my business. Surrendering our digital-ness completely is out of the question, however we need to at the very least put away our devices for set times during the day. Embark on a digital detox and as Huffington notes in her course, disconnect with our devices in order to reconnect with ourselves. It is OK people. Life does go on.

Once we have dragged ourselves away from phones, iPads and computers, we can reclaim ourselves in the present moment - breathe, meditate, take in our environment, be more mindful. Our perspective changes. We can re-prioritise our lives a little and refocus on what is important, be it goals, people, things and how we spend our time. When we face our issues and are really able to tap into what is going on within us, even for a short moment each day, this shift produces amazing results. One of mine has been very tangible - little piles of plastic crap the kids no longer look at and that I have to clean up each day. Broken mugs. Odd socks which will never again find their mate. Ten year old face creams that are more like acid than anti-age. A pen. Whatever. Things I don’t need around me to clutter my home, my life and my mind. You don't have to live like Bettina in Absolutely Fabulous - the minimalist designer friend who guts Eddy's basement kitchen, reducing it to a white cube. Just be a little more streamlined, a little better organised, a more current and present version of yourself. Peel back the layers and you might be surprised at what you find.


Pic from valentinofialdini.com.br

Only Human

In light of the devastation in Vanuatu in the aftermath of Cyclone Pam, I have been thinking about the nature of the human spirit. My family has a property near Port Vila and we have been travelling there regularly for the past 15 years. The place and its people are dear to my heart, and my family and our friends are reeling at the direct and personal impact that Pam has had on our lives and those we know, and on this little archipelago of islands in the South Pacific known as Paradise.

The country’s entire infrastructure has to be rebuilt. Sad and tragic stories are emerging as time goes on and the clean up gets underway, as communications and access are gained more securely to the small villages and outer islands where entire communities have been severely impacted, some levelled. Mother Nature is a bitch. And her name is Pam. After time - the road ahead is a long and uncertain one - Vanuatu will reboot and rebuild, its people displaying through tragedy their strength and resilience.

Fighting for issues that are personal and close to home is a natural thing to do, but in the broader sense, issues of the human experience and the human spirit are universal – faced with adversity it is inspiring what we as a collective, and as individuals are capable of overcoming. They are what connects us and enables us to relate. Be it death, illness, loss, conflict, natural disaster, grief, love, heartache, hardship of any kind – the human spirit seemingly conquers all, in ways that are unimaginable and beyond comprehension of what we think is possible. 

Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit. Bern Williams

Pics distractify.com, Odee.com, Livefast Magazine, The Scar Project, flickr.com, dailymail.com/Karen Walker, dzineblog360.com, Alison Wright, Tom Stoddart, Ami Vitale, huffingtonpost.com, Google

Dear Son,

Some pearls I wanted to hand down.

Own a good suit and tie and don't be afraid to wear it.
Make good choices and know there are consequences.
Respect women.
Respect yourself.
Respect your mates.
Be loyal in your friendships.
Stand up for yourself and those you love.
Have fun with the boys.
Don't be afraid of commitment.
Be romantic and spontaneous.
Laugh and keep a sense of humour. Smile a lot. Have fun.
Open doors, pull out chairs, and pay for your date first time around.
Tell a woman she is beautiful and sexy. Bring a woman flowers.
When you are invited to someone's house, never turn up empty handed.
Learn to clean and cook.
Be in touch with your emotions. Communicate well.
Be physical and take care of your health. Respect your body.
Be open to change.
Be honest with yourself and others.
Be confident. Believe in yourself. Have faith. Trust the timing of the universe.
Be positive.
Take risks.
Do not be fearful.
Listen to others.
Be kind.
Change nappies.
Be financially secure.
Be charitable.
Own your own home.
Do what makes you happy without hurting others.
Don't be afraid of the doctor.
Look people in the eyes when you talk to them and shake their hand.
Work hard but more importantly work smart.
Dream big.
Live for now yet plan for tomorrow.
Let it go - don't hang on to anger - forgive easily so you can move forward. Rise above the petty things and see the bigger picture.
Be the best you can be. Be yourself.
Don't be afraid to say you are sorry.
Never say never.
Work out what your deal breakers are in a relationship.
Be affectionate.
Learn from your mistakes.
Remember your manners.
Listen to your heart and your intuition.
Be good to your parents. Respect your elders.
Celebrate your unique spirit.
Don't be afraid of competition.
Work out what your gift is and how you wish to give it.
Enjoy the finer things yet appreciate life's simple pleasures.
Love what you do - find your passion.
Don't judge others. Never assume anything.
Learn the rules before you think you can break them.
Don't worry about what other people think of you.
Travel a lot - learn about other cultures.
Be grateful each day.
Everytime a door shuts another one will open.
Enjoy everything in moderation.
It's all about balance. Take time to smell the roses.

