tranquility du jour

closet reorg = feels good

2010-04-13T15:45:00.003-04:00

here's a peek into saturday night's closet reorg. look at all the stuff we removed! wow. having a helpful hand made *such* a difference. i usually do this seasonal task alone but the buddy system was much appreciated. here are some before, during, and after shots.

we began with my overstuffed chest of drawers (full of lounge wear, socks, lingerie, and linens) which now opens and closes with ease. then we moved onto each hanging section (dresses, pants, skirts, tops, outerwear), the upper shelving, and my accessory bin full of scarves and necklaces. i got rid of bags of hangers, overworn/vintage TranquiliT, weekend bags circa college, a patterned raincoat, tired jewelry + bags, and linens that were ready for retirement. oh, and an ironing board i hadn't used in over a decade!

i've purchased some real simple slimline hangers to cut down on some of the bulk of my current hangers and to help with slippage (these hangers are flocked). here's a you tube video giving insights into these hangers. i can't wait to get my clothes on 'em!

clearing clutter is incredibly cleansing. i look forward to continuing this process and doing my best to shed an item for each new item brought into chez moi. the key is to start small with a drawer or closet rather than a huge home overhaul. it's shocking what we can accumulate and shedding takes time. what can you spring clean this week?

p.s. georgia o'keefe exhibit GIVEAWAY winners: CBM and lauren. contact me for ticket info. congrats!

bisous,
kimberly

$ense & $ensibility Monday: Budgeting Basics, Part Deux

2010-04-12T12:33:00.002-04:00

Discretionary Dalliances
In my last post, I talked about budgeting basics and necessity spending. This week we’ll be looking at discretionary spending so we can really get an idea of where our money is going.

Discretionary Expenses

Unlike necessities, these expenses are not things you need to be spending money on - though sometimes we might feel that we do! Discretionary spending includes things such as clothing/accessories, toiletries and beauty products, subscriptions to glossies, and eating out/ordering in. Basically, anything that I didn’t cover in the list of necessity spending categories is a discretionary expense.

Discretionary expenses can be further broken down into two categories:

Day-to-day discretionary expenses – these are items you buy about once a week, e.g. eating out, coffee runs, accessories, beauty products, and entertainment (movies, magazines, books, smart phone apps, drinks).

Incidental discretionary expenses – these are things you buy infrequently, usually only once per month, e.g. gym memberships, cable and internet, haircuts, vacations, and gifts.

Discretionary Diary

This week I’d like you to keep a diary of your day-to-day discretionary expenses. Starting today, write down everything you spend money on that is not a necessity. And no, that soy-quad-latte is not a necessity! At the end of the week, add it all up. The purpose of this exercise is to see where exactly your money is going and make sure you aren’t spending more than you are taking in.

Even if you know you’re not spending beyond your limits, it’s still important to see exactly what you’re spending money on and why. It’s usually quite an eye-opening experience to see how much we spend on trivial things in a week. Also, if you’re looking to save more, make an investment, or make a down payment, where is that money going to come from? Knowing what you’re spending money on lets you know what you can cut back on.

Just remember, spending on things you don’t need adds up quickly:

$30 per week equals

$120 per month

$1,440 per year

$7,200 over 5 years

Is there somewhere else you’d rather be putting that $1,440 per year? It’s never too late to take control of your finances.

Katharine Albritton is an art market specialist and writer. Procrastinate with her at The Fine Taste Emporium and follow her on twitter.

tranquility du jour #181: living the not so big life

2010-04-11T19:35:00.003-04:00

direct download (mp3)

Bonjour. Welcome to the 181st edition of Tranquility du Jour: A Guide to Bringing Tranquility to your Every Day. Today’s show features happenings and musings on living the not so big life with Sarah Susanka.

Tranquilology Teleclass: Join moi for our next Tranquilology Teleclass "Frolicking into Fall" on Monday, September 20 at 9pm ET. $10. View petals from winter's teleclass.

Workshops + Retreats: Consider joining moi on the Virtual Art Retreat with Wish Studio's Creative Cast April 30-May 2, a week long Yoga Lifestyle Retreat in lush Costa Rica May 29-June 5, a Tranquilista Retreat at Kripalu July 5-9, Denver workshops July 16-17, and a Yoga Retreat in India November 12-21.

Featured Tranquilista: Sarah Susanka is leading a movement to redefine the American home and lifestyle. A cultural visionary, Susanka is the author of eight books that collectively weave together home and life design, revealing that a Not So Big attitude serves not only architectural aims, but life goals as well. Her books have sold well over one million copies and continue to rank highly on best-seller lists.

In her Not So Big House series, Susanka helps readers understand that the sense of “home” they’re seeking has almost nothing to do with quantity and everything to do with quality. She points out that we feel “at home” in our houses when where we live reflects who we are in our hearts. In The Not So Big Life, she uses this same set of notions to explain that we can be “at home” in our lives only when we engage everything we do with this same integrity, each action reflecting who we truly are. In both realms she believes that Not So Big should be the first step in sustainability, both for our own well being and for the well being of the planet as a whole.

Thought Leader, Speaker and Expert Resource
A master in the use of metaphor to explain new dimensions of understanding, Susanka has a gift for making the complex simple and for demystifying even the most obscure subject matter. Susanka’s “build better, not bigger” approach to residential architecture has been embraced across the country and her Not So Big philosophy has evolved beyond our physical habitations and into how we inhabit our lives.

In September 2008, Susanka’s groundbreaking first book The Not So Big House, was re-released as a special 10th anniversary edition with a new cover, introduction and a new chapter. Other Susanka titles include: Creating the Not So Big House (Taunton, 2000), Not So Big Solutions for Your Home (Taunton, 2002), Home By Design (Taunton, 2004), Inside the Not So Big House (Taunton, 2005), Outside the Not So Big House (Taunton, 2006) and The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters (Random House, 2007). Her latest book, Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live, was written with co-author Marc Vassallo and was released in March 2009. The Taunton Press will release Susanka’s ninth book, More Not So Big Solutions for Your Home, in March 2010.

Susanka has been interviewed by hundreds of television and radio shows across the nation including “Oprah,” “Charlie Rose,” “Good Morning America,” CNN’s “American Morning” and “Diane Rehm.” She is regularly tapped by major news organizations including The New York Times, USA Today and national magazines for her insights into home design, lifestyle and sustainability.
Fast Company named Susanka to their debut list of “Fast 50” innovators whose achievements have helped to change society, Newsweek magazine selected her as a “top newsmaker” for 2000, and U.S. News and World Report dubbed her an “innovator in American culture” in 1998. Susanka was presented with the 2007 Anne Morrow Lindbergh Award by the Lindbergh Foundation for outstanding individual achievement in making positive contributions to our world.

Susanka is a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects and a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council. She was born in Kent, England, and today lives in North Carolina.

