Red

My Daddy got me these.

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's day.

Time for Love!

Today, 68 years ago, my paternal grandparents celebrated their wedding. They are both no longer with us but I can still feel their love through the love my parents give me. I find myself falling in love every day all over again with my sweet husband, I am lucky to have a wonderful son, and to have such wonderful friends in my life.

Thank you all for making Valentines Day so special to me.

I will now rest some, as we have a great evening planned out with my family.

Happy V.tines day!

Time for me

All this week my schedule had me going non-stop. To top it off this morning I awoke to find there was a leak in my water dispenser. Gallons of water drenched my floor and I had to order a new dispenser, another expense to add to our list of things we need for our home. I think life throws at us all kinds of curveballs as little reminders to take time for ourselves, to slow down, to daydream a bit if you may. I cleaned up the mess and instead of being angry at the lake our kitchen had become I started thinking of things I love to do and would do today.

I promised myself to close my schoolbooks, turn off my phone, stay home and make time to read something that was nourishing spiritually.

While I cleaned the rest of my home I dreamt of far away places I'd like to discover,

I took a warm shower and sprayed myself with something pretty that brought back a wonderful memory,

And did a series of gentle asanas that helped me feel at peace.

Om Shanti.

A morning post in the evening

I love the feeling of the early morning, the smell and crispness of a clean home, the sound of my family sleeping as I quietly begin my day by brewing a cup of chai.

Namasté.

Jala Neti to scare colds away

As an Ayurveda student I believe that preventing illness is always worth the extra step. With the cold season upon us, the drying effects of air heating and the exposure to many more ill people than usual we are more vulnerable to colds and dryness. Jala Neti, also known as a Neti pot, is a great way to cleanse your nasal passages thus limiting the amount of bacteria, viruses and foreign matter that can make it's way into our bodies.

I purchased my Neti pot from the company Himalayan Institute. It's a nifty ceramic piece that hold just the right amount for cleansing and fits your hand and nostrils snuggly. "Fits your nostrils?" you might ask. Please don't cringe. Although it's different, if done properly it is rather easy with no discomfort.
Here are the directions from Himalayan Institute on how to properly use a Neti pot:

To use the Neti Pot™, simply prepare the saline solution by adding 8 oz of warm water and a heaping ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt to your Neti Pot™. Then turn your head to the side, and insert the spout into the upper nostril. Raise the Neti Pot™ so the saline solution flows into the nose and out of the lower nostril.

I personally prefer to use organic sea salt as the one pictured below.

There are videos you can find online on how to use your Neti pot. Nasal irrigation is a great way to clear out your sinuses and gently flush out your tear ducts which is great for allergy sufferers as well as those with dry eyes. It's cooling effects have a calming impact on migraines and can relieve mouth breathing as it helps to clear out the mucus. This year commit yourself to putting your health first and give this Ayurvedic treatment a try.

Perfect for our first try! (sneak peek)

Our first kitchen re-do is complete!

We kept the original oak cabinetry and freshened it up with a coat of low VOC paint and new hinges. A stainless steel industrial type double sink and brushed steel countertops ties everything up in our tiny kitchen.

Unfortunately, we could not reposition our stove due to the gas lines and still is next to the refrigerator, but being I don't use the oven much I hope it's not a big problem.

A new coat of paint, including on my dear knob-missing antique chest (which I still distressed a bit though), really livened the rooms up.

Even he thinks so!

I too am pleased how everything turned out,

but what I loved the most was...

It was a family project and it was done with love.

Sorry I've been AWOL

The sound of the sledgehammer and dust due to our kitchen remodeling has been greedy with my time, and unfortunately it means I've been neglecting this holiday and my blog....

Fortunately I am able to find serenity in things as small yet as beautiful as these herbs sitting placidly on my desk.

May serenity find a place in your home.

Happy Friday

I woke up with a great feeling.

(Even prior to having seen these!)

I know our weekend is off to a good start.

May you have a sweet weekend.

See you Monday.

A peek of Christmas

Cake pedestals repurposed as tree stands.

Handmade stockings hang from random places.

A peek of my tree, I dressed her in pink and white fairy lights, mirrored prisms,

and a silhouette or two.

I wish you a good holiday season.

The Inspiration Bug

Last night, the inspiration bug bit me.

I repainted and repurposed this jardiniere for use in the bathroom.

I am still working on the vignettes. How I do love neutrals and sea glass tones!

Now off to finish holiday gift wrapping. Tonight we'll be putting up our tree.

I'll share that with you tomorrow.

One Down

She hangs now, and we made sure she'd stay there.

Getting the dining area finished first was my priority. That's where we gather as a family, discuss our day and plan our future. Among the plans I have is to find out how to cover the breaker box.

After I put together our living room, i'm off to yoga class.

And then I'll be giving her a bath.

Life- An Adventure

I look around me and I see fresh new paint on walls, a brand new enameled door, corners that need to be retouched and drop-cloth, paint guns and rollers scattered around my feet. There is a kitchen patiently waiting to be refaced, a chandelier showing off her newly scrubbed prisms to the empty walls.

As you can see we are going through renovating our house, and if that is not stressful enough, try doing it on a limited budget while trying to manage, promote and keep afloat two businesses.

This is the current adventure my life has signed me up for (with my permission of course), and although stressful at times, I make it a point to create moments of serenity for myself. Whether it is by reading, meditating, practicing yoga or just plopping down in front of the TV with my family I savor every little piece of these still moments.

I concentrate on the outcomes and work with the present.

Even in change there is not pretty only in the outcome, but if you look around in the present you're sure to find it as well.