Let It Go man

On family holiday, I sat on my yoga mat today to do a stress relief DVD I bought myself for Christmas (we are in August and I have only just opened the plastic now). I had a complete surrender moment. The voice over on the DVD was Elena Brower – the yoga teacher I followed when I lived in NYC and was doing my Yoga Teacher Training. I was in double pigeon pose and leant forward and the tears just started flowing. I remember this being one of my favourite poses when I was training and practicing regularly and I was able to be completely in the moment and breathe through the emotion smiling at any discomfort. Now, I was in tears - anger and pain and sadness surging. I couldn’t even hold the pose – I had to jump up to the computer to write down my thoughts to blog before I forgot them due to major baby brain, stress and the exhaustion I am experiencing of late. I couldn’t handle it. I needed distraction and had to get out. How far I am from that body and mind and place 10 years ago when I was carefree and creative in the Big Apple. I came back to my mat just in time for Savasana (my favourite pose) and the final message was surrender, non-judgement, trusting where we are at, being in the moment and letting go. I cried again.

I have been wondering lately when this moment was going to happen for me. I have fractures in two of my teeth from stress grinding at night and my neck and back are so tight it will take more than a little Westfield-massage-in-between-grocery-shop to fix. We are 6 months into our second son’s time on this planet and the daily juggle of two kids, broken sleep, maintaining a farm, a new business and a relationship have taken their toll. There have been days lately where the washing pile is so high that I get major depression when I see it and I catch myself sobbing while I am pushing the vacuum around the floor - this wasn’t the reason I was put on this Earth. I will happily be a nurturing mother, a loving partner and work till my fingers bleed, however somehow, years back in my idealistic youth, I pictured it a little different, a little easier. Like me as Earth Mother bouncing out of bed for meditation and yoga everyday at 6am before the kids got up, having more help at home – i.e. nanny, night nurse, housekeeper, cook and gardener all working full time. A raging business in its late teens bringing in zillions to support this home infrastructure. Regular mini breaks with my partner and spa trips alone to re-energize and make me want to be at home sweet home. Instead I constantly feel stretched, scream like a banshee and wake up with full-blown anxiety at the thought of getting our 3 year old to day care on time, panicked at having to take the car capsule in and out of the car with infant so DOCS don’t lock me up when I leave him alone with the window down a crack. Some days I feel I should check I am still alive as my breath is so shallow.

I was always doing a million things at once, my house was spotless and I felt like I could rule the world on potential alone. My hair was done, my nails unchipped and my wardrobe organized to the colour. I was fit. How did I become so disconnected from myself? I would never have believed it. What the hell happened? Kids happened. Now, things take so much longer to complete or don’t get finished at all - agony for a task-oriented person like myself. I can’t do multiple things at once anymore. I am lucky if my hair gets a brush and I don't walk out of the house with baby vomit on me. I used to poo poo women who dressed for practicality when they had toddlers. I now acknowledge their common sense. I have to surrender to the chaos and let go of trying to always do things my own way. Maybe if only for 10 minutes of dirty little kid hands. I am happier than I have ever been. I have two amazing sons who are healthy. I have a farmyard of animals, a beautiful home and an awesome partner who is a hands on Dad and supportive. We have incredible friends and family. I have a great business. Get over it and quit being a princess. I say to myself: I am grateful. I trust that the universe will provide and I will enjoy the moments in between. I let go. Repeat. This is again my mantra. Until my next meltdown. 