Savvy Sources:
Websites:
http://www.notsobig.com
http://www.notsobighouse.com
http://www.notsobiglife.com
http://www.susanka.com
http://www.notsobigshowhouse.com
http://www.maitrhea.com
Twitter
Facebook

Books:
The Not So Big Life
more books + DVD

OMwork: How can you live a not so big life?

Signature Style: The ballet-inspired spring collection has sprung at TranquiliT.com in en pointe pink, sugarplum purple, and noir. Whimsical, girly, feminine, and fun!
Stay Au Courant: Create a home practice. Join our Facebook group. Become my Facebook friend. Follow moi on Twitter. Download Tranquility du Jour on demand. Watch bi-weekly Tranquility du Jour TV on youtube.com/tranquilitydujour . Explore mentoring with moi. Peruse Hip Tranquil Chick or Tranquilista. Deepen your yoga practice at Tranquil Space. Get your do-gooding on with Tranquil Space Foundation. Sign up for my museletter. Join Tranquilista's fan page. Tranquil Space Foundation's hosting LunaFest on April 22!

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing "Jars of Fireflies" by Pocket. You can learn more about their music at

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i'm so excited and i just can't hide it . . . + artistic giveaway

2010-04-09T21:20:00.007-04:00

to conclude my week, i wanted to share a few things that i'm currently excited about PLUS offer you a chance to indulge in a much-deserved artist date. here are my happy thoughts in no particular order:

1. sex and the city 2 hits theatres may 27. OMG. seriously, so excited. will be there opening night with bells on. ok, maybe not bells. a flower pin and sparkles, for sure!

2. i'm now moving around and my "exercise" is pendulum swings. wanna see the surgery? ewww.

3. i'm 1/2 done with paper 1 due monday. only 1 1/2 to go!

4. tomorrow night a friend is coming over to help me declutter chez moi. will take before and after pics for spring cleaning inspiration.

5. this semester is over in 4 weeks. woo-hoo. alas, then i start summer school the following week.

6. TranquiliT is nominated as a "rising star" in an upcoming eco-chic award event at the corcoran gallery. hmmmm, wonder what i should wear? *and* bloomies wants to feature a few pieces in their earth day window display.

7. i accepted an internship at n street village and will be working in their education and employment center 16 hours/week september-may 2011 for my first MSW internship. great organization!

8. i have tickets to go see the georgia o'keefe exhibit at the phillips collection. GIVEAWAY: want a ticket? leave a coment below and *two local ladies* will be randomly chosen and given a chance to indulge in an artist date.

what are you excited about at the moment?

wishing you a tranquil, artistic, playful weekend sans school papers!

xx,
kimberly

do-gooding opportunities

2010-04-09T11:25:00.003-04:00

1. Our non-profit, Tranquil Space Foundation, is hosting Lunafest on Thursday, April 22nd at Steptoe and Johnson in Dupont. The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30pm and the films will be shown at 7:00 after we honor our Spring 2010 grantees. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door and include the wine and cheese reception PLUS yummy popcorn. Yay!

All of the proceeds from LunafestDC will go to TSF and the Breast Cancer Research Fund. This will be an inspirational night on many fronts - from the films to the grantees to the mission behind all of our work - helping young women to find their inner voice through yoga, creativity and leadership. Purchase tickets here.

2. One of our teachers, Abby Strunk, is the ED at Street Sense and recently shared these openings so I offered to pass along. This great organization is looking for 3-5 committed volunteers to manage our office and distribute papers to our vendors and three rock star interns for the summer: a marketing & communications intern, a graphic design intern and a development intern. Each position provides an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to Street Sense and to the work we’re doing to address the challenges of homelessness. Please visit here to learn more about each position.

3. Consider joining the Tranquil Space team for the Walk to End Violence Against Women and Girls on April 18. Right now we are the #1 fundraising team in the COUNTRY for this crucial cause - and we need your help to stay there!

Participate in the walk with the Tranquil Space team, make a tax-deductible donation, or reach out to your elected representatives to encourage them to support the pendiong I-VAWA legislation. You can register, donate, or find out more info about any of these action steps on my Firstgiving page: http://www.firstgiving.com/allisonasplin. The walk starts in Arlington and ends in Dupont Circle - what a great symbol of connection between our two studios!

4. This Sunday I'm leading a slow flow class from 6-7:15 at our Dupont location as part of our "Second Sundays" dedicated to raising money for charities. The requested donation is $15 to Tranquil Space Foundation. Please come out to support the cause and begin your week with an intentional start! Sign up at tranquilspace.com.

2 weeks after surgery

2010-04-08T21:11:00.003-04:00

rain is pouring outside and i'm lounging on my chaise sipping tea. it's hard to believe two weeks have passed since my surgery. i am now able to wash my own hair, apply eyeliner, and use both hands when i type. seriously, i've come a long way. when i had my stitches removed yesterday (ouch), my doctor told me that i would have to take 12 weeks off from yoga and boxing. 2 down. 10 to go.

without being too dramatic, i feel like my whole world has been turned upside down. my refuge, my haven, and my form of exercise has been pulled out from under me. taking time off yoga shows me how much i need yoga and how my life revolves around it - teaching, taking, and running yoga-related businesses.

this will somehow be a good thing. having something that i adore and that is such a part of my life taken from me (temporarily, thank gawd) is a beautiful reminder to be grateful for all i have. 2 working arms sounds so dreamy right now. as i watched yogis go into wheel pose on tuesday night i was struck with envy. i asked my physical therapist if i could do that again and he assured me i could. yay!

apparently i'm healing quickly and i credit it to the yoga over the past decade plus, my addiction to fish oil pills, and my green smoothies. slowing down has been hard to adjust to. it takes me longer to get ready in the morning and my energy level isn't quite back so i feel like i'm more of a snail these days.

again, lessons are here and there is something beautiful about listening to it. this surgery came at a time when i was falling more and more in love with the notion of the not so big life and i don't think it is by accident. (excited to share that the author, sarah susanka, is sunday's podcast interviewee!)

listening to my body (vs my deadlines = 2 papers due on monday), i'm heading to bed by 10 tonight. this snail is tired and thinks sleeping to the sound of rain is heavenly. the deadlines will be there in the morning. tonight i'm craving tranquility over productivity. 'night!

much love,
kimberly

A Dose of Pleasure Thursday – Know Thyself

2010-04-08T10:41:00.000-04:00

How well do you know yourself? While your tendency may be to say “well,” reserve judgment for just a second. Instead, try answering these questions:

What do you want out of life?

What does your perfect day look like?

How do you best learn?

In what environments do you work best/thrive?

What's your greatest gift?

How are you thoughts and beliefs affecting how you live your life?

What are your deepest desires?

