Kimberly Wilson's Blog, page 82

NYC Girls’ Weekend

Jivamukti graduation April 2007

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.—Anais Nin

While in NYC together over New Year’s Day, my friend Jenn and I realized that 2017 marked 10 years since we met at a monthlong Jivamukti teacher training. At that moment we decided a celebratory girls’ weekend was in order!

For months we texted and emailed ideas—Miami, NYC, Farm Sanctuary, an island. Ultimately we settled on a city between the two of us (she lives in Montreal) where we often meet up at the start of the new year, NYC.

Before we knew it, tickets were booked. An AirBnB was secured. Bags were packed.

Last weekend we walked 49k steps all over the city. We practiced yoga, hit boutiques (hello, Moo shoes), sipped matcha lattes at Laduree, savored vegan brunch and dinner spots (Double Zero, Peacefood, The Butcher’s Daughter), went to the movies, tried lavender face masks, walked and rowed in Central Park, browsed bookstores, and sipped peony rose tea.

Considering I tend to keep to myself in groups, Jenn’s persistent and gracious nature ensured we connected back in 2007. While I poured over my laptop during the few breaks we had at the training, she’d plop herself down next to me and start talking. Here we are in 2009 bonding over her harmonium.

Over the past decade we’ve stayed in touch and offered support as we faced a range of experiences—loss, challenge, growth, joy. For example, when Louis grew quite sick, Tim and I Skyped via video with Jenn and her son, Levi. Levi had fallen in love with Louis during a recent visit (and especially liked that he would eat clementines). After he passed away, Levi asked if an airplane could get Louis out of the sky to bring him back. I always loved that question and wish it possible every day.

The photos above offer a peek into our 50 hours together. I’m grateful for our excursion and especially thankful for this friendship. May we all take time to look up from our laptops and experience real, live connection from time to time. Bisous. x

The post NYC Girls’ Weekend appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

TranquiliT Trunk Show + Year-Round Style

Create your own style . . . let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.—Anna Wintour

In honor of Tranquil Space’s 18th birthday, THIS Saturday we’re hosting a TranquiliT trunk show at the Dupont studio (1632 17th, nw) from 10-1. Swing by for cake and homemade vegan pumpkin scones by moi, sit fireside, sip tea, and save 20% off TranquiliT.

I’ll be there with our former boutique manager/TranquiliT-lover Patricia to answer any questions, show the many ways to wear the pieces, and help you get set for the holidays. TranquiliT is great for travel (see former packing post) and transitions easily from the yoga mat to the airport to cocktail parties. It’s all about ease and layers!

For example, I used to have a summer and winter wardrobe where I would rotate heavy sweaters for sleeveless tops. Now I live in layers of TranquiliT year-round and have a small section in the back of my closet for my seasonal faux fur and faux leather jackets. No more rotating needed since nothing else is season-dependent. More below.

2in1 flare top in noir over tights. Wear as a mini dress or over leggings or skinny jeans.

Turtleneck in aubergine with pencil skirt in noir. Add tights and a blazer for the office or faux leather jacket for a night out.

ways I make one wardrobe work year-round:

Add tights, boots, and an organic fleece infinity scarf to a warm weather dress
Add a turtleneck under your warm weather dress
Add a chunky sweater over your sleeveless dress
Add tights, boots, and an organic fleece infinity scarf to a short skirt
Add tights, boots, and an organic fleece infinity scarf to a pair of shorts
Add a long sleeve top over your slip dress
Add heavy tights with your peep toe shoes and wear them into winter
Grab your beanie, arm warmers, and scarf or capelet when leaving the house for the day

Swing tunic in cafe. Top with cozy organic fleece infinity cowl and vegan boots.

Sleeveless wrap dress in peacock paired with tights, turtleneck, and boots.

Cape in au naturel organic fleece paired with 2in1 fitted top, leggings, and boots.

Cardiwrap in heather paired with 2in1 chemise, leggings, and boots.

2in1 fitted top paired with our mesh skirt. Perfect for holiday!

More year-round wardrobe tips:

Year-round I keep arm warmers in my bag since I’m sensitive to overly air-conditioned environments. In fall and winter, I keep arm warmers and a knit beanie in my bag and am seldom without a scarf around my neck. Our fleece scarf is so cozy, and comforting—it feels like a security blanket.

