9 Simple Tips For Getting Through Winter

Photo: AS.

It’s amazing how a simple sunny day can brighten our whole mood.  If you live in a part of the world, where in the wintertime, lack of sunlight and cold temperatures can go on for days, it can have a significant effect on our mood.  Here are some simple tips and fun ideas to make your days brighter and happier during the winter months.

Tip # 1: Move your Body  

Exercise is not only good for the body, but it’s also extremely helpful to our mental and emotional health.  It relieves stress, floods our bodies with feel good endorphins, and has an overall relaxing yet energizing effect on the body, mind and spirit.

Tip # 2: Essential Oils

Essential oils are a good way to enhance our well being and take care of ourselves during the cold, dark days.  Think citrus, such as orange, lemon, tangerine and grapefruit notes…. Pick your favorite or make your own unique blend.  Orange essential oil has been noted to improve mood. Simply carry it with you for an instant pick me up…Or combine it with a little sunflower oil and massage it into your limbs and arms.  You can even add it to some sugar or salt and exfoliate  in the shower….A little self care is sometimes all we need....Ooo La La!

Tip # 3: Green Inspiration

Take a trip to your nearest botanical garden or greenhouse. It’s relaxing, uplifting and restorative to be surrounded by the beauty of exotic plants and the soft, balmy air of places like these.  During the winter, many botanical gardens host a flower show.  Here in Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens host their annual spring show.  The entire building smells like a bouquet of flowers.  It's one of my favorite places.  Or if you’d like to take a little bit of Spring home with you, many greenhouses and grocery stores begin selling spring flowers like paper whites, tulips, hyacinth and daffodils.  

Tip #4: Let There Be Light 

During the winter, we want to capitalize on all the sunshine we can find.  Why not make it a point while getting coffee or having lunch, to sit by a sunny window.   And so it goes for cloudy days as well.  It’s much brighter next to a window and the light has an accumulative effect.  Bring a friend along, savor each sip of coffee, take a few moments to read a book, or just be in the moment, but see how quickly the body relaxes and the mood lifts in the presence of warmth and light.

Tip #5: Stay In Touch

So that cabin fever doesn't take us over, it’s important to get out of the house and surround ourselves with new environments, friends, and a change of scenery…Hang out with friends, host a dinner party, visit a museum or go to a local coffee house....You never know who you’ll meet, what fun exchange you’ll have or what can happen. 

Tip #7: Stay Warm

It's sounds a little cliche " don't forget your hat and gloves" as we were reminded when we were little ones. But there's nothing like the right gear: warm gloves, a good pair of boots (with non - slip treads), and a cozy hat, to buffer against the elements!  

Tip #8: Plan Your Garden

One of my favorite things to do in winter is to start planning my garden.  I begin thinking of all the herbs in my garden and their fragrance that follows as I walk past.  It's a lot of fun going to the local store to pick out my seeds:  plum tomatoes, arugula, spring mix, cucumbers, green beans.  And the flowers: blue morning glories, shasta daisies, white and pink cosmos, giant zinnia, bright red poppies and mammoth sunflowers.

Tip #9: When in Rome 
As the saying goes " if you can't beat 'em, join them".  So, it might be helpful to go out and have a little fun in the cold and the snow!  There is something very empowering when we surrender to what is.  So go ahead.  Go outside.  Throw that snowball, build that snowman or just let yourself wander through a park or the nearest woods and take in the beauty that winter offers!

Wishing you Beautiful, Happy Days!

Copyright 2013

Love Poems For Valentine's Day

Vita Nuova

In that book 
Which is my memory

On the first page 
That is the  chapter when
I first met you
Appear the words........
Here begins a new life
~ DANTE

In your light 

I learn how to love. 

In your beauty, 

how to make poems. 

You dance inside my chest, 

where no one sees you, 

But sometimes I do, 

and that sight becomes this art. 

(Rumi)

Come Quickly

Come quickly –as soon as

these flowers open,

they fall.

This world exists

as a sheen of dew on flowers.