How did you do? Did you find these questions easy or difficult to answer? This exercise may be surprising for you – perhaps you don't know yourself as well as you thought. If you had no trouble answering these questions – congratulations! Still, keep reading because you can always learn something new about yourself.

My favorite answer to the question “What do you really want?” used to be a resounding “I don't know!!!” Not knowing was a biiiiig problem for me because by not knowing, I ended up settling for whatever came my way. Now if that's not a recipe for disaster and dissatisfaction, then I don't know what is.

I figured this out somewhere along the line (after a lot of frustration, unhappiness, confusion, and a general overall feeling of “is this all there is?!?!?”) and started to get serious about exploring my inner landscape. I won't bore you with the details, but I will tell you this – when I started directing my focus inward and listening to myself, my whole life changed. Yep, not knowing yourself can be a huge stumbling block to pleasure. Socrates really knew what he was talking about when he said “know thyself.”

This may sound a bit intimidating – all of this getting to know yourself stuff – but it's really not. It simply takes a little time, a little effort and an open mind. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Get quiet – one of my favorite ways to tune into what's going on with me is sitting quietly. So often our attention is pulled in a dozen different directions. Let's face it – the world offers up a lot of external stimulation. The idea of sitting quietly (without the TV or radio on) can feel a bit intimidating. Still, sitting quietly is a wonderful thing to do each day. I recommend 10-30 minutes in the morning and evening. Some call this meditation but I don't like to use that word as people tend to think of sitting in some rigidly uncomfortable posture, employing some sort of meditation technique with the goal of turning off your thoughts. Forget about all that. Just sit quietly and notice what happens. If your mind is running a mile a minute, let it. Don't beat yourself up, just bring your attention back to noticing what's going on with you. After you've been sitting for a while, ask yourself this questions: What do I need to know right now? I do this every day and I especially love to do this when I have a decision to make or I'm feeling an underlying sense of dissatisfaction that needs to be addressed.
Experiment – a great way to learn about yourself is to try different things. This includes food, music, classes, experiences, etc. Doing this helps you uncover new facets of yourself that you might not have known were there. You may even find a new passion. That's what happened to a friend of mine – she stumbled upon a love for knitting after randomly trying a knitting class. Take a look at an adult education catalog and circle any course that catches your attention. Don't give your brain time to jump in with “oh, why would you choose that/you can't do that?!?!” thoughts – just go on instinct and choose whatever feels/looks/sounds interesting to you. You don't have to worry about this taking up too much of your time – just commit to doing something new once every 3 months. That's only 4 new things a year. It doesn't necessarily take a lot to awaken a whole new side of yourself.
Get Informed – I have a whole mini-library of books that have helped me discover how my brain works, what my learning style is, in what environments I function best, etc.. Learning these things have helped me immeasurably. Now I structure my day in such a way as to compliment my personal style. I've changed everything from how I organize myself and my surroundings to my career to my daily practices. Now I'm not only happier but I'm more efficient, productive, and more satisfied. Sometimes what you don't know CAN hurt you.

Here are some book suggestions to help you work with yourself rather than against:

The Open Mind
Refuse to Choose – this book is particularly helpful for those of us who have a lot of varied interests and keep looking for the “perfect” career.
I Could Do Anything if I Only Knew What it Was
The Brain that Changes Itself
Getting Real: 10 Truth Skills You Need to Live an Authentic Life
Train Your Mind Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves
The Big Leap
Taming Our Monkey Mind
Life's Companion: Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest

Think about it – when we buy something new, it comes with an instruction manual so that we know how to best use it. Yet here we are operating in the world sometimes without a clue as to how to maximize our potential. When you understand yourself, things get easier. Life gets easier. It's like working with the flow rather than against it. Now THAT'S pleasure!

Have fun getting to know your fine self!

Have a pleasure-filled day,

Diane

Diane Cesa is a yoga practitioner and teacher, lover of life, tea drinker, adventurer, eternal optimist, nature fan, blogger and self-proclaimed pleasure maven.

Keeping in Touch: Ease into E-mail

2010-04-06T16:48:00.000-04:00

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some." ~ Robert Fulghum

A friend of mine called a few weeks ago, and I missed the call because I was downstairs and my cell phone was upstairs. When we finally connected, I reminded him to try my landline because I often keep my cell phone away from me while I'm home. "Why?" he asked in honest confusion. Why? For the sake of my own sanity that's why. I love technology, I do, but I don't believe that we are meant to be reachable all hours of the day. We need to breath deep and re-connect with ourselves and our families away from all the noise. As we all know, just being in the same room with someone is not necessarily connecting with them. Too often they (or we) are distracted by what's going on in the cyber world. E-mail and social media are our reality, and we certainly can’t ignore it, but we need to strike the right balance.

Ease into your Morning: I've found the best way to start my day with balance, is by staying away from the Internet for the first hour. I get to work and I do check my work e-mail—for assignments. (I think there's a world of difference between work e-mail and personal e-mail). I then choose a task that doesn't require me to go online. I make my morning cup of tea, and I work. I have my notebook next to me to write down any inspirational thoughts or things that I'll want to do when I do go online. At 10 o'clock—after an hour of quiet—I then check my personal e-mail and skim the NY Times headlines. I find I have much more control over my day when I don't rush right onto the Internet. On the weekends, I wake up and go for a walk, write a letter, or I read for at least the first hour of my day. Last Saturday I headed right out the door to see a Picasso exhibit at the Philly Art Museum, and then I headed to the park for soaking in the sun and conversing with my cousin Kate. I didn't do anything Internet related until the very end of the day. It was marvelous.

Samara O'Shea is an author and professional letter writer. Visit her at LetterLover.net and follow her on Twitter.

fun event chez moi with wishstudio founder

2010-04-05T19:31:00.004-04:00

what: creative connections workshop

where: 'the pink palace' (kimberly wilson's cozy home) in washington, dc
when: friday, may 7th, 6 to 8:30 pm
with: mindy tsonas, creator and hostess of wishstudio
cost: $45 and byoc (bring your own canvas!)

this may in washington dc, i am excited to host a special creativity workshop that was inspired by a fabulous artist's sleepover. this collaborative way of making art really helped mindy to conquer her fear of the blank canvas and embrace different playful and artful techniques. it also was a really wonderful way to connect with other creative spirits (thanks jes!).

creative connections workshop

come and explore the creative process as a group and together we will make wildly inspiring collaborative art! each participant will begin a mixed-media collage that will then journey throughout the group to be infused with one another’s playful creativity. as the canvases are passed around the room we are given the wonderful opportunity to think outside of our own creative box and see our art from a fresh perspective. by sharing our styles and techniques, we will help one another stretch our creative imaginations!

at the end of the evening you will have a beautiful and unique piece of inspiring art, as well as a special momento of the creative connections made during our artful adventure together.

join us for a fabulous night of creative fun, and let's get a little messy together. space is limited (only 8 spots) can't wait to create and connect with you!
yummy drinks and goodies will be served.

to register, visit mindy's beautiful blog. i'm so excited about tackling a canvas. my first!

tranquility du jour tv: inspiration folders to inspire

2010-04-04T19:40:00.009-04:00

the lovely tranquilista e-course ladies are busily creating inspiration boards so this topic is fresh on my mind. inspired, i sat down this weekend to create some new inspiration folders and wanted to share the journey with you. above are the two inspiration folders i created from the images shown in the video. the images represent a selection of what i love: yoga, macarons, style, paris, gardening, pink hair, loving couples, tea, chocolate, blue bird eggs, bobs, pink, fancy soaps.