Pic via Google

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

As life is getting more and more hectic with my family, our animals, the farm and my business, I am finding that the weeks between my posts are stretching. I have so much more to say so watch this space. I am always sharing my photos on Instagram and my visual blog of our daily life and inspiration on the farm and travels is current. So if the wait is too long between weeks for my writings follow me @thefarmerwearsprada and join my journey.

Like a Fine Wine

Feeling older than my years 3 and a half months into having our second child, as I try to keep up with my daily life juggle on the farm as well as running my business - I look to some graceful and glorious faces for inspiration. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

My partner was busy in the lead up to Mother's Day.

Bringing Up Boys

We had our second child a month ago - another little boy. I looked down at the end of an evening and in the middle of the kitchen floor was a bike and a football. It occurred to me that herein lies pretty much what the rest of my life is looking like raising two sons. How do you take on a job like that? Raising boys and raising girls requires different parenting, the aim being to get the best out of their character in the most non-destructive or self-destructive way. How do we raise, confident, honest, responsible, empathetic human beings who will be good men, fathers, siblings, partners, husbands, sons? 

As emancipated as it may seem, we live in a culture which has possibly vilified masculinity, and we still seem to suffer a stereotypical yet contradictory hangover as to what a man should be: I want my boys to be sensitive but tough as nails and strong as lead. I want them to dress well and smell clean but be wild and rugged with a smudge of grease on their cheek. I want them to be leaders and to take charge but know humility. I would like them to speak their minds but be able to listen. To hold open a door for their loved one as well as to hold them up when they fall. To be gallant and mindful and smart and successful. To have patience and to be polite. To be safe and to protect others. To not be afraid to show their feelings and to communicate but to still be stoic and silent and wise enough to know when to hold their tongue. To be free to laugh and to cry unashamedly. To be athletic, play sport and to appreciate art all at once. To make the rules but to break them - to be good and a little bit bad. To love and to be loved. To be happy and healthy. To be kind. To respect and to be respected. To understand and appreciate the opposite sex, to be affectionate. I want them to be themselves and to pursue their dreams and to live fearlessly. All while being able to cook, clean and balance a baby on one hip, and still remain masculine enough to keep us interested. We expect a lot from our men and are hard on them, maybe too much so, considering this generation of fathers are doing so much more than their fathers ever did when it comes to hands on parenting. They really should be getting more credit. 

My own experience with men has been a little confused - I grew up in an environment where women ran businesses and the home while the men played golf, so to think that we had to rely on men to get things done was not on my radar. As a kid I was a tomboy with loads of boy friends, so it never really dawned on me until recent years that there is a vast chasm between sexes and what they may be able to do, even if it is just physically or emotionally. My dad died when I was 12 so I had very little male influence through my teenage years. I have had to invest in a huge amount of self help sessions to understand how different men and women are and to get how men function. I worked most of my life in the Arts or in Fashion and Design where the majority of the male population were either metro or gay or somewhere in between. I couldn't understand why, when I met my sports loving, alpha male partner, he wasn't in tune with aesthetics or interiors or hanging up the bath mat. I had to do a complete 180 in my approach to the male race. And so it goes I end up with two boys. Simple, straightforward, easy - the idea that a punch on the arm can take the place of years of therapy runs deep through their DNA. How can I change that in a lifetime? Of all my ambitions, to be a strong woman for my sons to admire and be inspired by is most important to me. I am up for a challenge and if I didn't have a backbone before I will have to grow one very quickly. 

L'Wren Scott

I was fortunate enough to meet such a gorgeous lady in her showroom in Paris on buying trips for our stores. She had a strong and lovely presence. All at once she was otherworldly, old worldly and modern. So beautiful, rare, smart, talented, elegant, gracious and kind. In memory of L'Wren Scott.