Kimberly Wilson's Blog, page 101

In Two Weeks . . .

Imagine six hours of writing prompts and tips, yoga and meditation practices, playtime in your art journal, and connecting live throughout the entire experience. This is the upcoming Virtual Retreat on Saturday, July 9 10am-4pmET (and my last one in 2016)!

The day is a sampling of the full-fledged retreat experience I offer in Paris, West Virginia, and beyond, but from the comfort of your own home and on your own terms. Spend time reflecting and rejuvenating without booking flights or sitters.

Curious? Watch the video above and see photos {+ testimonials} below.

Open to all levels, no experience needed. And, if you’re away July 9 or can’t join us the entire time, no problem. You’ll have lifetime access to retreat over and over again on your own terms.

Hit the pause button, learn new skills or deepen current ones, and connect with like-hearted ladies. If you have any questions about the adventure, don’t hesitate to ask. Hope to see you on July 9!

$125 Includes:

An opening and closing live video gathering
Midway live video check-in
Recipe suggestions
Guided multimedia how-tos on writing, yoga, meditation, and art journaling
3 PDF Guidebooks
A private Facebook group
Lifetime access
TranquiliT discount code
Savvy Sources for continuing the experience
Chat box for connecting with others and me throughout the day
Tech support
A peek into my tranquility practices

Feedback and photos from our spring retreat:

I absolutely loved the retreat today. It was such a great way to spend a Saturday. Participating has reminded me how good it feels to slow down and give myself the time to recharge. Feeling a new spark of creativity. Loved connecting with all of you and look forward to more.

Just looked in the mirror and I think I look younger than I did this morning! I’m so relaxed!!!! What a fabulous morning.

I’d forgotten how much fun art journaling can be – especially not having to stay within the lines, cut with a scissors, or make something perfect. The last time I wrote in my art journal was January 2015. So much has changed since then, and this exercise helped me to shift my perspective to embracing change and discerning what I need in my life to spark joy.

I’ve been to local day long yoga workshops and enjoyed being with a group. But I have to say, being the introvert that I am and loving my quiet time, this was something I would do again and again. Being in my own familiar space, relaxed but at the same time connected with everyone by your video and the Facebook Group. You thought of everything!

The Virtual Retreat is exactly what I needed during this busy time of the year for me. As an introvert with an extroverted job and tendencies, it was wonderful to give myself the opportunity to “check out” for the day while still being in my own space. I lit candles and incense, put on soothing jazz, and spent the whole day in my comfiest clothes virtually connecting with my favorite yoga and mindfulness guru. I also loved that we will always have access to the modules. I have been on a few retreats with Kimberly, and leave wishing I could take it all with me. Now I can!  

I LOVED attending my very first virtual retreat! It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday. Kimberly was the perfect host interacting with us through a live feed at the beginning of the retreat as well as through the Facebook group and Periscope. My expectation was that I would be “alone” on this retreat, but I was wrong! I felt so connected to the other women that attended even though we were from all over the world. One of my biggest takeaways was that taking time out for myself is not only important, but imperative. This was truly a one of the best workshops I’ve ever attended and will not be my last.

When I decided to sign up for Kimberly’s Virtual Retreat I wasn’t convinced that it would work. The idea that I would be able to cut off the phone and commit myself to the experience seemed a bit of a stretch. Yet, I was able to stick with the schedule, ignore the phone-text -email messages, and fully immerse myself in the activities. If you aren’t able to free up the full day, I think it would work use the videos and break the sessions into two half days.

I can’t thank you enough for such a clearly thought out virtual retreat. It was such a blessing not to need to get dressed, drive to an airport, not have to put on make-up, and to be comfortable in my own home without distraction (except for my two fur babies).

The post In Two Weeks . . . appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Week in Review {Pics + Links}

Week in Review

I am sitting on the floor of my tent in Ojai, California surrounded by books, cups of tea, my Daybook, and writing materials. Up at 4:30am for this weekend’s Conscious Booksmith writing retreat with Christine Mason Miller, I arrived yesterday afternoon to the Santa Barbara airport and hopped into a generously “upgraded” white muscle car as they were out of my preferred economy choice.

When I sent Tim a photo of the beast, he kept texting me “vroom vroom.” I’m a menace on the road in this thing. It doesn’t even have a key and took me longer than I’d like to admit to start and put into drive. Good news is that I found the country and 80s hair metal Sirius radio stations.

Since I had a couple hours before check in for the retreat, I pulled into a Starbucks outside of Ojai and breathed a sigh of release once I put the car in park (and figured out how to turn it off . . .  again, without a key). I sipped one of their Evolution green juices and googled “what to see in Ojai.” Scrolling through farmers’ markets, antique shopping, and outdoor excursion ideas, I stumbled upon Bart’s Books—an open air used bookstore. I got flushed, felt my pulse quicken, and knew what I had to do. Back to the muscle car.