Izumi Shikibu




<3 With Much Love, Happy Valentine's Day! 


And a couple of deceptively simple and delicious recipes
to indulge in, while reading poetry!

Simple Pleasures: Chocolate Toast with Coffee
The Ultimate Hot Chocolate

The Ultimate Hot Chocolate

The Ultimate Hot Chocolate With Fresh Whipped Cream!

Mmmmm, it’s so nice to have a cup of creamy hot chocolate on cold winter days.  It’s one of those small comforts that make life a little sweeter.  Plus, it reminds me of being a kid and having a cup of hot chocolate after playing out in the snow.  Everything just kind of slowed and relaxed as the body warmed to a soft glow.  Now as an adult, life can be busy.  I’m usually coming in from work or errands….So, I like to seek out ways to have more fun, be more kid like and bring a little comfort to my day and that of my family’s.  Hot Chocolate is one of those ways.  Let’s just call it a form of therapy.  Yeah, that’s right, therapy, the chocolaty goodness kind.  And it works too…to put a smile on the face, a warmth to the heart and brings a little creativity, play, and imagination to the day……….

This is the ultimate cup of hot chocolate, full bodied and deeply satisfying.  After experimenting with different types of chocolate, and many cups of hot chocolate later, it seemed obvious to combine the chocolate chips with the cocoa. Together, with their strengths, they create a sublime experience, a robust chocolate flavor that’s creamy, rich and delicious…. 

I definitely recommend using dark chocolate.  It has that deep dark chocolate flavor that isn't too sweet, but just sweet enough.  I also recommend using  organic milk and organic half and half because organic really does have a better flavor and consistency than the non-organic…..okay then, mmmm, ready?….

Directions:  Combine ingredients together and stir constantly until well blended on medium low heat.  When everything is well incorporated and the milk is steaming, (careful not to burn) turn the heat down on low and let simmer for 5 minutes more.  Stir again before serving and then garnish if you like.  It's delicious on it's own, but with whip cream it becomes insane! Garnish as much or as little as you like....have fun...follow your heart….be a kid …be silly, be happy, be in the moment, enjoy!       

Ingredients 

1 ½  Cups Organic 2% Milk

1/2 Cup Organic Half and Half

1 Teaspoon Dark Cocoa Powder

½ Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

Dash of salt (optional )

Serves 2

Optional Toppings

Whip cream

Marshmallows

Ice cream

Cinnamon

Peppermint stick

Grated Chocolate

Cayenne Pepper

Etc.

ps. feel free to substitute with almond, coconut or soy milk........;)

Related entry: Simple Pleasures:Chocolate Toast
copyright 2013

Grief: Finding Our Way Through The Darkness

photo courtesy of Lukas

"It takes great courage and strength to feel our emotions, to let the tears fall, to allow our feelings of sadness and despair.  But this is how we heal, one moment, one day at a time......"   

I wanted to write an entry on grief.  I've been meaning to for a long time now, but somehow I always put it off. After the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, it prompted me further.  It’s not an easy subject, but having my own experiences with grief that have profoundly changed my life, I wanted to write something that might be helpful.   It is my belief that where there is darkness, there is the capacity for great light too, and so, I cannot write about grief without writing about hope.

We grieve because we love. It’s that simple. If I knew a way around this, I would tell you. There is nothing stronger on Earth than love. The grief we feel speaks to the connections that we have with one another, 
to the preciousness of our relationships and honors the love and experiences we've shared. Everyone experiences grief in their own way. For me, I sometimes think of grief as a road, maybe a journey, or landscape of some kind; one where we cannot see our way through, but are guided by the stars illuminated in the sky.  It is here, when we face the darkness, and look deep into the heart of our sadness that the brilliance of our hope and love shine so bright. And then, in moments like these, we may feel some peace and comfort in our hearts, our grief transcended.