Although it can be fun to update a wardrobe from time to time, I’ve found that dressing in the monochromatic layers of a capsule wardrobe makes my mornings {and travel} much easier. More layers in winter, less in summer. All black. Add pops of flair with shoes, coats, and red lips. Voilà, shifting seasons made easy via transitional eco-style! Bisous. x

Off-the-shoulder dress in wine paired with a skinny scarf and boots.

2in1 long sleeve ruched dress in slate paired with vegan gold clogs.

The post TranquiliT Trunk Show + Year-Round Style appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

October in Review

October had tremendous possibility. The summer’s oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures. They made me believe in miracles.—Sarah Guillory

Month in Review

We’re seven days into November and I still have that sweet spot for October. The month serves as a full launch into fall season—my favorite time of the year!

Last month proved challenging and rewarding all rolled into one. Tim was on a west coast bike tour for 2.5 weeks which means I was solely responsible for the four daily walks of our little ones. I’d dash home between clients to ensure their care remained consistent and felt extreme guilt when gone for more than four or five hours. His return late October was a party for the pups (and me)! I continue to adjust to life without my baby, Tranquil Space, and am still contemplating my next chapter. It’s like I’m looking through a camera lens and I can see it, but it’s a bit fuzzy. My work right now is to keep adjusting the lens to bring it into clear and vibrant focus.

During October, I experienced two days of mindful self-compassion training, two days of Positive Psychology training, three days hosting a retreat in West Virginia, afternoons looking at farmettes in the countryside, a dinner with a former Tranquil Space studio director who was visiting DC, a day trip to Richmond to speak at an event, a lunch at Laduree (see vegan salad above) with a former Tranquil Space studio director, teaching yoga and mindfulness classes, a jaunt to the zoo to see the baby orangutan (in love!), Nathan Runkle of Mercy for Animals during his DC book tour event (top photo), a Renoir and Friends exhibit date with a girlfriend, a vet visit to get Belle ready for Christmas in Paris, a dinner date with a girlfriend, an opera in the park date with a girlfriend (and Miss Belle Starr), multiple edits and reviews of the Daybook and Playbook (thanks for your support) and then sent it off to the printer (ships late-November).

Wishing you a joyful month ahead. May November bring moments of gratitude and deep rest. Bisous. x

October Blog/Podcast Wrap Up

Love Notes

My Week of Eating Pretty

#407: The Writing Process

5 Tips: Planner Power

Mindfulness + Tranquility Tools mp3

Writing in the Woods Reflection

Happy Halloween

#408: Big Love

November Wish List

Host sweet Writing Lab

Host inspiring Thanksgiving Day charity class

Restore over Thanksgiving weekend in the woods

Complete Positive Psychology module 2

Pen memoir homework

Fun 10-year friendaversary weekend in NYC (done!)

Bake two dozen vegan pumpkin scones for Tranquil Space birthday party on 11/11

Ship Daybooks and Playbooks

Organize piles of paperwork

Host TranquiliT trunk show at Tranquil Space on 11/11

Open registration for Penning in Paris

Enjoy tiny home in the woods this weekend

Release two podcasts

Collaborate with clients

Savvy Sources

I was a guest on J. Brown Yoga Talks podcast

How loving-lindness meditation makes you a better human

28 best books on writing

The power of letting go

Use personal essays to jumpstart your career

A 4-step plan for moving through grief

How to build resilience in midlife

5 tips to reduce stress and stop anxiety

7 feel-good books that uplift and inspire

Ways to style over-the-knee boots

10 journaling tips to help you heal, grow, and thrive

An insider’s guide to Paris

The post October in Review appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Just Announced: Penning in Paris 2018

Spend five days exploring the City of Light through led writing workshops July 23-27, 2018. This year’s jaunt coincides with The Hemingway Society’s annual conference. The city will be filled with literary love!

Each day will include a leisurely breakfast followed by morning writing workshops with most afternoons free for additional writing. Afternoons or evenings will include outings such as yoga in Luxembourg Gardens, savory tea time at Ladurée, jaunts to favorite English bookstores, a boat tour on the Seine, and meditation in the oldest church in Paris.

Picture yourself writing in cafés where Hemingway and de Beauvoir wrote, sharing your literary dreams, and deepening your commitment to a writing project. In our workshops you’ll learn writing tools, tips to find your voice, ways to structure your prose, and more. We’ll also explore writing prompts and the science behind using writing to heal and deepen self-awareness.

