rainy day to-dos

don't know how the weather is where you are, but today is gray and rainy here in the northeast.  unlike many, i've always been a fan of rainy days.  there's something about the gray skies that makes everything feel cozier : )

in case you're under cloud cover too, i've pulled together some rainy day essentials to keep you smiling no matter what the weather's doing.

drink this: nothing is homier than hot tea on a gray day.  my personal favorite is chai.  i love the spiciness of it.  i let my tea steep for a few minutes, then add 1 tsp of sugar in the raw & 1 tbsp half & half.  (much tastier...and healthier...than starbucks' super sugary chai tea latte)

watch this: your favorite movie from when you were younger.  on my list would be father of the bride (with steve martin), only you or an alfred hitchcock flick

eat this: comfort food!  rainy days call for some old-fashioned staples.  like chicken soup, mac & cheese or some kind of yummy baked good.

do this: give yourself a break and indulge a bit.  read a book, take a bath or listen to some soft music.  rainy days are a great time to embrace the quiet and slow down.

rain, rain (don't) go away : ).

la beauté

la beauté est dans la rue.  translation - the beauty is in the street.  my take away - beauty is found in the journey and be open to unexpected moments of grace.

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craig and i often walk with our little dog, olive, on nice evenings.  the other night, we went into doylestown, as we often do, and parked in the residential section of town near the library and local art museum.  as we meandered along, i spotted a lonely book on a bench.  as we approached, we realized it had been left there on purpose.  the book - an old anthology of robert frost poems - was tied with yarn and had a note attached.  "to finder - la beauté est dans la rue." 

i picked up the book and removed the yarn.  upon opening it, we realized that a secret compartment had been created by removing some of the interiors of the pages in the 2nd half of the book.  a note there read "place secrets here." 

i don't know who put it there, but, as the finder, i looked upon this find as a true treasure.  how lovely.  a gift from a stranger.

it's always interesting where we find unexpected moments of beauty & grace.  today, i attended an "upper level" yoga class.  a yoga teacher had recommended trying the class weeks ago, but she said it might be a little advanced for me, so i kept putting it off.  i was afraid of feeling lost and out-of-place.  i was afraid of looking foolish.

today at 9:30am i finally went to the anusara class, and it was fabulous.  i could keep up (enough) to feel at ease but challenged enough to keep me alert and engaged.  and now, i wish i hadn't put it off for so long.  i kept myself from going because of unfounded worry and negative thoughts - and now that all seems so foolish and inconsequential.

i encourage all of you to look for moments of beauty & grace.  rise to the occasion.  embrace the unexpected.  breathe through it.  and let go.  allow la beauté to reveal itself...because it was always there...

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simple things to change your world

ever notice how the most simple, basic things can change your world?  i think one of the most rewarding things you can do for for yourself is check-in and recenter.  here are some things i do to connect with my inner maven : )

- move – just 15 minutes of exercise can change your day…and your life.  i love starting my day with movement – especially yoga.  it sets me right with the world and with myself.  if an exercise routine is new to you, start small.  incorporate a manageable amount of fitness into your week (like 15-20 minutes, 3 days a week),  and grow from there.  don’t beat yourself up about what you should do – just do something.  some exercise is better than no exercise at all.

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- eat – fresh fruits and veggies are not just good for you, they really and truly make you feel good too, inside & out.  when you feed your body wholesome, nutritious foods, it thanks you.  i know from personal experience that the better I eat, the better I feel.  i don’t need any diet plan or book to tell what to (or not to) eat.  my body tells me.  now i just have to focus on really listening : )

- sleep – getting 7-8 hours of sleep is the backbone of any truly healthy lifestyle.  without restorative sleep, your body is not prepared to tackle the day – mentally or physically.  How can your body expect to focus let alone workout or be productive if it’s lacking something so essential?!  often we have to get up early for work, so sleeping in is rarely an option, but shifting your bedtime a bit earlier may be all it takes to make you feel refreshed when morning time comes.  (plenty of sleep and still struggle to get out of bed?  craig, my fiancé, swears by this trick.  drink a glass of water upon waking.  he says it clears the morning “fog”.)

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- read – for our jobs, we often are reading all day long.  but that’s not the kind of reading i’m talking about.  how long has it been since you’ve read something that enriches your life?  or read for pleasure?  probably too long.  lately, i’ve “rediscovered” my love of reading and have incorporated it into my pre-bedtime routine.  settling in with a good book and losing yourself in its pages is such a treat and a great way to wind down from a long day.

what simple thing has changed your world?.

the art of letting go

“let go of the parts of life that you honestly don’t want”

what a simple statement.  so elegant in its poignant conciseness.  yet how many of us really & truly embrace this concept?  whether it’s that ugly teapot from aunt mildred or a bad habit that’s compromising our health, letting go is hard.  we feel guilty.  we feel stuck.  we feel comfortable with the way things are…even if we know a change would serve us better.

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just think how freeing it would be if we rid ourselves of all the crap that is holding us back and weighing us down.  our cluttered closets, our addiction to junk food, our incessant worries.  we all know that these things inhibit us.  they strap us down and keep us from our fabulousity – our full potential of happiness & health.  so, why don’t we just let go?  because we’re scared?  probably.  because change is hard?  well, yes…sometimes.  but, if you let go of the things you honestly don’t want, it makes space in your life for all the wonderful things you love and enjoy.  and with all the junk cleared, you can begin to appreciate the beauty that was already there, waiting to be uncovered.

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so, take a (mini) leap.  donate the teapot and try an apple instead of a bag of chips for your afternoon snack.  i guarantee you’ll feel better, and you’ll begin to tap into your inner maven as you move one step closer to being effortlessly fabulous…

what are you going to let go?.