Joyful Simplicities For April

Since tomorrow is the first day of April, I wanted to share a few pages from a book called, Simple Abundance: A Daybook Of Comfort And Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. My mother-in-law loaned me this book and I have been reading the daily passages and really enjoying them. At the end of each month, a list of joyful simplicities is included. Here are the ones listed for April.

~ Remind yourself what it's like to have fun on All Fool's Day. Surprise your loved ones and co-workers with whimsy-not practical jokes that embarrass. Instead, devise comical, absurd, and amazing surprises. At home, turn everything topsy-turvy: serve bagel or English muffin pizzas for breakfast, pancakes or waffles for supper. After school tell them you've got to take them to a doctor or dentist appointment and then head to the ice cream parlor.

~ Pick up a copy of Diane Ackerman's marvelous exploration A Natural History Of The Senses and revel in an exhilarating reading romp that will intrigue and inspire you to become a sensuist. 

~ April is a wonderful month for all kinds of walks, whether in warm spring showers or balmy sunshine. The scent of the earth reawakening and the sight of Mother Nature's brilliant display of color will rouse and remind you how wonderful it is simply to be alive. 

~ Visit a hat store and try on a variety of chapeaux. You're dashing in a black felt fedora, but perhaps the broad-brimmed straw with the cabbage rose has captured your fancy? Play around with the many different possibilities. You might just catch a glimpse of your authentic self in the mirror. 

~ Find a large fabric store for a creative excursion, even if you don't sew. Browse through the upholstery remnants. They make great inexpensive tablecloths or upholstery for furniture. Flip through the pattern book. Visualize the possibilities. Is there something you'd like to make for yourself? For the house? Then why not consider the possibilities? Search out sewing classes at adult extension courses. 

~ Sort through your lingerie drawer. Discard ratty, old bras and panties and delight in pretty new undergarments. Lay down scented paper and tuck in lavender-scented sachets.

~ Go through your makeup and discard what's old and dried out. Replace darker colors with a paler palette for spring. Learn the secret of applying foundation lightly so that it seems natural by blending with cosmetic sponges and brushes instead of your fingers. Visit the cosmetic counters of a large department store and discover who's offering free makeovers. (Many cosmetic companies introduce their new spring line of makeup at this time of year.) You don't have to buy anything! When the beauty consultant is finished, thank her enthusiastically and tell her you want to walk around with your new face and see how it feels before investing in new makeup. 

~ Visit a large record store for half an hour and simply browse. Discover all the different types of music available: classical, country, soft rock, New Age instrumental, gospel, opera, jazz, rhythm and blues, and soul. Flip the radio dial and give something completely different a fair chance. Visit a large library to check out new tapes and compact discs to enjoy sound bites before you buy. Spend a few hours in silence (when you're at home by yourself) and discover how restorative it can be.

~ Collect rainwater to wash your hair. Victorian women believed rainwater made their hair softer.

Living Libations has amazing scents! 

~ Find a refreshing new scent for spring- try rose water, lilac, or lily of the valley. Wear a scent you love everyday. 

~ Dye Easter eggs and hide them for children of all ages to hunt.

~ Resume the restorative pastime of weekend roaming; be on the lookout for vintage linens at estate sales and for plants and herbs at farmer's markets.

~ When it showers, curl up under a blanket in the afternoon and listen to the sound of the raindrops on the roof. 

~ Bake a batch of hot cross buns. Eat jelly beans. 

~ Find the perfect hat or trim an old-fashioned bonnet.

Living Libations Hi-Fi Essential Oils

~ You can learn all about the healing and beauty benefits of aromatherapy in The Art Of Aromatherapy by Robert B. Tisserand. One thing you must be aware of: essential oils are not to be swallowed because they can be toxic, even fatal. They are for external use only. If your skin is sensitive, test a spot on your arm before submerging your body in a bath. Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children as you would any medicine, and treat them with the same respect. Mugwort, for example, should not be used by pregnant women. Essential oils should also not be used on the body undiluted; they need to be blended with a neutral base, such as almond oil, wheat-germ oil, or jojoba oil. Read up on the subject and check with a knowledgable aromatherapist. You can also locate an aromatherapist through health food stores, herbal shops, natural cosmetic shops, therapeutic massage centers, or word-of-mouth. Seek and you shall find.

Have a wonderful April!

~ Love & Light ~ 

       

Dust The Cobwebs And Clean Out The Closet

Wow! March really got away from me! I blinked and it was gone. I did, however, have a productive month and the most important thing I accomplished, without a doubt, was cleaning out my closet and dresser. I was serious this year! I went through EVERY article of clothing I own and tried it on. I had a full length mirror propped against the wall and was honest about how long I had had each item and how often I had actually worn it. The entire process took me a day and a half and I think I released over half of my clothes. Most things I donated, a few items I kept to pass on to friends and of course the things I had been dragging around with me for years that no longer fit but that are one of a kind and hold sentimental value, I will pass down to my youngest sister.

