Kimberly Wilson's Blog, page 104
April 18, 2016
7 Tips for Getting Organized
Numerous tips and tricks are upon us thanks to spring cleaning. Clean out cupboards, dust bookshelves, wash walls, oh my! While none of these are included in my list, I’m writing to share my must-dos to bring a bit of balance to daily life.
1. Set MITs: These are your Most Important Tasks. Choose three to five projects to focus on each week and align your daily actions with making them happen. These can serve as your week’s road map. You can also set meeting MITs or day MITs. Focus on what matters most at that moment.
2. Clear Clutter: Piles of paperwork will build if not handled regularly. Take time each week to reduce clutter around you. Focus on a drawer, create blank space on flat surfaces, make room for every day necessities like keys, and open mail daily. Less physical clutter leads to less mental clutter.
3. Clarify Priorities: Consider your top areas of priority each season and let these focus points drive your daily to-dos. What would you like to see brought to fruition or surrendered by summer? Maybe a container garden for your patio? Or a clean up of the pile of magazines in the corner? Or a daily practice like writing, yoga, or meditation?
4. Clean the Closet: Tuck away your out of season wear like bulky coats and heavy gloves. Pull everything out of your closet and toss it onto your bed. Then go through each piece one by one and determine whether or not you’ve used it in the past few months and still love it. If not, donate it. If so, start a love pile that gets put back into the closet color coordinated.
5. Build a Capsule Wardrobe: I live in a few staples from the TranquiliT Capsule Wardrobe that I rotate for yoga, writing, meetings, and seeing clients. Pull out your go-tos from the love pile such as black pants, crisp white shirt, blazer, or shift dress. Narrow your favorites down to pieces that can be dressed up or down and will mix and match. Sticking with neutral colors such as navy, black, or beige helps with pairing pieces.
6. Carry an Idea Book: A tiny 3×5 notebook (usually coated with a sparkly Eiffel Tower) is always at the ready. I use it to jot down ideas, take conference notes, capture a moment in words, list resources to explore, note to-dos that come to mind when I’m sans Daybook, and more. Ideas and moments are fleeting and so worth capturing.
7. Try Evernote: It took me awhile to understand how Evernote could help me organize my ideas, projects, data, and notes. Once I started creating notebooks, I was hooked. If I get an email with data I need to keep to access later, I cut and paste it into a notebook. If I want to track suppliers, costs, or specs, I create a notebook. It’s a wonderful app for documenting and it’s searchable.
Taking time to set up a few organizational tools can save you time, money, and energy—our precious resources. What are your favorite ways to get organized? Bisous. x
The post 7 Tips for Getting Organized appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
Tranquility du Jour #368: Always Too Much And Never Enough
Always Too Much And Never Enough with Jasmin Singer. Hear her story from fat to thin and from feeding her emotions to feeding her soul, her memoir writing process, and the creation of Our Hen House.
Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #368: Always Too Much And Never Enough
Featured Guest: Jasmin Singer is the author of the memoir, Always Too Much and Never Enough (Penguin Random House Berkley; 2016), which documents her journey to find herself through juicing, veganism, and love, as she went from fat to thin and from feeding her emotions to feeding her soul. Jasmin was named a 2016 “40 Under 40” by The Advocate Magazine and a 2015 “Eco-Preneur” by Go Magazine. The Our Hen House podcast – which Jasmin co-hosts – has been honored twice by the coveted Webby Awards. In addition to co-hosting Our Hen House, now in its seventh year, Jasmin is the host of the Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, can be seen in the award-winning documentaries Vegucated and The Ghosts In Our Machine, and has also appeared on the Dr. Oz Show and HuffPo Live. She has contributed to several anthologies (including Defiant Daughters, Running Eating Thinking, and Circles of Compassion), and is a contributing writer for VegNews Magazine. When she’s not traveling around giving book talks or presenting workshops on veganism and activism, Jasmin spends her downtime at home in New York City. Follow Jasmin on Twitter: @ourhenhouse @jasmin_singer, and visit jasminsinger.com for updates.
Savvy Sources
Jasmin’s Website
Our Hen House Website
Twitter: @ourhenhouse @jasmin_singer
Bloom into Spring Tranquility du Jour Live
My Latest Book: 52 Weeks of Tranquility Journal
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Podcast app: Tranquility du Jour iPhone and Android
Upcoming Events
Art + Yoga in West Virginia: May 13-15 {1 spot}
Penning in Paris: June 6-10 {2 spots}
TDJ Live {Seasonal Podcast}: June 16 at 8pmET
Yoga and the Animals at Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary: June 18
Tranquility Virtual Retreat: July 9
Tranquility in Tuscany: October 8-15 {5 spots}
Writing in the Woods: October 28-30 {6 spots}
Stay Connected
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse my FAQs.