It’s one of those universal paradoxes that there are gifts in loss.  I often feel like it’s the compassion of the universe lending its hand. These gifts can range in an outpouring of love and support from our community and friends to a rebirth and renewal.  This rebirth or reset as someone I know calls it can be more like an awakening or a new awareness, a gratitude for life, of bringing us closer to who we are and to what we want out of life, of being more authentically who we want to be and living the kind of life we want to have. It can make us more aware of how precious the people around us are and how precious are own life is.  It can motivate us to make the world a better place. 

And so, it’s important to give ourselves permission to grieve.  There is no time table for this.  It would be nice if it passed quickly, and sometimes it does, but it’s one of those times in life that the way out is through.  This means allowing ourselves to feel and process our emotions in the amount of time we need.  It takes great courage and strength to feel our emotions, to let the tears fall, to allow our feelings of sadness and despair.  But this is how we heal, one moment, one day at a time......   

There are many positive things we can do to help ourselves through this time. Here are a few:

Take your time in healing yourself..... 

Do what you feel like, move towards those things that inspire you and gives you comfort..... 

Eat well, and sleep when you can......

Walking, hiking, and any exercise in general is very helpful...... 

Writing, journaling, reading, prayer, and meditation help too...... 

Of course, talking to a therapist or grief counselor or joining a support group is also very helpful.....


Related Post:
Kindness


I dedicate this to my sister, who in her absence taught us to love better.  And to those who have shared their own stories in their sadness....xo……..

copyright 2013

Hope

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”  Martin Luther King Jr.

It's December 21, 2012 and in the northern hemisphere the winter solstice.  It is the darkest day of the year, but also one of my favorites, since from here, the days get longer, or rather, the amount of light we gain each day will become longer.  The light will increase by seconds at first, and then to minutes, eventually leading to one of my other favorite days, the summer solstice. 

There will also be the galactic alignment today.  

This alignment took 26,000 years to occur, 

and now as one cycle ends another begins...   

It has been a week of sadness here in the U.S. after the events in Newtown, Connecticut.  Hearts everywhere are heavy for the loss.  It has got me to thinking about light and darkness and about grief and hope.......And how when we are experiencing times of great darkness and grief, somewhere on the other side there is light and hope.........this I think, is what we reach for.......
So, tonight, if you by chance are outside looking at the great vastness of dark......remember the stars.....reach for the light....

With much love,

“Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven,

Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.”

― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." -- Edith Wharton 

Cleaning With Essential Oils

     For many years now, I've used natural ingredients to clean my home.  Vinegar and baking soda have been my mainstays, but adding essential oils to your arsenal can target specific types of problems, enhance the effectiveness of other ingredients, and, of course, make your house smell great.  

I still get amused when I add the baking soda to the vinegar.  It creates that foamy, volcanic mess and I feel like I’m a little kid.  The baking soda gives a little grit to the vinegar and acts like a scouring powder.
     Vinegar on its own is an amazing cleaner.  It cuts grease, deodorizes, dissolves hard water spots and is effective at killing mold.  Its uses are virtually limitless.  Combing certain essential oils to it like lemon, lemongrass, tea tree, and cinnamon adds other beneficial properties as well.

 Lemon and lemongrass essential oils have antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.   Adding them to vinegar makes an all purpose cleaner that can be used on many types of surfaces throughout your home.   It’s a safe way to clean kitchen counters, microwaves, kitchen floors, cupboards, and the refrigerator.  

Tea tree is another essential oil effective for cleaning your home.  It has powerful fungicidal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties.  This is a heavy hitter and is effective in places where there are germs or mold.  

Cinnamon is another essential oil that is antimicrobial and fungicidal.  Combined with vinegar which is proven to also kill molds, you have one powerful cleaning agent on your hands.  It's really perfect in the shower or bath on tile and grout.  Sprayed or diffused into the air in small amounts can also help destroy airborne mold spores and microbes.   Some studies suggest this beneficial effect can continue days or even weeks after the first application.  Cinnamon essential oil is immensely strong.  It needs to be diluted greatly.  I would only suggest using this solution in a spray bottle as it is contained and easily applied with minimal skin contact. And of course caution should be used, as it can cause burning, redness and irritation to the skin. I use this with gloves and the spray bottle and have been very happy to have great results without any problems.   

