Reading for Comfort and Joy

Back some years ago, a friend from high school gifted me a copy of Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Because it approaches topics gently and in an uplifting manner, I've recently begun reading it again to help in my winter blahs self-treatment regime.

Oddly enough, the page I read each day, or a couple of pages if I'm behind, is/are usually very a propos to what happened to me or what I'm feeling.

It's no small coincidence that this author's work follows in a similar vein to that of Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. These types of books are drawing me big time lately.

Abundance and The Writer's Way are about taking stock of what overwhelming things we're feeling and experiencing, acknowledging them, taking some steps to correct/change those things within our control, and hopefully moving forward with renewed vigor.

Abundance is a daily affirmation book where you have one page to each day of the year. Topics range from simple joys like reading to more complicated topics such as managing one's grief.

I've taken to reading Abudance then segue to my daily journal. Sometimes, I don't feel like journaling, so I just let the lesson absorb into my unconscious--or I'm still negotiating some stuff that I'm going through. But it can serve as a great springboard to journaling.

Each day is kicked off with a great quote about the day's lesson. I sometimes copy those quotes, or meaningful sentences in the day's lesson onto my blog because I really like them.

Whatever your flavor this holiday season, if you suffer from even a mild case of the winter blahs, reading uplifting books a little bite at a time can really count as an important baby step in a "better" direction.

Here's to uplifting comfort and joy during this season, and always.

Obsession: Fir Scents

Thymes Frasier Fir votive

I bought a votive candle from the Morton Arboretum about two years ago, which has turned into my #1 favorite scent at home.

My Thymes Frasier Fir votive helped replace my much loved but no longer available Lisn incense varietal packet.

I absolutely loved every whiff of my fir candle. So much so, that I went back last year and bought the three-pack votive refill (white votives)--while a perplexed significant other watched. These are pricey, but so well worth every whiff!

Today, I discovered that they've brought back the collection to the Morton Arboretum store, and with an expanded product line! *squee*

I now have a car deodorizer (frasier fir decorative sachet) for my collection. Can you imagine taking a deep whiff during evening rush hour and being swept away to a fir forest away from it all? I'm already relaxed just thinking about it.

While I was placing the sachet on the rear view mirror, I noticed a description of the scent on the back of the cardboard label: "warm, comforting scent of crisp Siberian Fir needles, heartening cedarwood, and relaxing sandalwood." These can be great essential oils for a bath in the middle of a chilly winter evening.

It's because of this collection's unavailability at the arboretum store that I began exploring the Fresh Balsam candle last winter at Bath and Body works--which has been a lovely dupe, but not quite up to the refined scent of the Thymes Fir product line. Very addictive and soothing. Ahhh!

You can learn more about the Thymes Frasier Fir collection from their landing page. PS Thymes is a Minnesota company!

I grew up near a pine and evergreen forest in Italy, where my maternal grandparents would often take me for walks. I think that scent has embedded itself into my psyche.

Antiquing We Will Go

On Christmas eve a friend and I went to Berwyn, IL to try our luck at a little antique shop that had advertised on Amazon Local.

We arrived at Exquisite Revisit (my Yelp review) just after lunch time, and entered to see what we could find. After a little perusing, past souvenir and antique/vintage glassware and table ware, and girdles (!), I finally spotted some Fiestaware jackpot items. I immediately grabbed a turquoise plate, a peachy small bowl, and then asked the nice owner lady to take down a yellow bowl from up on high. I was able to get the yellow bowl reduced because we may not know if it is really Fiesta, as it lacked the usual labeling on the bottom. All together, I spent just over $27 for three great pieces for my collection. I was especially happy with the turquoise plate because it goes with a small saucer I bought when I was in college, and the small peachy bowl was a design I was trying to find for ages.

The owner let us know she has a display at a nearby antique emporium in Forest Park, and that there would be plenty of restaurants there to try our luck for lunch. So we headed there next.

We arrived at the Forest Park Emporium (my Yelp review) with gurgling stomachs, but decided to press on after we found a great Sushi and Thai restaurant across the street, next door to a classic bakery and coffee shop. The Emporium had an amazing array of dishes and settings, as well as apparel, furniture, books and magazines, and toys. It's definitely a grand collection of various antique specialists. We decided to go eat, but when we got back to the Emporium they had closed for the day. I was a little sad, but their prices on some items led me to believe they were overpricing a little. For example, there was a Fiesta green mixing bowl that caught my eye, but that I put back on the shelf immediately upon seeing the price. It was probably part of a nesting set and it was being priced exorbitantly.

On our way back home we took a detour to visit Naperville's Affordable Antiques & More, where I found a great drawer dresser for my bedroom, that I may need to revisit soon and finalize whether I want it or not. Their odds and ends sale room is a spectacular treasure trove of excellently priced items. There's a lovely kitchen table and chairs that I keep giving a thought to, but that I'm afraid I won't be getting in the end. They also have a ton of recent fiesta pieces in this room. The space in this store can be considered cluttered by some, but to me it s invitingly arranged. There are many excellent pieces of vintage and antique furniture, as well as jewelry and a little bit of apparel here and there.

More recently, I happened on a little antique shop when I was least expecting it as I drove back home from Harner's in North Aurora. The little but amazingly well stocked Past and Present Shoppe is another store which features displays of collectibles and vintage items from other sellers. I found a spectacular, vintage and repainted white three-drawer dresser for my kitchen. I didn't like the drawer pulls (green and white and a little crazy) so I asked and was able to obtain a considerable discount on the piece. Best of all, once the drawers were taken off, it was a breeze to place in my car's cargo area. The piece turned out to be much more solid than anticipated, as it is solid wood. One of the best features are the outward tilting legs. I'm now on the search for some decent drawer pulls, but I may very well end up making my own if I don't find any at a good price point. I don't really want the cost of the new pulls to exceed the discount I got on the piece. We'll see what I can pull together.