Getting organized and cleaning out your closet can be a tough process. You might feel like you really will get back into those skinny jeans you've had since college but wouldn't it be better to let someone else enjoy them who can wear them now? Reward yourself with a new and even better pair once you've reached your goal. Some may think, "But it was so expensive"...or, "it's a designer label"...well, so what? If it never leaves your closet none of that matters. Toss it out and move on. 

Now that I have made out with the old and in with the new, I can focus on bringing in new pieces that reflect the woman I have become...not the younger twenty something I once was. 

I hope all of you are having a nice Spring so far. I think I am most excited about being able to sit outside again to do my writing. Just now I watched a man put up a pretty blue hammock across the river at the park. He is relaxing and watching his dogs play with sticks in the water. One black lab and one yellow lab. A family on a small motor boat heading North toward Lindenlure, I'm sure, passed us by about a half hour ago. A man with a guitar is walking around the park strumming and singing. And of course, the sound of children's laughter as they play on the swings, teens clattering on skateboards, a couple on a blanket sharing a picnic...these are some of the many reasons I enjoy being out here on the upper deck. The magical world that is Chigger Chalet.

~ Love & Light ~

Living On The Earth

I am currently re-reading, Living On The Earth by Alicia Bay Laurel. I bought this book in my early twenties and it continues to be one of my favorites today. From the back cover: The 30th anniversary edition of Living On The Earth maintains the innocence, lyricism and whimsy of the original, enriched with current information on sustainable technology and protection of the environment. At once a practical manual of recipes and directions for creating from scratch all of life's basic amenities and some of its frivolities, an influential artist book with an instantly identifiable style, an insider's view of the Utopian commune movement of the early 1970's, and a spiritually uplifting lifestyle book, Living On The Earth continues as a beloved addition to our bookshelves.

#Healthy Living #Spiritualism #Utopian 

~ Love & Light ~

Celebrating Spring

Yesterday was the first official day of Spring and I spent the afternoon decorating for the season. It is so nice to welcome warmer weather after the bitter cold winter we had.

I surrounded the Buddha on our mantle with beautiful flowers.

I also sat him on a doily my Grandmother Jernigan made.

On the kitchen table I put together a Spring centerpiece. I made a bird nest from twine and colorful string that I had around the house and a wooden yellow bird from the antique store across the road.

I placed the centerpiece on a GIANT doily my Grandma made.

Below is a view from above.

On the reverse side I placed some quartz crystals, an amethyst stone, a rose quartz, a tiny pastel Buddha made by Tibetan refugees and little decorative water cans that my sister Sara gave to me. 

It felt really good to change things up around the house. I also opened the back door and windows to air the place out. After cleaning the ceiling cobwebs and storing away anything wintery, our place feels fresh and peaceful. 

Did you do anything special for the first day of Spring? What do you decorate with or what Spring cleaning rituals do you have? I know a lot of you are already out working in the garden! I am looking forward to planting some flowers and herbs as it continues to warm. Of course, I'll share photos of those too! 

~ Love & Light ~

Tibet: Life, Myth, And Art

I am currently re-reading, Tibet: Life, Myth, And Art by Michael Willis. I bought this book when I was in my mid-twenties, and wanted it mainly for the amazing photography. This book is truly beautiful to look at.

#Wisdom #Spirituality #Mythology

~ Love & Light ~

Let The Sunshine In

Yesterday was beautiful! The temperature reached the upper sixties and was accompanied by a nice cool breeze. My hound dog Penny spent the morning lying in the sunshine on the back deck. Inspired by the blissful look on her face, I allowed myself to do something I hadn't done in years...sunbathe. I grabbed an oversized towel, stripped down to my skivvies, and let myself bask in the warm light for half an hour. I had forgotten how amazing the sun feels on places normally covered by clothes. It was energizing and calming. 

Years and years ago at a routine physical exam, my doctor had warned me to stay out of the sun. I happened to have a pretty nasty sunburn during that check-up. The doctor warned me that with my fair skin, I was a prime candidate for skin cancer. I was in my early twenties at the time and took the warning with all seriousness. After that, I avoided the sun completely. 