There will be daily unscheduled space for exploring the city on your own by tiptoeing through the Tuileries, window shopping along the Champs Élysées, visiting Mona Lisa at the Louvre (or a favorite Monet at Musée d’Orsay), and sipping a cup of café au lait at a sidewalk café.

This adventure is for newbies to journalers to published writers—anyone longing to connect with their creative spark and explore an inspiring city with a like-hearted, intimate group of women.

Early registration encouraged due to limited openings (less than 10). Registration opens mid-November. Investment: $2395. Learn more.

The post Just Announced: Penning in Paris 2018 appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour #408: Big Love

Big Love with Scott Stabile. In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, we discuss living with a wide-open heart, lessons learned from hosting the Happiness Challenge, and a few mishaps along the way. Prepare to laugh, nod in agreement, and be inspired.

 

Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #408: Big Love

Upcoming Events

Writing Lab at Tranquil Space: November 10

TranquiliT Trunk Show at Tranquil Space: November 11 (1o-1)

Yoga + Mindfulness Mini Retreat in DC: December 31

Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24, 2018

Yoga + Art in West Virginia: June 1-3, 2018

Featured Guest: Scott Stabile

Scott Stabile is the author of Big Love. His inspirational posts and videos have attracted a huge and devoted social media following, including over 350K Facebook fans and counting. A regular contributor to the Huffington Post, he lives in Michigan and conducts personal empowerment workshops around the world. Visit him online at www.scottstabile.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savvy Sources

Find Scott


Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/ScottFrankStabile/


Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ScottStabile


Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/scottstabile/


YouTube –  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyBKwP7LeU-dVgRfTrA0PRw

 

Social Media




Eye candy on Instagram
Pin along with me on Pinterest
Let’s connect on Facebook
Follow moi on Twitter
Watch via YouTube


Tranquility Tips + Tools

Shop slow locally-made, eco-friendly fashion: TranquiliT
Browse my 5 Books
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse the FAQs
Tranquility-filled E-courses
Download the Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Read about my passion for animals

Request

Pen a review on iTunes and/or share this podcast via social media, s‘il vous plaît.
Pen a review of my books on Amazon or Goodreads.


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 download the podcast “automagically” on iOS or Android.

The post Tranquility du Jour #408: Big Love appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Happy Halloweeeeeennnnnn

Today is All Saints’ Eve. A time to honor the season, the departed, the mystical, the saints, and, well, one’s sweet tooth.

Ideas for Celebration:

Light a candle. Carve pumpkins. Dress up as an idol {I was Anais Nin one year}. Sip hot cider. Make a wish. Walk through fallen leaves and listen to them crunch below. Watch a scary movie. Go to a haunted house. Roast pumpkin seeds. Make a specialty cocktail. Roast vegan s’mores over a campfire. Dress up your pets {because they clearly love it!}. Listen to a ghost story podcast. Eat lots of candy {popular vegan options}. Cook a favorite fall dish {recipes}. Tour a haunted place. Paint pumpkins. Go on a hayride. Make a Halloween playlist {hello “Monster Mash“}. Place a flower or candle at the grave of a loved one. Bob for apples. Binge watch “Stranger Things” or “Mindhunter.”

Wishing you a yours a moment of magic today (and every day}. Bisous. x

The post Happy Halloweeeeeennnnnn appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Writing in the Woods Reflection

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.—Thoreau

Last weekend I hosted the annual Writing in the Woods retreat and, per usual, we had a powerful group of women join us. When Tim and I arrived late Thursday night, we couldn’t tell if the West Virginia foliage was still on the trees. I woke up Friday morning to a beautiful surprise—the trees were peppered with yellow, orange, red, and brown and the sky was blue.

After decorating with twinkle lights, pumpkins, and yellow mums, the house was ready to host all weekend. Due to the outside chill, we spent our days writing and practicing yoga by the fire inside. Saturday night we roasted s’mores by the campfire and waved sparkles in circular patterns before the storm rolled in. A torrential downpour provided the meditative backdrop to Sunday.

The past few days of colorful foliage, sounds of rain, heat from a roaring fire, taste of colorful roasted veggies, and smell of freshly-baked pumpkin pie provided a welcomed respite for this city dweller’s soul.

Time away offers an opportunity to hit that pause button and check in. What’s working? What needs attention? Does how I spend my time align with my values?