Tranquility University E-courses.
Broadcasts on Periscope.
Connect on Facebook.
Shop locally-sewn, eco-friendly TranquiliT.
Eye candy on Instagram.
Pin along on Pinterest.
Follow on Twitter.
Read along on Goodreads.
Browse my books.
Read about my passion for animals.
Pen a review on iTunes.
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.
The post Tranquility du Jour #368: Always Too Much And Never Enough appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
April 15, 2016
Week in Review {Pics + Links}
Week in Review
This week I came across two inspiring quotes by Tracee Ellis Ross and Agnes de Mille.
Wisdom means to choose now what will make sense later. I am learning everyday to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be, to inspire me and not terrify me.
Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.
Both felt a little like soul balm.
I’ve written about the Agnes de Mille quote before. I came across it again earlier this week while compiling pieces for a writing project. What struck me was how not knowing and wanting to know was a theme I kept finding as I pulled up various blog posts from the past.
Clearly it’s a state I’ve known well over the years, yet act so surprised when it returns. As if it’s a stranger who has never been by for a visit. However, after reading a few of the 4k posts penned over the past 12 years, it became clear to me that not knowing and desperately seeking answers was a “friend” I knew all too well.
This led me to revisit the Rumi poem, The Guest House:
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Ah, again a dose of soul balm.
This week has been filled with moments of grief, visits with friends, bike rides, sessions with clients, lots of sleeping, walks with Mookie, writing, teaching, and reading.
Now I’m off to plant pansies among Louis’ daffodils (see above). Planting those tiny, dirty nuggets (also known as bulbs) in October and seeing them sprout into beautiful happy flowers provides a soothing relief that is perfectly timed. Bisous. x
Week in Pics
Penned Love Notes
A writing moment between clients
More blooms in Louis’ memorial garden
Savvy Sources
5 Brilliant Books on Creativity
The Kind Gesture That Helps Elizabeth Gilbert Find the Light On Her Worst Days
10 Great Things That Happen When You Set Boundaries
The Science Behind Sensitivity
2 Giant Piggies Snuggle with Their Human BFF
The Prime of Our Lives Is Not About Finding All the Answers
4 Ways to Beat Resistance
Weekend Wish List
Host inspiring Week 8 of the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course
Plant more pansies
Write and savor tea time with a friend
Honor Louis’ 4/16/15 passing at Shenandoah National Park
Attend Physicans Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Leadership Summit
Host helpful Business of Yoga workshop at Tranquil Space
The post Week in Review {Pics + Links} appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
April 10, 2016
Week in Review {Pics + Links}
Weeks in Review
Before I shut down the computer and prepare to nest fireside for the evening, I’m writing to share a few morsels of tranquility via Savvy Sources, photos, and insights.
Last night I finished My Gentle Barn with Mookie snoring beside me. Yet another memoir I couldn’t put down and devoured in two days. And the best part? I get to add another book to my Goodreads Reading Challenge! I guess one never does outgrow longing for that gold star.
Although I’m still exploring what is percolating underneath (I mean, does one ever really know?), I’ve reflected on March experiences and penned April dreams in my Daybook. I’m open to what lies ahead. Curling up with Elle Luna’s The Crossroads of Should and Must, taking long soaks in the tub, and paying attention to physical sensations has been therapeutic.
Sitting in the unknown without my typical five-year plan feels equal parts liberating and disconcerting. I did take a step forward by securing a tour of The Pig Preserve and reaching out to the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Social Work program. We’re off to meet up with my parents in Gatlinburg next month, so I’m hoping to plant a few seeds (and pet a few pigs) along the way.
The past two weeks included prepping and hosting Tranquility du Jour Live, volunteering, teaching, posing during a photo shoot, working with clients, cuddling with Mookie, planting pansies, finalizing TranquiliT‘s new collection, reading, interviewing beautiful souls for the podcast, trying my hand at drawing and painting, securing Guns N’ Roses tickets (SO excited!), walking in the woods, connecting with friends, and entertaining.
One year ago this upcoming week we lost our beloved Louis to brain cancer. For weeks I’ve been watching the trees we stood under during our final family walk. They’re coming into those full pink blooms they had on that heartbreaking day. The pain is palpable and I still can’t talk about him without tearing up. The happy-colored daffodils I planted last fall in his garden are beginning to pop and offer a sense of solace.
