Monthly Archives: September 2012

Dress Up for Life!

When I was little, I used to play dress up.  I would put on my mother’s high heels and would throw a scarf around my neck, select wild and crazy outfits and spend the whole day in dream land.

As I aged some, I let society message me about being more conservative, not talking out so much and to “take off that silly outfit”.  I was advised as to what successful people wear, and what to wear to fit in.

I am happy to say that my daughters have their own sense of style and have had from an early age.  They also played dress up, in the same stuff of my mother’s!!  They were supported by other girls their age, cousins who spent summer vacations and winter holidays together.  They encouraged freedom of expression and wild and crazy outfits.

So allowing myself to start to play in the artistic way, with my wardrobe, brings me back to a happier time.  A youthful freedom and fun place.  I throw on several necklaces, layered and unmatching … bling!

I have enough scarves to open a shop!  I have hats, shoes and colors galore.  I have themed clothes and color schemes.  I love to wear something new and different every day.

As I prepare for my trip to Europe with small luggage capacity, I am trying on outfits and mixing and matching accessories to accompany me on the journey.  I feel like that little girl again, smiling and laughing in the mirror at the combinations I am trying;  enjoying the idea of leaving my sweats and sneakers, my jeans and boots at home.  While I love the styles, I want to look a bit classier on this luxury vacation.

I don’t want to look like a typical North American tourist in shorts and sandals ….  Oooooops, better get those out of the bag!!  I don’t wear heels due to my height and of course, am always searching for comfort and practicality as well.  I do have some lace up, tie up and shiny choices.

I won’t wear a hat for the travel, but always enjoy visiting hat shops in foreign places.  I have several hat boxes full and many stacks of well behaved hats all over my house, in closets and on shelves.  I might stuff one fun hat in my bag, if there is room.  Just for dress up!!

A bathing suit needs a cover up, and shoulders need cover ups in many foreign places.  Scarves are such fun accessories to enjoy while traveling.  I can even wear the same formal evening outfit, with a different scarf and accessory!

OK – just thought I would share the journey with you today as I continue my travel blog.

What will you wear to town today?  What statement are you making about who you are and who you want to be?  Spruce it up a bit …  throw on a little something extra to make that artistic statement that identifies you as a person who cares about herself.  You might feel happier and you might inspire a revolution of grocery shoppers and gardeners to step it up a notch!

Happy Sunday…. With love

Notes to my 20 year old self

  • Start now and save a bit of money every month.
  • Buy something that lasts and keep it safe.
  • Don’t buy things that don’t last.
  • The people you think are so important now, you might not remember their names later.
  • Be kind to your family.
  • Be kind to everyone you meet, be generous and grateful.
  • Write your story, every day.  Your life is worth recording.
  • Get work that you love and stick with it.  Learn and practice skills every day.
  • Get into a network marketing company and learn about business NOW!
  • Dream big, do a vision board every year, set your goals and stay the course.
  • Travel every chance you get.
  • Say YES more.
  • Honor yourself first.  Put your oxygen mask on before trying to help another.
  • Meditate .. go on a 30 day silent retreat before making any big decisions.
  • Be healthy and strong, look after your body – it is the only one you get.
  • Practice positive self talk EVERYDAY.  Don’t ever stop.
  • Buy Mac /Apple and always get the best technology at the time.
  • Give gifts that are meaningful to the receiver.  Take time to figure that out.
  • Take chances and enjoy risk.
  • Fall in love often, it is the best feeling.  There is more than one “the one”!!
  • Invest in a good bed and shoes that fit.
  • Never mind the sale rack, shop for the best you can afford.  Only buy if it is a “Hell YES!!”
  • Travel Travel Travel, go places, meet people, do things.
  • There is more than one right answer.

Joys of Packing Stress

What journey lays in store?  The journey of packing stress.

 

Greetings to my friends and family.  If you know me at all, you know about my packing stress.  I am seeking a temporary or permanent solution to minimal packing, having every thing I need no matter what the eventuality.

Some people tell me, “if you don’t have it, buy it”, “do you really need a whole suitcase just for shoes?”, “get everything in a back pack and that is all”, “take the biggest suitcase and travel with it partly empty to bring home the booty”.  All well meaning comments and some good advice for sure.

I have tried making lists, (truth be known, lists of the lists I should make); I have tried packing two weeks in advance, and I have tried packing the morning I depart.  All carry certain, although different, packing stresses. 

I was last traveling for 4 days in Seattle to a convention in one hotel, not a lot of stops.  I took a larger mid size suitcase on wheels and a briefcase and purse.  Too much!!  This time I am going for 3 weeks to Europe, Greece, Turkey, Croatia and Italy.  I will be on several flights, a train, a bus, and a ferry just to get to my destination and then two cruises back to back.  I have no idea the weather prediction.  I will have formal events including a masked ball and I will have casual walk around days in old ruins.  I am pretty excited about it all. 

I want to take one small rolly bag, one larger one that sits on top for my new ipad and ereader, and whatever else I might need on the flight; and that is all.  Yup, that is my plan.  There, I said it.  On paper and with witnesses. 

I am seeking strong confident advice.  I was thinking all my Sympli dressy cruisey kind of clothes in my suitcase to put on the plane.  I have health products, my Xtra, some PQ gluten free foods to eat on route going over, mid way and coming back.  I have multi vites and Omegas.  I have MetaGreens and Aloe.  Some liquid and some powder in a package and then capsules.  This can take a fair amount of space for three weeks. 

Necessity accessories, such as shoes, scarves, hair clips, curling and straightening iron and the ever important bling!  I also want to take LuLuLemon pants and jackets for sea days and for walking and running.  I need a bathing suit and cover up and of course, some item to sleep in.  Some washing detergent as I for sure will need to laundry under things and some of my clothes.

There, I think that is the list.  Because I am 6 feet tall, it is never easy to find clothes to buy off the rack.  I have found a few brands that work, fit well and are figure flattering and seem to meet my travel needs.  So that eliminates many of the other possibilities such as leather jackets (too bulky), jeans (again, take up a lot of space and a different change of clothes each day (my old pattern of dressing from years ago).

Looking forward to your suggestions.  I have a list, my suitcase is out and half packed (dress rehersal).  I don’t leave for a week and a half so I still have a chance to do it “last minute” and will have felt and worked through all 3 forms of packing preparation strategies that I know.  Space limitation is a new one to tackle for me.  Wish me luck and send me your thoughts.

 

With much love to all

“happy packing”

Kindness

Today, what am I learning from yesterday? 

Some experts say we learn from crisis.  While I am certain this can be proven to be true, what is the cost to the soul? vs learning from caring, compassion and consideration.  From reflection and desire, research and practice?

Standing in my own experience and from what I learn now, that which I can feel today …  the cost to learning from crisis alone is too great.  When people put us on notice or speak down to us, we become injured. 

Let me sit with that statement for a few breaths and let it truly sink in.  Do I know it is true?

Many can return to a strong place but what has been the cost? And the residual pain and loss of self?  What is the true cost and where does that hide?

This is my mission …. To speak this belief and wonder if any lights can be turned on through shining my own light.  Holding it up as a candle in the dark of my truth.

Let us not harm others, but gently offer another perspective.  Let us bring change with kindness.  Certainly many situations will lead to learning and growth.  I ask the Universe to please let me be part of offering a catalyst of love, not fear.

Let the shadow of doubt be gone and the soul be not damaged in the precious moments of change and redirection.  Let words of kindness and gentle enquiry be my guide and sign post from this moment forward.

 

Thank you for this learning.  I am so grateful and happy now to be living on purpose, joyfully and with ease.