When I arrived at Bart’s Books, I had to drive around the block a few times because I couldn’t parallel park the boat. After a few illegal U-turns in the middle of the street, I found a large spot ready to house the car. Walking into Bart’s was a religious experience. I wandered around savoring the breeze through the shelves, ambient music, and thriving succulents strategically placed. After carefully selecting four books to consider, I sat at one of their tables topped with an umbrella and thumbed through them feeling in awe of the whole experience. Of course, I left with each of them.

It’s time for lunch so I’m off to dine on the yummy veg meals provided by Meredith Klein of Pranaful. This morning’s chia seed pudding inspired the sharing of the recipe below. What a yummy, filling, protein-filled way to start the day!

Wishing you a chance to fill your belly with fresh whole foods, sit with your breath, and pen your thoughts this weekend. Bisous.

Week in Pics

Creative play on writing retreat with Christine Mason Miller
Tea time
Loot from Bart’s Books
Bart’s Books = heaven on earth
Glamping
Monday’s Capitol Hill lobbying for the animals

Savvy Sources

10 Fun Writing Ideas

9 Daily Questions to Improve Your Life

How to Stay in Shape When You’re Busy

Creative Purpose of Boredom 10 Ted Talks That Will Change Your Life

5 Productivity Tips from Busy People

9 Yin Yoga Poses to Summon the Summer

How to Create a Succulent Garden

55 Ways to Help Animals

Chia Seed Pudding How-To

Weekend Wish List

Write

Read

Connect

Breathe

Yoga

Uncover

Safe journey home

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Packing for Paris {+ Beyond}

Packing for trips has been known to raise anxiety levels. When I shared this Paris suitcase pic on Instagram, I received a few emails asking what was inside. It’s helpful to see how a few items can transform into multiple outfits.

Although the AirBnB apartment we rented had a washer, I packed many duplicates (hello 2in1 tops and leggings) to alleviate doing more than one to two loads during my 10-day stay.

Rolled clothing items: One stripe savasana throw, one mesh skirt from Italy, four pairs of leggings, one infinity cowl, two printed scarves, four 2in1 tops (three long sleeve, one crop top), one palazzo pant, one ruffle dress, one shift dress, one slip dress, one pencil skirt, one blazer, one boyfriend tank = 20 pieces.

On the plane I wore leggings, a 2in1 top, long sleeve wrap tunic, and the bulky boots. Most items are from TranquiliT’s Capsule Wardrobe.

Shoes: Four pairs turned out to be two too many. The left heels were simply for the photo shoot. I only wore the gold clogs during an evening out sipping champagne at sunset overlooking the Eiffel Tower. The boots and ballet flats were my go-tos all week and would have been plenty.

Items not pictured include: technology, toiletries, intimates, socks, trench, faux leather jacket, books, journal, pens, slippers, meds, passport, yoga mat, candle, gifts, sun hat, purse and its’ contents.

Here’s a handy PDF travel checklist plus mix and match clothing ideas.

Below are photos snapped by Tim during the shoot with Carla Coulson to show a few of the looks, plus a few additional outfits from being a flâneur in the City of Light.

A couple silly outtakes from the shoot where I was giving “that look” and blowing kisses to help relax face muscles. During that second shot, a sweet family of Asian tourists were on the side taking photos of us. I envision them looking back at those photos and being disappointed to realize that, alas, I definitely wasn’t anyone famous.

A few flâneur shots in the ruffle dress, ruffle dress with infinity cowl and leggings, 2in1 crop top with pencil skirt, and boyfriend tank with leggings (and blazer in hand for the sun-behind-clouds moments).

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Summer Reading

A peek into my {overly ambitious} summer reading pile:

Living Beautifully by Pema Chodren

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

Wildflower by Drew Barrymore

Poser by Claire Dederer

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom

Porcelain by Moby

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

The Humane Economy by Wayne Pacelle

What’s on yours?

Join me on Goodreads where I’m gleefully 46% through my 2016 Reading Challenge goal.

Happy reading! x

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Week in Review {Pics + Links}

 

Week in Review

Falling out of a cab in pouring rain on my hands and knees onto Paris’ most beautiful bridge, Pont Alexandre III, without losing my grasp of a big bouquet of pink peonies was my final bow in Paris {and clearly not one of my more graceful ones}. DC life kicked back into gear immediately upon landing at Dulles airport last Sunday.