Recipes

All Purpose Cleaning Solution

1 cup vinegar

1 cup water

1 teaspoon lemon essential oil

1/2 teaspoon lemongrass essential oil

spray bottle

Combine ingredients together.  Always shake well before using. If you would like to use tea tree oil in your all purpose cleaner, omit 1/4 teaspoon of either the lemon or lemongrass and add 1/4 teaspoon of tea tree oil.. 

Tea Tree Cleaning Solution

1 cup water

1 cup vinegar

2 teaspoon tea tree oil

spray bottle

Combine ingredients. Shake well before using.

Serious Cinnamon Mold Destroyer

2 cups vinegar

1 teaspoon cinnamon essential oil

¼ tea tree essential oil
spray bottle

Shake the solution well before using, spray directly onto the affected areas, let sit for a few hours, rinse, and wipe off.  Use an old terry cloth towel or microfiber rag to clean off the dark spots after the mold has been killed.

Homemade furniture polish
1/4 cup Olive Oil or Sunflower Oil
1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
15 drops of your favorite essential oil : Lavender, Patchouli, Lemon, Orange etc.

Mix together well and dab on cloth.  This actually makes quite a bit depending on how much you need.  Store what's leftover in a glass or plastic container.

Miscellaneous tips to clean the home

-Scouring pads to help in those tough places.

-Hydrogen peroxide  to disinfect ( It's cheap and readily available at most pharmacies and grocery stores)

-Vinegar in the laundry to soften and deodorize
-1:1 ratio of vinegar and water to clean windows and mirrors

It gives peace of mind using natural ingredients such as these to clean our houses.  There’s no place like home after all.   It’s the place we return to after a long day of work and a cozy haven to relax, unwind and enjoy.  It makes sense that we would want to have a healthy, "clean" environment to live in. 

* Essential oils are generally safe, but they are concentrated, so, a little bit goes a long way.   Use safety precautions as you would normally with cleaning products.   If individual allergies or reactions occur, discontinue use….

The Present Moment: A Catalyst for Change

Quote by Annie Dillard 

I came across this sign on a road trip several years ago and it stopped me in my tracks.  It was one of those times where I took a left turn into the unknown, and from there a series of happy accidents ensued.  

This quote has remained meaningful to me.  It was the beginning for me like a little seed taking root or a door opening to a new path.  Sometimes I meditate on it, turning it over like a smooth stone in my hand.  What a reminder it is, a gift, and catalyst for change. 

The present moment is sacred, because it’s the only moment we ever really have.  It's some sort of miracle to be present experiencing life in all it's fullness.  And when we realize that our lives and days are really just moments, it challenges us to think more deeply about the way we spend those moments and how we appreciate them.  

It may change what we think is important. Questions may rise to the surface such as: What brings me happiness?  What brings me joy? What makes me feel alive? And...If not now, when?  As we begin to listen to and trust the voice within, we can begin to transform our lives, taking steps towards the life we want to live.

It’s no easy task to always be conscious of this. We are beautifully human after all.  The wonderful thing though, is that the present moment is always happening.  Right now for instance and we always have a second and third chance to remember, to begin again, and reorient ourselves towards the life we want to live.  

Sometimes it takes practice to be in the moment.  Meditation is a great tool.  You can also start by just slowing down.....here are some ways to begin....

When you eat a favorite meal or desert, take your time...savor all the flavors, the textures and the aromas....

Next time you're with a friend or a loved one, remember how this person is a gift in your life.......look into their eyes, smile at them, actively listen.....

When you find yourself outdoors in nature, take a second or two....look around you, what do you notice? what do you hear?  

When your pet greets you, spend time with them, pet them, feel how soft they are and feel in your heart the love they give!

Related article: Lessons in Exercise - The Present Moment
                               Let's Dance - Marching to Your Own Beat