So now, of course, I'm planning on listing a variety of antique shops in my area and making pilgrimages to each in a very near future. I think this is an excellent way to spend chilly winter weekends, and I know that I won't spend a cent unless I really find something that moves me. This is a great hobby all of a sudden ^^ but I will need to start taking a ton of photos to go along with my posts, as just writing about my discoveries isn't as helpful as seeing things visually. Will snap to action, if you will ^^;

Cheers and happy antiquing!

New Favorites: Bath Bombs and Ambient Music

Awesome little discovery of mine, the joy that a bath tub soak, some ambient music, and candlelight can bring my poor, over-saturated bones and senses.

I'm particularly enraptured by ambien music streams online (Last.fm, Pandora, Shoutcasts, etc.), streamed to my bath tub (as in my case) thanks to my nearby (and dry!) MacBook Pro. I forgot how much I missed ambient music, and reminisced about my days hearing that kind of music on the old mp3.com for hours on end back in '98 and '99.

With a lovely bath bomb I got from Whole Foods by Hugo's Naturals or one of my all time favorites by Amanda's Naturals on Etsy. Now that's what I call a totally de-stressing soak. Ahhh. :)

Sweet dreams.

New Watch: Skagen Solar

I had just finished enjoying a gin and tonic which was more gin than tonic, and I'm blaming that for the purchase...but I bought a Skagen solar watch to go along with my automatic watch collection. The joys of on-flight Duty Free...

I've been getting Citizen Eco-Drive watches since 2009. As a matter of fact, these are the only watches I've been buying.

I was completely bedazzled/enraptured by the amazing fact that I no longer need to get batteries replaced, nor wank wind an automatic watch for hours on end until the darn thing starts going again at a good pace.

Solar watches are awesome. You just wear them and that's it. They're always accurate, never need winding, and will never suffer the agony of a cracked crystal due to a battery replacement snafu.

I'm all in. If this was stock, I'd be a majority holder.

You can find out more about my particular Solar watch on the Skagen website. It's a huge, men's watch but I have a way of working masculine pieces into my style on occasion, and successfully carry them off ^^

New Favorite: Cadiz Cup

I had the opportunity to visit a nearby Anthropologie store this past Sunday, as I gallivanted and caught up with a good friend.

Anthropologie's Cadiz Cup
with Twinings Ginger/Lemon tisane

I fell in love with this Cadiz Cup (in green) and haven't looked back since. At only $10, it's both delicate and feminine, as it is rustic and solid. It's helped me as I recover from a terrible head cold.

Adorable flower accent

I've been sipping soothing hot ginger tea, both Twinings Lemon/Ginger tisane, or freshly homemade MMM

My new cup aids my recovery via a constant reminder of the sunnier side of things. I peruse and follow the flowery motif, as my hands absorb the comforting warmth.

The meditation continues with each sip as the flower motif continues inside the cup well.

Sometimes, the most unexpected can bring the most amazing little joys in life. Always keep your eyes open for the next opportunity to smile.

Remember When: Ramble

I was updating my blogs last night, and one of the things I did was revisit the "About" tab I recently added.

I had to verify which blog I came out with first, second, and so on, to update the "started on" years correctly on each blog.

Well, one of my discoveries, one that I can't hardly believe, is that I've had this blog since 2005.

So who was I in 2005? What was important to me back then? I remember the day I signed up on blogger (pre-Google) and wrote my first post. It was spring and I was anxious about the future--when aren't I though?

This blog was meant as a diary of sorts, to keep track of things that happened or interesting things that captured my attention, but I so very seldom go back and review posts...particularly that far back. I've never been a diary keeper.

In 2005 I was a couple of years removed from turning 30. I was trying to survive in a sea of change at work, and also going back every so often and revisiting how to best focus my energy. I was examining other  career paths, and pursued a certificate in marketing to make myself more relevant in a changing office.

Although staying relevant and bringing value is a constant challenge for me, I would like to think I've more or less found a way to beat down a path in that wilderness. But I still seek ways and means to bring value forward and that can bring me back remuneration of some sort: professional growth, money, move up one more rung in the ladder...etc. This is an ongoing struggle, but I have hope.

In some ways I've come a long way, and in some others, I am still hesitating among the shadows. But all around, I feel I am better equipped to handle the uncertainties that may come my way.

One thing for sure, I am still thankful I found my significant-other ball and chain. :o) Although I often complain more than I am thankful for, without all our shared experiences, what would I be able to complain so much about? Now I have so much fodder :oP

Cheers to remembering! Especially when one can do so without getting down about it.

Holiday Cookin'

I finally got to Cost Plus World Market to get my holiday stash of Walker's mini mince pies and Christmas pudding. I love love love Cost Plus I always find awesome stuff to om nom nom there.

I also got some gift pieces for workmates and the 'rents, something for the office ornament exchange on the 15th, and found a little tiny wooden owl that made me hoot with joy ^_^ so I got him as well (me me me).

Then there were the mini tartlet tins, which finally kicked my recent pondering about making pie into full gear. I'm making mini broccoli quiches for dinner tonight :o)

Can't wait to have me some mini mince pies tomorrow :D

Disturbingly Enjoyable

I was surfing somewhere and spotted this little gem. It's adorably kooky. Disturbingly enjoyable.

Just look at her ice cream...it's made out of blood.

Interesting Things

Things that caught my attention today:

• Ikea butcher block counter tops
• Fiestaware table setting layout photo
• DIY bbq grill cover
• Gwynneth Paltrow's GOOP newsletter full of holiday gift ideas
• Bradshaw on a Budget blog