This week was filled with an assortment of routine and routine-shaking activities: yoga, recalibrating jet lag, teaching, attending meetings, sitting with clients, hosting Tranquility du Jour Live on Thursday and Yoga + the Animals on Saturday, attending the Taking Action for Animals conference, seeing a neurologist, penning love notes, reeling in the heaviness from Orlando, planting pink hydrangeas, and being interviewed by Elizabeth Duvivier of Squam Art Workshops for her podcast Morning on the Dock.

It was an energy output kind of week that leaves me craving a Bed Day. You know, the opportunity to refill the well and regroup. The next two to three weekends involve more travel and then I see life slowing to a reasonable pace—just in time to start studying for my social work licensing exam and finalizing the fall TranquiliT line.

Although it may seem like once we get over a hump, things will be smoother, I find that there is always a new challenge or project over that hump. Since that’s typically the case, I strive to insert presence and tranquil touches into the messiness of daily life. Things like carrying lavender oil, toting a reusable water bottle, filling my body with yummy foods, wearing comfy ethically-made clothing, contributing to causes, toting a journal, adding fresh mint to my tea, soaking in the tub, and enjoying a glass of rosé all offer the chance to enhance the everyday.

May our hours, days, and weeks be lived fully without buying into the “once this happens, I’ll be happy” fantasy. Bisous. x

Pics in Review

Posing in the Jardin des Plantes {note new TranquiliT pencil skirt sample}
Final sidewalk cafe tea time
Photo shoot with Carla Coulson of Carla loves Photography
Studio decked out for Gay Pride
Set up for Thursday’s Tranquility du Jour Live
Others’ set up for Tranquility du Jour Live spotted with #TDJLive {@mavie_en_francais, @cottagenest, @shizukat, @lightly_lumay}
Set up for Saturday’s Yoga + the Animals at Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary
Yoga at Yoga + the Animals
Turkey time at Yoga + the Animals

Savvy Sources

Rhubarb Lilac Spritzer Recipe from Reading My Tea Leaves

21 Juicy Writing Prompts

Comfort Dogs Arrive in Orlando

Breaking the Habit of Being Busy

Learning to Meditate Through Difficulty

10 Tips for Maintaining Healthy Habits This Summer

How to Turn Your Garden into a Real Paradise

Weekend Wish List

Host Yoga + the Animals event at Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary. Check.

Learn lots at HSUS’ Taking Action for Animals conference

Write. Check.

Celebrate Father’s Day with Tim and sons

Organize desk

Create Summer Reading list

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Yoga + the Animals THIS Saturday

Free Saturday and love animals? Join moi for a day of mindful play with rescued farm friends at Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary in Ellicott City, Maryland (a short one-hour drive from DC).

The day’s adventure begins at 10am with tea and treats followed by a private tour of the sanctuary. Around noon we’ll roll out our yoga mats on the grass to savor an all-level yoga practice. To round out the adventure, we’ll savor a tasty vegan brunch with dessert from Sticky Fingers Bakery and mingle off the mat.

Wear layered comfy clothes for yoga plus closed-toe shoes for farm time. Bring your yoga mat and any preferred props, a sun hat, sunglasses, a camera, and a playful spirit. Listen to my podcast interview with the co-founder, Lisa Davis. Read about my passion for animals. Share the Facebook event.

$75 (includes $55 donation to Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary). 5 spots left.

Transportation is on your own. I’ll assist with coordinating carpools from Tranquil Space Dupont shortly before the event, but can’t guarantee a ride.

The post Yoga + the Animals THIS Saturday appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Paris Reflections

Sunday evening our plane landed at Dulles after a 10-day jaunt to the City of Light. I was in Paris to host a five-day writing retreat, flâner (one day I got 22k steps = 11 miles!), and nurture my creative juice. Despite the Seine river being 16 feet higher than usual, numerous strikes, and the launch of a month-long soccer game during our stay, Paris didn’t disappoint.

After teaching my weekly mindfulness class at Tranquil Space last night I ran into a colleague who mentioned Paris being my happy place. I nodded in agreement as it is that. And so much more. My time in Paris serves as a battery recharge. An opportunity to step out of routine and into an environment that exudes beauty. I’m often asked, “Why Paris? What makes it so special?” Trying to answer this is both simple and complicated at the same time.

Let me start with simple. It’s the beauty that infuses daily life in Paris. Colorful outdoor markets filled with fresh produce. Bridges enhanced with gold leaf and iron lampposts. Lingering at sidewalk cafes to sip a pot of green mint tea. Black clothing (common here, NYC, and in Zen centers). Flower markets filled with peonies, roses, and lilies. Numerous bookstores and passion for physical books. An abundance of bubbly and rosé. Hausmannian buildings. Details inside these buildings: crown molding, chandeliers, colorful doors, wrought iron balconies. Well-manicured gardens filled with greenery and colorful flowers. Perfume. Rose macarons. Croissants. Frites. Scarves. Men in red pants. Off-leash dogs going everywhere with their companions. Bikes, motor scooters, and kick scooters as common forms of transportation. Museums filled with attractions. Edith Piaf and Carla Bruni. The sound of an accordion. Red lips.