Watching Penny bask in the warm early Spring sunshine yesterday made me stop and reconsider my ideas about sun exposure. Isn't it funny that animals will always find a patch of sunshine to rest in? It comes to them instinctually, and for good reason. Catching some rays has many health benefits! Being in the sun causes your brain to produce serotonin and endorphins which increase your mood and can be very helpful in fighting depression. Sun exposure also resets your internal clock, leading to quality sleep. Restful sleep and a better mood? That's reason enough for me, but there are other great benefits as well. Sunbathing can clear skin irritations such as acne, rashes, eczema, and athlete's foot, as well as giving you a healthy glow. Another benefit? Hormone regulation. That's right ladies, being in the sun can decrease PMS and menopausal symptoms along with stimulating the pineal gland of the brain, regulating its secretions which allows for more creativity, insight, and mindfulness. Sunbathing can help your liver function and assist in breaking down wastes and toxins in your body which may cause disease or cancer. It also helps increase both white and red blood cell count and helps the blood circulate more efficiently. Oh! And let's not forget that we are getting a healthy dose of vitamin D while we are at it! Exposure to sun is actually the BEST way to attain this essential nutrient. Vitamin D is so important, (and most people don't get enough) it helps regulate the immune system, increase calcium absorption, which leads to strong bones, and avoid kidney stones, diabetes, and obesity. Can you believe it? All of these lovely benefits from doing something that feels so good and requires nothing more than for you to relax. 

Of course, I'm not suggesting we worship the sun. Too much of anything is bad for us, and this holds especially true for sunbathing! Moderation is the key. I decided fifteen minutes on each side was plenty for my pale skin, and even then I could feel the lasting kiss of the sun's rays. I would suggest setting the timer on your phone just in case you doze off. If you haven't relaxed in the sun recently, you might have forgotten how soothing and hypnotic it can be. If you have an alarm set you can squeeze in an awesome nap while you're at it. I set Pandora to the spa station, put on my sunglasses to protect my eyes and had some ice water with cucumber slices by my side. Total self love. 

It is officially Spring in seven days and with warm sunny days that haven't reached the sweltering heat of Summer, it is the perfect time of year to get your sun glow! I plan to bathe in the light of the sun regularly from now on. 

~ Love & Light ~

Import Car Service: The Best Garage In The Ozarks

Import Car Service 1901 S. Stewart Ave. in Springfield

When Mark and I moved to Oz in 2012, we had to find new "people". Not new friends exactly, but a new dentist and doctor, a veterinarian for Penny, and of course, a new garage to take my trusty Subaru. Not knowing any of the garages in town, I went for convenience and took my car to the national chain place right down the road. I realized after that first visit that I wasn't going to be happy getting service there, so the search continued. 

A friend of a friend who also drives a Subaru suggested I try Import Car Service in Springfield. He had had work done there several times and was happy with the service and pricing. I knew it couldn't be any worse than the last place, so I called them and made an appointment to have them inspect an issue I was having and to change the oil.

Frank Mietus greeted me when I arrived and was very kind and easy to talk to. They solved the issue with my car quickly and fixed it for a much better rate than the national chain garage in Oz had wanted to charge me. The entire staff at ICS are friendly, professional and most importantly, know what they are doing. Frank is a Certified Master automotive technician and transmission specialist and a graduate of Triton College Automotive Degree Program. He is factory trained in European and Asian vehicles. He holds other certifications as well and has even been an instructor.

Frank Mietus

Danny, Brian, and Randy make up the rest of the staff and are all certified and great at what they do. I was there yesterday for an oil change/brake inspection and Randy thoroughly explained everything to me that Brian was doing or had noticed while my car was on the lift. I left feeling happy and carefree, with a car in great working order. 

ICS is a full service center providing everything from an oil change to complete engine overhaul. If you, someone in your family, or a friend drives an import, I can't recommend Import Car Service enough! (and check out this vehicle blessing I found on their website!)

Blessing Of A Motor Vehicle

All-powerful God,

Creator of heaven and earth,

in the rich depths of your wisdom

you have empowered us to produce great and beautiful works.

Grant, we pray, that those who use this vehicle

may travel safely, with care for the safety of others.

Whether they travel for business or pleasure,

let them always find Christ to be the companion of the journey,

who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

Spring is right around the corner and soon it will be road trip weather. Make sure your car is in good working order for the warmer seasons ahead and when you stop by ICS make sure to let them know that Leanne Retana sent you! 

Import Car Service

1901 S. Stewart Ave.

Springfield, MO. 65804

(417) 881-0101

M-F 7:30am-5pm

www.imporcarservice.biz

~ Love & Light ~

Larson Is The Best Medicine

Back in my elementary school days, a favorite pastime of my neighborhood friends and I, was reading my parents The Far Side comic books. Looking back, we probably didn't understand a lot of the jokes, but we didn't let on. When I was young I always wanted to be in on what the adults where doing or talking about or watching. I'm sure part of the appeal of Gary Larson's comics was the fact that they are cartoons that adults enjoy. Finally! Something I could share with the grown-ups! 