2 savvy sources of eye candy:

1. decor8
2. record the day

how to:

1. gather magazines
2. tear out images that appeal
3. glue stick images to reused file folders
4. voila, you have inspiration folders
5. tie a ribbon around for extra finesse
6. store ideas, dreams, to read articles, bills to pay, etc in style

april dreams: a call for reflection

2010-04-03T01:18:00.004-04:00

photo of beautiful necklaces from art and clasp + get well flowers chez moi

a new month and a fresh season = perfect time for reflection. pull out your journal and planner. light a candle. take a moment to check in on the first quarter of 2010. how is it unfolding? are your new year's intentions becoming a reality? if not, what steps can you take through returning to them or would it feel better to replace them?

monthly reflection as i'm doing below is a great way to stay connected to bigger dreams and to replace ones that no longer feel like the right fit.

may this weekend offer you an opportunity to reflect, play, and bask in inspiration.

april dreams/goals

1. fancy up blog photos (as done above) via picasa.
2. create a few new inspiration folders.
3. plan + host a tranquilista tea at tranquil space.
4. planning + hosting assistance of luna fest for my non-profit. please come!
5. physical therapy + sacred healing of shoulder = PT job this month
6. MSW final papers + exams prep.
7. lead inspiring, productive retreat with tranquil space management team.
8. crystalize plans for etsy store.
9. finalize new tranquil space website and began revamp of TranquiliT website.
10. continue reflection and implement of principles in the not so big life (podcast forthcoming)
11. tea with director at farm sanctuary. learn how to do more for the animals.
12. spring cleaning chez moi next saturday with pal. au revoir clutter, bonjour space.
13. spend time in nature: bask in sunshine and soak up vitamin d.
14. stablize morning ritual: green tea, ezekiel toast, journal, daily yin yoga + meditation practice, then e-mail.
15. choose a third necklace from art and clasp's etsy store to add to my collection (see photo above). gorgeous and *love* supporting indie when possible.

march dreams/goals

1. daily live videos via ustream during west coast tour. tune in here. [DID SO AT THE BEGINNING AND THEN BEGAN POSTING TV INTERVIEWS INSTAD]
2. ongoing tweets during west coast tour. follow here (#tranquilistatour). [DONE]
3. informative + inspirational tv interviews in san diego, san francisco, sacramento, portland, vancouver over next few days. [THIS WAS MY INTENTION]
4. informative + inspirational events in LA, portland, seattle, vancouver. [THIS WAS MY INTENTION AND I LOVED THE LADIES I MET - SO INSPIRING]
5. fun, inspiring tranquilology teleclass: 8 new petals for spring. [HOPE SO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING IN]
6. ship out tranquility toolkits to oh-so-talented creativity circle graduates. [DONE AND THE GOODIES WERE YUMMY. BIG CONGRATS AGAIN TO GRADS.]
7. launch *new* tranquilista ecourse. [DONE AND THESE LADIES ARE INSPIRING!]
8. finalize placement for fall 2010/spring 2011 MSW internship. [DONE, I'LL BE AT N STREET VILLAGE 2 DAYS A WEEK FOR TWO SEMESTERS. SO EXCITED!]
9. successful shoulder surgery on thursday, march 25. boo. [DONE AND SLOWLY HEALING]
10. bask in "realizing your true nature" all-day workshop with tara brach on march 20. [DONE. LOVED THIS. SHE IS AN AMAZING TEACHER]
11. flair-filled booksigning at breathe books in baltimore. [DONE, SUCH FUN]
12. start each day with 10-minutes of meditation. [OMG, THIS IS AN ONGOING GOAL. UGH!]
13. launch ballet-inspired spring TranquiliT collection: special dc event on march 21. [DONE, LOVE IT!]
14. share results + implement suggested changes in tranquil space survey (680 responses). [DONE AND POSTED RESPONSE THIS WEEK]
15. surround myself with fresh flowers. [DONE, SEE ABOVE]
16. daily yin yoga. [DONE OFTEN, NOT DAILY DUE TO SURGERY]
17. continue to phase out time-wasters: immediate response to emails, try (again) for email checking, facebook checking, twitter checking limited to a few times/day. [WORK IN PROGRESS. DEFINITELY GETTING BETTER.]
18. answer up to 3 questions each day on formspring to serve up inspiration + ideas. [DONE MOST DAYS. THANKS FOR THE QUESTIONS!]
19. don flower pins, pearls, feathers, and sparkles to accentuate favored noir look. [DONE!]
20. prep for tranquil space foundation's exciting luna fest event. [DOING MORE THIS WEEK]
21. daily green smoothie sipping. for ideas on how to make yours, click here. [DONE MOST DAYS PLUS INFUSED GREEN INTAKE WITH WHEATGRASS SHOTS!]

tranquility du jour #180: food experience

2010-04-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

direct download (mp3)

Bonjour. Welcome to the 180th edition of Tranquility du Jour: A Guide to Bringing Tranquility to your Every Day. Today’s show continues the series featuring tranquility du jour's guest bloggers with musings on food with Robyn Michelle-Lee.

Robyn is an ashtanga-practicing yogini who lives in a little apartment on the edge of the pacific ocean. She studies literature and teaches writing at university, and she is beginning a freelance photography business. She is also taking a food writing course, running on the beach, planning upcoming travels in Europe, and doing a marketing internship. Each aspect of the food experience interests her, thus "Foodie Fridays" explores organic living, gorgeous cookbooks, delicious recipes, informative nutrition, Ayurvedic principles, hosting dinner parties, properties of tea, wine tasting, the beauty of the food experience and more. While she was in Europe, she kept a blog to record her experiences of new cultures and she has recently begun a new lifestyle-focused blog.

foodie friday... tips for tranquility

2010-04-02T10:36:00.000-04:00

so go, look in a mirror, bountiful living means you,

you in all your splendor, your loving, your feeling, your insights and your confusion,

the complexity and simplicity that makes you,

is all that is bountiful.

look no further, you are the wealth of the world.

experience that, and your will experience bountiful living.