Now for the complicated. Without being too cliche, it’s the je ne sais quoi of Paris. You know, a quality that cannot be named or easily described. I feel it as the cab pulls into the city and I spot the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe. There’s an energy there that’s different than the bright light-filled frenetic pace of a big city. It’s more of a feminine energy whispering, “savor me, slow down, drink me in.”

When we got home Sunday night (3am Paris time), I unpacked, organized my desk, and gleefully used my power toothbrush for the first time in 10 days before collapsing. While yesterday was filled with yoga, teaching, and meetings, I made sure to stop by the grocery store to pick up a few of the simple pleasures mentioned above—flowers and produce—while donning noir, red lips, and a post-yoga glow. And before bed I spritzed perfume and sipped tea.

While I may not live in Paris more than a few days per year, I choose to infuse my days in DC with these little gems that make life special. As Annie Dillard says, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Why not make those daily efforts magical? Bisous.

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TDJ Live Webinar THIS Thursday

For nearly a decade I’ve been offering quarterly online gatherings to help jumpstart the season’s intentions. Consider yourself officially invited to Tranquility du Jour Live.

When: THIS Thursday, June 16 at 8pm-9pmET (use this handy time zone converter).

What:  Explore my eight tranquility tips for summer. Chat with fellow tranquility-seekers around the globe. Reflect. Meet Mookie the rescue pug. Slow down. Play with your creativity tools (journal, markers, washi tape, ephemera, pens). Be inspired. Dream.

How: You’ll need an Internet connection and computer or smartphone, plus pen and paper.

Investment: Free live, $10 replay

Bonus: Receive a discount code to shop the locally-sewn, eco-friendly clothing line TranquiliT. Oh, and did I mention there’s a PDF playbook, too?

Hope to see you there!

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During Times Like This

This morning I sent a brief love note out to our Tranquil Space team:

“Fresh back to the states after hosting a writing retreat and was shocked to hear of the tragedy in Orlando. I’m writing with an intention to sprinkle compassion and an invite to help make a difference.

As we move through this week following such senseless loss, I wanted to share a quote that I hope will inspire:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

The smile we offer a stranger, the assist we give a yogi, the way we greet others at the front desk, the hand we offer a colleague—these all have the potential to change someone’s day, possibly even their life. We have an opportunity in times like this to elevate others. And, I believe, it’s our duty.

Wishing you a safe transition into this week. Be gentle with yourself. May you feel the compassion of your studio community helping hold you tight.”

I offer the same sentiment to you. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” Let’s keep ours brightly lit and, ideally, help spread light. Bisous. x

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Tranquility du Jour #372: Living the French Kiss Life

Living the French Kiss Life with Tonya Leigh. We talk Paris, iconic women, and the question that set her journey in motion.

 

Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #372: Living the French Kiss Life

Maite listens from France while peeling turnips. Jackie listens from the suburbs of Detroit while on walks, getting ready for work, or at work. And you? Share with me where you’re listening from and what you’re doing while listening. Laundry, commuting, gardening, running? Thank you for being part of Tranquility du Jour!

Upcoming Events

TDJ Live {Seasonal Podcast}: June 16 at 8-9pmET

Yoga + the Animals at Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary: June 18

Tranquility Virtual Retreat: July 9

Writing in the Woods: October 28-30 {6 spots}

Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25

 

Tranquility du Jour Guest

 

Tonya Leigh is the founder of French Kiss Life, a destination for women who want to inject more elegance, style and joie de vivre into their daily lives. Through a vibrant online community and immersive experiences, Tonya helps women uncover their own iconic appeal. You may be classically charming like Audrey Hepburn or your goal is to be a trendsetter at every age like Iris Apfel. You can find out how to tap into and leverage your own iconic appeal with Tonya at tonyaleigh.com/tranquilitydujour.

Savvy Sources


tonyaleigh.com
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Resource for you
My eye candy on Instagram
Pin along with me on Pinterest
Let’s connect on Facebook
Follow moi on Twitter
My 5 Books
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse my FAQs




More Tranquility

Tranquility University E-courses.
Shop my locally-sewn, eco-friendly TranquiliT clothing line.
Read along on Goodreads.
Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android.
Read about my passion for animals.
Pen a review on iTunes, s‘il vous plaît.

Techy

To listen, click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes.
New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast 411.
Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episode as released.
Get the Tranquility du Jour apps to get the podcast “automagically” on iOS or Android.

 

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