I pulled The Far Side books from my parents book shelf on and off over the years until I finally moved out of the house. The older I got, the funnier they became. I wonder if those comics had a hand in forming my sense of humor or if I had just found a style that tickled my funny bone? Either way, to this day The Far Side is just the type of humor to get me laughing uncontrollably. 

Gary Larson

The Far Side is a single panel comic Gary created. It ran from 1980-1995. Gary produced 23 The Far Side books, which were all on the New York Times bestseller list. His books have a combined sales of over 45 million copies! From Wiki: Its surrealistic humor is often based on uncomfortable social situations, improbable events, an anthropomorphic view of the world, logical fallacies, impending bizarre disasters, (often twisted) references to proverbs, or the search for meaning in life. Larson's frequent use of animals and nature in the comic is popularly attributed to his background in biology. 

Here is a taste of his work...

Click To Enlarge

And the one that had me in tears last night...

You know what they say is true...Laughter IS the best medicine and today I say Larson is the best medicine! 

~Love & Light ~

March Radness

Because of the crazy winter we've been experiencing this season, it shouldn't come as a surprise that it is bitterly cold today and the river has frozen again. On Saturday night we saw lightening and heard thunder all whilst sleet and snow were raining down from the heavens. It was one of the raddest storms I've ever seen. My sister, Sara, was supposed to be here over the weekend but couldn't make it because of the storm and my friend, Amber, had planned to drive in tomorrow from KC for a few days visit...that too has been put on hold until Spring arrives. So, here I am, on the couch in my pajamas, Penny curled up at my side, doing my best not to go stir crazy. Although I have been inside for what feels like an eternity now (give or take a handful of nice days) I still have a list of radness I'd like to share with you guys. These are the things I'm loving so far in March.

* Bananas. After staying true to my promise to increase my citrus fruit intake over the winter months, bananas have been a welcome change this past week. I have been eating one a day with my lunch. I also read recently someone's description of a banana as, "Wonderfully sweet with firm and creamy flesh, bananas come prepackaged in their own yellow jackets..." I love the idea of their outer flesh being a little jacket.

* Fitness Blender. In addition to DoYogaWithMe.com and Blogilates.com I have added Fitnessblender.com to my at home exercise practice. My sister and her husband have been using Fitness Blender for a while now and I noticed they were seeing results. I gave it a try starting a few weeks ago and liked it enough to add it to my weekly routine a few times a week. Like the other two sites I mentioned, Fitness Blender has workouts designed for different fitness levels (the workout I've been doing, for example, would seem like a warm-up to a person who was actually fit.) and of course all the videos are free. A great way to incorporate some cardio. into the week and get your heart rate up! 

* Queer As Folk. I am quickly falling in love with the cast of characters that make up this Showtime series from the early 2000's. I stumbled upon it through Netflix. (how did I never hear of this before?) It is available for streaming and super addictive! Caution: If you can't handle seeing gay sex scenes, this show is NOT for you (and you may want to look into that issue).

* Lilies. Mark gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers that featured Stargazer Lilies as one of my Valentine's Day gifts. It was the first time I ever really fully appreciated the beauty of the lily. They are really fragrant, so if strong smelling flowers aren't your thing, you might want to steer clear of these beauties. But if their perfume doesn't bother you, they are a deliciously exotic looking treat to gift to someone or bring home for yourself.

 * Matthew McConaughey. I gained respect for him after seeing his performance in Dallas Buyers Club. I think it was one of the first times I separated him from the surfer boy image of him that I had stuck in my head. Last night he won an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of AIDS patient Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club. I think he deserved the win, but what ultimately won me over was one line from his acceptance speech..."It's a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates." In that moment I decided Matthew McConaughey is pretty rad. 

* London Fog. Once again I am trying to back off the coffee train. Surprisingly, I'm doing pretty well and I think I owe my success to a little tea drink called The London Fog. Mark used to buy these at a chain coffee shop years ago and really loved them so I thought we could make our own version. We don't steam milk or use real vanilla extract (I bet they would be awesome if we did) but our version is so simple that it easily replaces coffee. The key to a good London Fog is to use a nice strong black English tea. We prefer Tetley because that is what we drank at our apartment in London. The new Hy-Vee in Springfield carries Tetley but oddly, only the decaf bags. We like to drink these at night too, so the decaf has actually been perfect for us. Anyway, after you brew a nice strong cup pour in your desired amount of vanilla creamer (liquid, not powder) and voila! London Fog. Super simple and tasty...radical! 

What are you guys into right now? Books, movies, food, work-outs? How have you been passing the time this winter? I always love hearing from you so leave a message in the comments and let me know what you've been up to! 

~ Love & Light ~