– kabir

this month, i've written about how we can seek out tranquility in your daily routine and allow your breakfast time and your midday meal to be moments of reflection and nourishment... along with this post today, my podcast interview on tranquility du jour will be posted for you... as you take a tranquil moment to listen to kimberly and i muse about the food experience, you'll notice that we discuss food as beauty, as lifestyle and as an opportunity for tranquility. in light of kimberly's thoughts this week on slowing down our lives, and in anticipation of this holiday weekend, i'd love to share with you my tips on how we can use what satiates and sustains us as a reminder to be still and to savor our lives.

take a whole day to prepare a traditional recipe, such as homemade bread. it will sit in your grandmother's large mixing bowl and fill your home with the aromas of generations past.

drink fresh water. it will cleanse your body.

try a new flavor and let it linger on your senses. taking the time to articulate what aromas and textures you are experiencing will bring you back into living in the moment.

roll up a woolen blanket and fill a basket with portable fare and a classic novel. have a picnic beneath the floating cherry blossom petals and savor the rejuvenation that comes with springtime.

don a dress and make a reservation at a fine dining restaurant in your city. converse for hours with someone you love as you are pampered with elegant ambiance, several courses and recommended wine pairings.

invite your littlest ones into the kitchen and allow them to experience the culinary process with you. invite them to taste anything that attracts them and to get their tiny hands dirty without inhibitions.

be gentle on your body and give it a break from something that you usually indulge in: caffeine, refined sugars, dairy products. experience the levity.

visit the public market and wander through the rows of local produce. speak with the vendors as they are eager to share their love for the substances that connect all of us one another.

be still in meditation and finish it with peaceful savasana, tucked under a warm throw. staying in silence for a little while after your practice will allow you absorb the effects of your meditation and will make time for you sip a cup of soothing tea.

tell me: how do you seek tranquility?

posted by robyn. visit her blog: this is life.

robyn michelle-lee is an ashtanga yogini, a foodie, a literature student, a photographer, a marketing assistant, and a lifestyle writer. live this moment - live your lifestyle.

tranquil space newsletter musing: lessons off the mat

2010-04-01T12:52:00.001-04:00

"no matter how cold the winter, spring is sure to follow." - proverb

life is full of lessons. some welcomed. some not-so-welcomed. i've been "blessed" with an interesting one of my own this past week: shoulder surgery! in december 2008 i began having a tweak in my shoulder, but carried on assuming it would pass. finally, growing frustrated, i headed to an ortho last summer, began physical therapy, and even got a cortisone injection. ouch! feeling pain i returned this year for an MRI and they found a bone spur which would require surgery. got it scheduled and was wheeled in donning blue attire last thursday. whew, what a week!

my normal modus operandi has been turned upside down. of course when i got home from surgery i was still numb so i whipped out my laptop, carried flowers, candles, and incense into the bedroom, and feel into my old patterns. as the numbness wore off, i was a mess. couldn't move, get comfortable, eat, or e-mail! my excitement over being able to rest for a few days was slowly wearing off and reality was setting in. this surgery was a big deal. not only did he remove the bone spur, but he found the dreaded rotator cuff tear that means months of healing versus weeks! uh oh. looks like i'll be sans chaturanga for awhile.

this past week has been full of lessons and it felt apropos to share these in my april muse. patterns are hard to break. pema chodren sums this up beautifully in wisdom of no escape where she writes that the same old demons (lessons) will continue to show up until we learn the lessons they came to teach us. hmmmm.

over the past decade i've become addicted to rushing from meeting to meeting, being accessible via email at all times (cut off the cell phone addiction a few years ago - yay!), overscheduling, wanting a quick fix (i'm the one in meditation workshops asking, "so what is the perfect formula?"), and juggling multiple projects and deadlines at once. is this surgery going to stop this addiction? i don't know the answer to that one, but i will share that it has forced me to slow down substantially. for most of this week i've been handling e-mails, shipping online TranquiliT orders, and doing day-to-day tasks with my non-dominant hand. clearly, that slows down the process.

i've been savoring the *most* phenomenal book over the past month called the not so big life and i can't recommend it highly enough. the premise of the book is to slow down, savor, single task, and still get things down. written from a zen perspective, it is the perfect off the yoga mat book! this book plus my surgery is sure to instill some change.

as spring blossoms around us, i, too, hope to bloom in a new way. due to my MSW class schedule, my teaching schedule will shift this summer into the following year. i've held tight to my classes, even teaching on my birthday or getting back in town early to teach. life has a way of shaking things up so we don't get comfortable. this change coupled with my forced slowing down, healing and recovery process, and dedication to living "the not so big life" is sure to have an impact. i look forward to sharing the journey with you on my blog, tranquility du jour, and through my monthly musings here.

may this new month and fresh season offer you, too, a chance to reflect on patterns that feel out of sync. how can you bring more mindfulness into your every day? what is calling for attention deep within? listen intently or it may come forth without a pretty bow tied around it (ex. forced slowing down due to surgery). life is full of lessons and discoveries. if only we'll listen. sip tea. take a walk. do legs up the wall. write in your journal. bask in being.

your soul with thank you.

namaste,
kimberly

Rejuvenate Your Spring Jewelry

2010-04-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

Rejuvenate Your Spring Jewelry:Four Chic Looks You Can Get From the Jewelry You Already Own
by Arwa Jumkawala
Spring’s in the air and that means cleaning out and updating your wardrobe! As you bring your spring clothes out of storage, don’t forget to revisit your jewelry box too.
Rather than simply retiring some of your pieces, or buying new ones, a little creativity can help you rejuvenate your jewelry so you’re on-trend for the season. I recently went through my jewels and brainstormed a few creative new ways to re-wear what I already have. It’s easy, quick, and best of all, free! So, dust off your forgotten jewels and try out these looks:
What you need:

Two or more beaded necklace strands (I’m using two collar-bone grazing necklaces, but you can play with whatever lengths or materials you have at hand).
Optional add-ons: ribbons, satin flowers, safety pins, and invisible scotch tape.

Shown above: Two 16-inch gemstone necklaces (amazonite & apatite) from my jewelry box.

A note of caution: Since we’ll be manipulating our beads in new ways, please do not use fragile necklaces. Also, genuine pearls will not appreciate being rubbed up against other materials. Faux is your friend here!

Look #1: The Twist
Take one strand, twist the other strand around it and secure clasp-to-clasp for a statement look. Each twist will shorten the length of the resulting necklace a tiny bit, so if the choker look is not your style, use a stretch of pretty ribbon to lengthen.

Shown above: A loosely-braided and a tightly-braid twist necklace.

 The twist technique can also help you create a woven bracelet. Simply wrap around the wrist twice and secure. If you need to lengthen, try a safety spin or even paper clip (or two).

Shown above: A twist bracelet.

Look #2 Long & Loose
Want to get the long, loose necklace look that’s burning up the runways right now? No problem, just hook your necklaces end to end to create a strand.