During a recent Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction class, I led participants in a Mountain and Lake Meditation focused on connecting to our solid inner base and seeing stormy weather as temporary passing states. This comes in handy as we experience waves of grief and the many other emotions that arise on a daily basis.
Life is full of cycles. Death. Birth. Doors closing. Doors opening. Winter. Spring. We must remember that no matter how dark the night, morning always comes. Bisous. x
Pics in Review
Blooms and Buddha in Louis’ memorial garden
In love with the wisteria
A yellow tulip “dare to be different” moment
Evening reading pile
A blooming mantle
French tulips and my pink pig by Dana Ellyn
Creative play space
My creation from a fashion painting workshop
Playing domestic during a recent shoot
Savvy Sources
The Crossroads of Should and Must
Dani Shapiro on the Pleasures and Perils of the Writing Life
Food Justice and Personal Rewilding as Social Movements
Longform Podcast with Liz Gilbert
9 Ways to Style Your LBD
Depression as an Opportunity for Growth and Change
10 Documentaries That Will Have You Rethink Animals
Why It’s Important to Leave Some Space for Being Alone
Guide to Keeping a Visual Journal
Annie Dillard on What it Takes to Be a Writer
7 Books That Will Transport You When Travel Isn’t an Option
Weekend Wish List
Although it’s nearly over, my wishes were to find a balance between teaching, resting, giving, and planning. I gleefully give myself an 80% and, well, it’s not yet over!
The post Week in Review {Pics + Links} appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
April 6, 2016
Your Daybook Dreams
Daybook 5.0
A pink planner, lifestyle organizer, and wellness guide all-in-one. This is the story of the Tranquility du Jour Daybook.
After months of dreaming, design, research, and edits, on November 11, 2012 I announced its release. The seed for this project was planted by an email from a blog reader/friend and took sprout with the $100 donation from the 2012 World Domination Summit.
I’m honored knowing that this small batch labor of love is in the hands of creative women around the globe. My wish is that this little gem offers a dose of tranquility, organization, and love to your every day!
Thank YOU for your support of this creativity + productivity project. Since 4.0 sold out last month, it’s time to begin the process of bringing 5.0 to life.
Please share your dreams for version 5.0 {see 1.0-4.0 above}. How can this product best serve you and sprinkle reminders of tranquility? Bisous. x
The post Your Daybook Dreams appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
April 5, 2016
Mindful Moments
Take a Mindful Moment
On Sunday I led a six-hour daylong retreat for the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course I’m hosting at Tranquil Space. The group practiced walking meditation, seated meditation, body scan, and mindful yoga.
For some, it was a relaxing day for slowing down and tuning inward. For others, it was a challenging day filled with fidgeting and frustration. Both experiences are to be expected.
Taking the time to stop and notice what’s going on in the body and mind is challenging. It requires shifting from autopilot, carving out space to push the pause button, noticing the mind’s activity, feeling any emotions arising, and observing the body’s physical sensations.
One doesn’t have to wait for a daylong retreat to hit the pause button. You can do it right now. Stop reading and take three deep breaths . . . voilà, you did it!
In the above photo, I had a few minutes post-yoga before my next appointment so I hopped into a cafe. I ordered a cuppa jasmine tea and a vegan chocolate chip cookie, pulled up a seat by the window to pen a few love notes, and captured the moment on Instagram. It’s these spontaneous mindful moments of tea sipping, cookie eating, and love note writing that make my day brighter.
Here are some ways I like to take a mindful moment during the day:
Sip a cuppa tea
Write a love note
Cuddle Mookie
Practice yoga
Sit in meditation
Read
Write
Eat a yummy meal
Journal
Connect with a friend
Garden
Take a walk
Ride my bike
Soak in the tub
Connect to my breath
Time with animals
Embroidery
Plan my day
Sit fireside
Take photos
These are my simple every day activities that offer an opportunity to slow down, tune in, and savor the moment. What are yours?
Choose three to make a priority today. Our days, and lives, are made up of these tiny moments. Bisous. x
The post Mindful Moments appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
April 4, 2016
Tranquility du Jour #367: Dream Job
Dream Job with Rebecca Rubin. Hear about her one-year journey working around the world, learn about her free Day Job to Dream Job Summit, and the lessons she continues to learn after launching a business.
Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #367: Dream Job
Featured Guest: Rebecca Rubin is a marketing + mindset mentor for new coaches who want to get their first paid clients (like, yesterday!) and create a stand-out online presence. After making her own transition from day job to dream job, she is committed to helping other women create their version of a fabulous life through entrepreneurship. Rebecca is currently taking her business on the road as she travels the world (visiting 12 countries in 12 months). To learn more visit www.thepursuitoffabulous.com.