Shown above: Long & loose with clasps in front. Same with clasp in front (covered by ribbon) and back.

Tip: you can hide the clasp with a bow or perhaps a satin flower or two (Bonus- the flower motif is a featured spring look at Antropologie.

Look #3 Sling
Sling one necklace within the other to create a look you can wear centered or (when you’re feeling more whimsical), off to one side.

Shown above: Sling looks, both centered and off to the side.

Look #4 Double Up
Make a double strand by simply nesting the necklaces together. If you need to lengthen one necklace, again ribbon is your friend.

Shown above: Two doubled-up looks, loose doubling on the left and tight on the right.

If you have any other ideas, please do share, I’d love to see what you come up with. Happy spring cleaning and creating my fellow fashionistas!

Arwa Jumkawala is a life long lover of sparkly gems and beads, a former pilates instructor, and founder of Gemkitty, a custom jewelry e-boutique.

booksigning at breathe books in baltimore

2010-03-31T23:59:00.001-04:00

amazing community. amazing neighborhood. amazing books. amazing vibe. amazing female-run business. check out the darling breathe books in baltimore. it's a gem!

had beau wash my hair and trim my bangs. sweet thing. i was like, "you probably didn't think it would come to this for another 50 years!" he drew the line with applying my eyeliner and flossing. learning to do things with my non-dominant hand is tricky! i was super-duper happy to be dolled up after almost a week in bed AND to interact with real, live people again.

sit back in your chaise, kick up your heels, and tune in to my talk outlining tranquilista and top 5 takeaways. what's your takeaway?

xx,
kimberly

tranquility du jour #179: signature style

2010-03-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

direct download (mp3)

Bonjour. Welcome to the 179th edition of Tranquility du Jour: A Guide to Bringing Tranquility to your Every Day. Today’s show continues the series featuring tranquility du jour's guest bloggers with musings on signature style with Kaileen Elise.

Kaileen is an explorer, artist, writer, blogger, twitterer, yogini, tea drinker and entrepreneur based in Raleigh, NC. She enjoys finding simple ways to make everyday an extraordinary adventure and connecting with other sparklistas in the universe. As our featured guest blogger for Wednesdays, Kaileen Elise will be sharing her thoughts on signature style - musings on anything from fashion to home decor to stationery. Connect with Kaileen Elise though her blog or twitter.

signature style wednesdays: sparkle into spring

2010-03-31T11:50:00.000-04:00

the splendor of the rose
and the whiteness of the lily
do not rob the little violet of it’s scent
nor the daisy of its simple charm.
if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose,
spring would lose its loveliness.
(therese of lisieux)

hello gorgeous tranquilistas!
i hope you're having a stylish week filled with sunshine. in case we haven't met, please check out my most recent musings on all things green, lucky and irish. this week's topic is sparkle into spring—thoughts on embracing april showers & may flowers with style.

on a personal note, monday was my birthday and i'm delighted to say it was a fabulous celebration. the highlight of my big day was receiving a hand-made gift certificate from my mister for tranquil space's ebb & flow package + a 1:1 mentoring session with miss kimberly wilson herself. i can't wait to schedule a trip up to dc soon!

sparkle from head to toe
put a spring in your step and a song in your heart with darling lime green rain boots on your feet and angus & julia stone's new album on your ipod. don't let cloudy skies bring you down, enjoy spring showers with a colorful umbrella and lavender nail polish to match.

pair a watercolor garden cardigan with khaki shorts for a chic, yet sophisticated, look. adorn yourself with a necklace inspired by paris in the springtime and soften dry skin with philosophy's field of flowers body lotion.

savor spring's simple pleasures
enjoy sipping a cheerful mug of raspberry white tea. connect with an old friend by sending a beautiful card in the mail and surprise her with flower confetti in the envelope. host a signature soiree and celebrate the season with sparkletini raspberry bubbly in hand-painted lavender champagne flutes.

as mother nature opens her buds, open yourself to new adventures. go for a bike ride. rent a foreign film. rediscover a forgotten hobby. take up a new pastime. use the change in seasons as a way to motivate change from within.

image credit: sephora | prettymydrink | itunes | linkeldesigns | papaya | jcrew | piperlime | umbrellas.net

kaileenelise is a sparklista, yogini, artist, blogger & creative entrepreneur. tweet along & visit her website for musings on making every day an extraordinary adventure.

musings from recovery ward chez moi

2010-03-30T13:59:00.005-04:00

pecking away at keyboard with one hand while other rests in sling. forgive short sentences and abbreviated thoughts.

during the past few days my beloved gramma has returned to ER (note her on cell phone chatting with me while mum and pops look on), mum got a knee replacement, and i've been spending lots of time in bed. ahhh!

beau snapped the shot of me geared up in my surgery ensemble. not my most flattering look.

doctor went in to remove bone spur but found the dreaded rotator cuff tear that didn't show on MRI. longer recovery, but happier shoulder!

what i've learned:
- family means the world
- getting sick from anesthesia strengthens your abs (mine actually hurt like i just did pilates)
- pets love to use my shoulder to leap on headboard
- snail mail notes, emails, and online shout-outs are great perk-me-ups
- when it rains, sometimes it pours (all us ladies fell apart at same time)
- cats are intuitive (when in need bonnard would always come check on me and stayed close. sir louis was most concerned with how my handicap affected his food intake)
- TranquiliT long sleeve wrap tunic is perfect recovery piece (wraps beautifully over sling)
- ordering new "pewter princess" sling made me smile
- i don't like drugs. too harsh on my system.
- heart cici's gorgeous petals from last week's teleclass done in pastels!
- slowing down is very hard on me - especially pecking away with one hand at the keyboard.
- flowers make me smile
- a bath full of LUSH's easter bombs is just as yummy with a sling
- the sound of spring rain is pure bliss
- i have some super talented readers. got some amazing goody bags while bedridden - one with 2 gogeous necklaces (photo to come).
- beau is the most patient soul ever. received texts asking for more pills (need 2 hands to open child-proof bottles), cries for ginger ale, pleas for emails to handle, and even drove me to school on monday. give the boy a medal!
- my tranquilista e-course girls are rocking their mindfulness, yoga, morning rituals, and visual journals. SO proud!
- i cannot wait to rock my new shoulder!

xx,
kimberly

tranquility du jour #178: embracing your inner frugalista

2010-03-29T19:29:00.002-04:00

direct download (mp3)

Bonjour. Welcome to the 178th edition of Tranquility du Jour: A Guide to Bringing Tranquility to your Every Day. Today’s show continues the series featuring tranquility du jour's gues bloggers with musings on embracing your inner frugalista with Katharine Albritton.

Katharine writes the $ense and $ensibility posts every other Monday. She is a writer in New York City who loves history, languages, laughter, travel, and art. Her financial planner of a father always stressed the importance of living within one’s means while her grandmother and mother taught her to be nothing short of fabulous at all times. So Katharine embraced her inner frugalista and learned to live big on a budget, no matter where in the world she finds herself. From Paris to London and New York to DC, she's lived large on little and had a ton of fun along the way!

$ense & $ensibility Monday: Budget Beautifully

2010-03-29T10:06:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday, Tranquilistas! As you know by now, $ense & $ensibility Mondays are all about living large on a budget. So far, I’ve shared some tricks and tips with you about ways to save while living large, but I haven’t yet talked with you about the budget part of equation. I promise it’s not as boring and tedious as it sounds!

Budget Basics

We all need to know what our budgets are, however small or large, so that we can live within our means and be able to plan for our futures. If you want to start saving up for retirement, or put a down payment on some property or a car, or if you have some debt you need to pay off and want to do it faster, where is the money going to come from?

Maybe you’re already in control of your budget. If that’s the case, congratulations! Good on you! If you’re not, or if it’s been a while since you’ve figured out your budget and some variables have changed, it’s time to examine your financial life so that your real life can be fabulous! Over the next few weeks, we'll look at what it takes to build a budget and use it.

Your Style

To make a budget, you need to first know your style – your spending style, that is. Your spending can be divided into two categories: necessity and discretionary spending. Today we’ll look at what makes up necessity spending.

Necessities

As the name suggests, necessities are the living expenses you HAVE TO make. And while I know from experience that your haircut and highlights might sometimes seem like a necessity, they’re really not, ladies! Necessities are:

-Rent/Mortgage

-Taxes (you have filed your 2009 taxes, haven't you?)

-Insurance (medical, homeowners/renters, etc)

-Transportation (either expenses for automobiles – loans, insurance, gas, maintenance – or bus & subway passes)

-Credit card debt payments

-Other debt payments (student, home equity, etc)

-Utilities

-Phone

-Child Support and/or Alimony

-Groceries

-Medical expenses
-Savings, Investments, and Retirement Savings

Chic Chart

Chart out your Necessities (I really like the charts Catey Hill came up with for Shoo, Jimmy Choo!). Look at how much you spend on these expenses per month. Obviously, you want to make sure it’s less than what you’re bringing in. If it’s not – fix that right away! Do you really need 1,000 cell phone minutes a month and unlimited texts, or can you cut your plan down? How much are you spending a month on groceries? How much of this food is going to waste or can be bought more cheaply? Do you really need to drive to work, or would public transportation be cheaper (or vice-versa!)? Or maybe you’re perfectly happy with how much your Necessities are costing you. Either way, at least you now know exactly how much you spend on these items. Knowledge is power!

Next post: Discretionary Spending! Exciting (and often eye opening)!

Katharine Albritton is an art market specialist and writer. Procrastinate with her at The Fine Taste Emporium and follow her on twitter.

tranquility du jour #177: doses of pleasure

2010-03-25T12:51:00.000-04:00

direct download (mp3)

Bonjour. Welcome to the 177th edition of Tranquility du Jour: A Guide to Bringing Tranquility to your Every Day. Today’s show features happenings and musings on doses of pleasure with Diane Cesa.

Tranquilology Teleclass:Join moi for our next Tranquilology Teleclass "Frolic into Fall" on Monday, September 20 at 9pm ET. $10. View petals from winter's teleclass.

Workshops + Retreats: Consider joining moi on the Virtual Art Retreat with Wish Studio's Creative Cast April 30-May 2, a week long Yoga Lifestyle Retreat in lush Costa Rica May 29-June 5, a Tranquilista Retreat at Kripalu July 5-9, Denver workshops July 16-17, and a Yoga Retreat in India November 12-21.

Featured Tranquilista: Diane Cesa
Diane's earliest pleasure-filled memory was joyfully speeding around the nursery school parking lot on a Big Wheel. That sparked a desire to add more “whee” into her life on a daily basis. Dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure, Diane walked away from the corporate world to follow her passion. She now teaches yoga and is putting her pleasure maven teachings into an online course which can be found at theuncommonyogi.com. Diane keeps her pleasure quota full by practicing yoga, spending time in nature, journaling, dancing, seeking out new experiences, and writing her yoga blog.

Savvy Sources:
Web: itsallaboutyoga.com
Twitter: itsallaboutyoga.com
Facebook: facebook.com/dianecesa

Signature Style: The ballet-inspired spring collection has sprung at TranquiliT.com in en pointe pink, sugarplum purple, and noir. Whimsical, girly, feminine, and fun!

Stay Au Courant: Create a home practice. Join our Facebook group. Become my Facebook friend. Follow moi on Twitter. Download Tranquility du Jour on demand. Watch bi-weekly Tranquility du Jour TV on youtube.com/tranquilitydujour . Explore mentoring with moi. Peruse Hip Tranquil Chick or Tranquilista. Deepen your yoga practice at Tranquil Space. Get your do-gooding on with Tranquil Space Foundation. Sign up for my museletter. Tranquilista's fan page. Tranquil Space Foundation's hosting LunaFest.

Au Revoir

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- Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

- Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business?
Check out nineball media.

A Dose of Pleasure Thursday – Accentuate the Positive

2010-03-25T09:44:00.000-04:00

“Good fortune shies away from gloom. Keep your spirits up. Good things will come to you and you will come to good things.” - Glorie Abelhas

When was the last time you felt great (and by great, I mean I-just-can't-stop-smiling-I-feel-so-great)? How much of your time is spent celebrating what's great about you and your life as opposed to complaining about yourself and your life?

Ask questions like these and I tend to get a response that sounds something like this:

“I'd like to feel great, but... (insert appropriate issue here including the economy sucks, my spouse sucks, my job sucks, life is hard, etc.)

Are you one of those “butters?” If so, don't be so hard on yourself. Life in today's world has made feeling anything but great an art form. Turn on the TV and check out the news – do you see anyting to feel great about there? Flip through a fashion magazine and notice how looking at the images depicting beauty make you feel. Yep, it can be tough to feel good when bad stuff is always front and center in your attention.

Succumbing to negativity seriously drains your pleasure tank. And believe me – when you're running on fumes, life ain't pretty.