Savvy Sources
Rebecca’s Website
Day Job to Dream Job Summit
Former Tranquility du Jour interview with Rebecca #339
Bloom into Spring Tranquility du Jour Live
My Latest Book: 52 Weeks of Tranquility Journal
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Podcast app: Tranquility du Jour iPhone and Android
Upcoming Events
Art + Yoga in West Virginia: May 13-15 {1 spot}
Penning in Paris: June 6-10 {2 spots}
TDJ Live {Seasonal Podcast}: June 16 at 8pmET
Yoga and the Animals at Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary: June 18
Tranquility Virtual Retreat: July 9
Tranquility in Tuscany: October 8-15 {5 spots}
Writing in the Woods: October 28-30 {6 spots}
Stay Connected
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse my FAQs.
Tranquility University E-courses.
Broadcasts on Periscope.
Connect on Facebook.
Eye candy on Instagram.
Pin along on Pinterest.
Follow on Twitter.
Read along on Goodreads.
Browse my books.
Read about my passion for animals.
Pen a review on iTunes.
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.
The post Tranquility du Jour #367: Dream Job appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
April 1, 2016
TDJLive Recording {+ Perks}
Last night’s Tranquility du Jour Live was SO much fun. We were blessed with ladies from Japan, Australia, Canada, and across the United States!
If you missed our live gathering, the video is now available for purchase to stream or download. This includes a $60 savings offer for our next Virtual Retreat (expires 4/2), a 20% coupon code for TranquiliT (expires 4/5), and an 8-page PDF Playbook.
The photos above show a sampling of the experience. Post yours using #TDJLive. I’d love to see the petals and space you created for yourself.
Save your spot for our next live gathering on Thursday, June 16 at 8pm ET.
May spring bring you an abundance of colorful and creative blooms. You are beautiful. Bisous. x
The post TDJLive Recording {+ Perks} appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
March 31, 2016
Tonight We Bloom
Tonight we bloom.
Ah, if only it was that easy. We simply showed up and blooms happened.
Well, while blooming isn’t always easy, it’s simple. It’s about planting seeds and tonight we’ll do just that.
Join us at 8pm ET to explore my eight tranquility tips for spring with a focus on blooming. Chat with fellow tranquility-seekers around the globe. Create your seasonal intentions. Meet Mookie the rescue pug. Be inspired. Slow down. Play with your creativity tools (journal, markers, washi tape, ephemera, pens). Receive a discount code to shop the locally-sewn, eco-friendly clothing line TranquiliT. Be the first to hear the next Tranquility Virtual Retreat date and early-bird offer. Oh, and did I mention there’s a PDF playbook, too?
To sign up, simply hit the register button below and add your email address to the roster. You’ll receive a link and PDF via email later today.
Thank you for taking this time to connect with me and others eager to bloom this spring. Bisous. x
P.S. As always, if you can’t make the event live, a recording of it will be available for purchase within 24 hours.
The post Tonight We Bloom appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
March 29, 2016
You’re Invited: Tranquility du Jour Live
What:
Explore my eight tranquility tips for spring with a focus on blooming. Chat with fellow tranquility-seekers around the globe. Create your seasonal intentions. Meet Mookie the rescue pug. Be inspired. Slow down. Play with your creativity tools (journal, markers, washi tape, ephemera, pens).
Why:
For nearly a decade I’ve been offering quarterly online gatherings to help jumpstart the season’s intentions. Eager to find ease this spring? Moi aussi, as shared in Friday’s post, so let’s take an hour to reflect, renew, and reconnect.
When:
THIS Thursday, March 31 at 8pm-9pmET (use this handy time zone converter).
How:
You’ll need an Internet connection and computer or smartphone.
Investment:
Free, other than one hour of your time and energy.
Bonus:
Receive a discount code to shop the locally-sewn, eco-friendly clothing line TranquiliT. Be the first to hear the next Tranquility Virtual Retreat date and early-bird offer. Oh, and did I mention there’s a PDF playbook, too?
To sign up, simply hit the register button below and add your email address to the roster. You’ll receive a link via email shortly before we gather to log into the video event.
Thank you for taking this time to connect with me and others seeking more tranquility. See you Thursday! Bisous. x
P.S. As always, if you can’t make the event live, a recording of it will be available for purchase within 24 hours.
The post You’re Invited: Tranquility du Jour Live appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.