So what do you do to turn it around? Here are a few suggestions to help:

Banish bad news – don't watch the news. In fact, go on a media fast for one week. Don't worry – if something major happens, you'll get wind of it. I want you to get choosey about what sort of information you allow into your head. Do you need to read yet another article about the state of the economy? Do you need to see another news snippet reporting about murder, a health care crisis, and/or disease? While you're letting go of the news, you might want to try an entire media fast – no TV, news radio, magazines, etc. One week of living media-free can show you how much you're being affected by what you choose to read, watch, listen to. Here's what you can do instead – focus on positive news. Try tuning into this Web site daily and soaking in the goodness.
Surround yourself with positivity – have you ever gotten together with a friend and noticed that you spent the entire time complaining about your respective lives? Is complaining really the best use of your time? It isn't if you want more pleasure in your life. Try this for a week – no complaining, only bragging about what's great in your life. Perhaps you've lost your job and are feeling stressed about money. Rather than complain to your friend, brag about the fact that you have more free time on your hands in which to do things that you enjoy. I know, I know – this is a tough one. Try it. If you need a little help with this, check out A Complaint Free World. You can also have uplifting messages delivered to your inbox to remind you to focus on the good. My favorites are TUT and Daily G. My favorite new item is this delightful Ordinary Sparkling Inspiration Deck which offers up inspiration on little cards. I keep these near my desk in an attractive box and pull one out when I need a little positivity.
Turning the negative around – when something happens that you judge as bad (like your flight being delayed, having to stay late at work, not getting the promotion you wanted, etc.), find the good in it. Ask yourself this question: What's great about ___________ (insert complaint here)?There's always a gift in what happens to you in life, but you need to recognize it before you can receive it.
Add a little sweat – I'm a big fan of getting the old blood pumping to banish negativity. Now there's an amazing workout that not only reshapes your body but your mind. IntenSati is a workout that combines aerobics, martial arts, yoga, dance, and conditioning with feel-good affirmations. Basically, you get an endorphin boost from the workout AND you feel completely empowered thanks to the positive affirmations that you recite throughout the workout. Of course you can just put on some music and dance around your house or you could go for a walk – just find whatever type of exercise you enjoy and do it daily.

It won't happen overnight but little by little you might just notice your mood lightening. You have to train yourself to look for the good because most often the focus is on the bad. But with a little practice, you can be feeling great.

Have a pleasure-filled day,

Diane

Diane Cesa is a yoga practitioner and teacher, lover of life, tea drinker, adventurer, eternal optimist, nature fan, blogger and self-proclaimed pleasure maven.

shoulder surgery bound musings

2010-03-24T20:39:00.004-04:00

bonsoir, bonsoir, bonsoir,

i have a confession to make . . . life has been *anything* but tranquil lately. lack of sleep (my favorite thing). too many deadlines. overcommitment. lack of yoga (thanks to injuries + exhaustion).

yes, life is usually busy. yes, i like to add more things to my plate than i probably should . . . but somehow projects and due dates have aligned like unfriendly stars on my planet of life. new tranquil space spring schedules to finalize. new TranquiliT spring collection to launch. new tranquil space foundation grantees to decide upon. new teleclass to host. new e-course to launch. new podcasts to record. new guest teacher to host/welcome. new TranquiliT promo materials. new tranquility toolkits to ship to creativity circle graduates. new online orders to ship. new trunk show to host. new techer sangha to attend. all-day mindfulness meditation event. um, this was my past week post 10-day, 7 city book tour. seriously, not sure how i'm still standing.

i know, i know, we're *all* busy, but how to escape the busyness? tranquility is critical to my health. space is criticial to my health. fewer deadlines is critical to my health. however, there is nothing i want to release. i LOVE what i do. see my dilemma? i'm sure you relate!

as i prepare to slow it down for at least a few days, i'm excited to ponder this notion. somehow surgery is a welcomed blessing. my shoulder will feel better sans bone spur. i'll get to indulge in at least 4 bed days curled up with my beloved sir louis while getting catered to by beau. yay! i'll get more than enough rest to make up for the recent craziness.

but something's gotta give. life is not usually so untranquil. i try to infuse daily doses of tranquility, but this past week left me concerned. i can not and will not live like this.

as i hosted monday's teleclass, i surrounded myself with flowers and candles to help ease this feeling of unease and topped off the day with a hot bath. above are two gorgeous flowers by artists julie and amanda based on what they took away from the call. (merci for sharing!) what small steps can you take to infuse your world with a dose of tranquility?

when life throws you too many deadlines, too many commitments, and too many silly struggles, it is time to step back. spring has sprung and it is time for renewal. join me (sans surgery) on a journey of reflection. what is calling for release? what is calling for acceptance? how can you make some changes to return to tranquility? what beckons you deep within?

i hope to have some answers when i return from my drug-infused slumberings. send good surgery thoughts tomorrow at noon ET. in the interim, i'm sending you good tranquility thoughts. you deserve it!

xx,
kimberly

tranquility du jour #176: staying in touch

2010-03-23T10:33:00.007-04:00

direct download (mp3)

Bonjour. Welcome to the 176th edition of Tranquility du Jour: A Guide to Bringing Tranquility to your Every Day. Today’s show features happenings and musings on staying in touch with Samara O'Shea.

Tranquilista Lifestyle: Joie de Vivre: Join me for a 6-week e-course focusing on the outlined in Tranquilista. Our six sessions will highlight ways to shape your world with spirituality, do-gooding, creativity, style, and entrepreneurship. Launches March 24.

Tranquilology Teleclass:Join moi for our next Tranquilology Teleclass "Frolic into Fall" on Monday, September 20 at 9pm ET. $10. View petals from winter's teleclass.

Workshops + Retreats: Consider joining moi on the Virtual Art Retreat with Wish Studio's Creative Cast April 30-May 2, a week long Yoga Lifestyle Retreat in lush Costa Rica May 29-June 5, a Tranquilista Retreat at Kripalu July 5-9, Denver workshops July 16-17, and a Yoga Retreat in India November 12-21.

Featured Tranquilista: Samara O'Shea
Samara O’Shea so loved the written word that she launched an online letter-writing service. Now she writes letters on behalf of the inarticulate souls of the world at LetterLover.net. She also writes books: For the Love of Letters: A 21st-Century Guide to the Art of Letter Writing and Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits. Samara likes to drink tea and travel whenever she can afford to (this picture was taken in Vienna).

Savvy Sources:
Web: www.LetterLover.net
Twitter: twitter.com/SamaraOShea
Books: For the Love of Letters: A 21st-Century Guide to the Art of Letter Writing and Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and other Dangerous Pursuits

Signature Style: The ballet-inspired spring collection has sprung at TranquiliT.com in en pointe pink, sugarplum purple, and noir. Whimsical, girly, feminine, and fun!

Stay Au Courant: Create a home practice. Join our Facebook group. Become my Facebook friend. Follow moi on Twitter. Download Tranquility du Jour on demand. Watch bi-weekly Tranquility du Jour TV on youtube.com/tranquilitydujour . Explore mentoring with moi. Peruse Hip Tranquil Chick or Tranquilista. Deepen your yoga practice at Tranquil Space. Get your do-gooding on with Tranquil Space Foundation. Sign up for my museletter. Tranquilista's fan page. Tranquil Space Foundation's hosting LunaFest.

Au Revoir

- You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes

- New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast Alley

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