By shifting routine through time away or doing things differently, there’s a break in the “rinse and repeat” lifestyle of get up, go to work, come home, go to bed.

One exercise I encouraged the retreaters explore was creating a two-month wish list. We have two months left in 2017, what do you want to see, smell, hear, taste, and feel by New Year’s Eve?

Wishing you a sensory-filled conclusion to October. Bisous. x

The post Writing in the Woods Reflection appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Mindfulness + Tranquility Tools mp3

Last week I took the early morning train down to Richmond to speak at Shape Soirée—a three-day wellness conference co-created by my friend Kelly Kostecki of Om on Yoga.

While participants munched on a yummy kale salad topped with cranberries and pumpkin seeds, I gave a talk titled “Mindfulness for finding more tranquility in your life.” During the hour, I shared five mindfulness tools and five tranquility tips to ease stress and savor more.

Ahhhh, doesn’t that just sound divine? Less stress, more savor—makes for a good mantra!

I’ve posted the mp3 in Tranquil Treasures under “Tranquility Tips,” so please have a listen and share your takeaways below. I’d love to hear what most resonates.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend filled with foliage, pumpkins, and mulled cider. Bisous. x

The post Mindfulness + Tranquility Tools mp3 appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

5 Tips: Planner Power

How you spend your days is how you spend your life.—Annie Dillard

It’s no secret I’m planner-obsessed. Truly, I can’t imagine life without a physical manifestation of my to-dos, projects, and dreams. It’s how I try to stay organized and on top of deadlines and ideas.

I’ve pulled together 5 tips to utilize the full power of your planner:

1. Make it your own. Personalize, personalize, personalize. For years I used a standard black-and-white planner, so I collaged the front with inspiring images, added tabs using washi tape, and penned everything with colored markers.

2. Tote it everywhere. When scheduling appointments, many clients pull out their phones and I reach for my paper planner. It contains my projects, to-dos, dreams, and weekly schedule. If it’s not with me, I feel naked. Don’t leave your baby at home.

3. Make it work for you. Add helpful headings such as meal planning, gift giving ideas, DIY projects, gardening planning, exercise, sleep patterns, and business projects. Think of what you’d like to track and plan as you fill your planner.

4. Dream. Set aside space for dreaming. What would you like the day, week, month, and year to look and feel like? Write it down to make it happen. Gather your colored markers, ephemera, and bring your dreams out to play.

5. Review. Create space for reviewing. How did your day, week, month, and year unfold? Honor what worked, learn from what didn’t, and release the rest. This can be great for gratitude, budgets, goals, food, spending, and more.

Thanks to your support, we’ve sold through most of the Daybook and Playbook inventory. We’re down to about 40 copies. If you’d like this year’s version (complete with a new detox plan, a start & stop list, and more), here’s where you can grab your copy.

Here’s to dreaming with pen and paper! Bisous. x

The post 5 Tips: Planner Power appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour #407: The Writing Process

The Writing Process with Kim Manganelli. In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, we chat about her journey to becoming a lit professor, work with the Amherst Writers & Artists method, creation of Wisteria (formerly Wildflower) writing workshops, plus writing struggles and advice.

 

Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #407: The Writing Process

Upcoming Events

Daybook + Playbook Pre-sale: through October 20

Shape Soirée Talk in Richmond: October 20

Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 27-29 {1 spot left}

Yoga + Mindfulness Mini Retreat in DC: December 31

Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24

Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA

Featured Guest: Kim Manganelli

Kim Manganelli is an Associate Professor of nineteenth-century literature at Clemson University and a novelist in progress. She is a Certified Leader of the Amherst Writers and Artists method whose Wisteria Writing Workshops give writers of all levels of education and experience a safe and playful space to get their words out of their heads and onto the page. She currently lives in Greenville, SC but is always dreaming of Paris. Visit her online at wisteriawriters.com.

 

Savvy Sources
Find Kim

Wisteria Writers
Instagram
Facebook

Mentioned in the Podcast

Writing Alone and With Others
Amherst Writers & Artists



Social Media

Eye candy on Instagram
Pin along with me on Pinterest
Let’s connect on Facebook
Follow moi on Twitter
Watch via YouTube


Tranquility Tips + Tools

Shop slow locally-made, eco-friendly fashion: TranquiliT
Browse my 5 Books
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse the FAQs
Tranquility-filled E-courses
Download the Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Read about my passion for animals

Request

Pen a review on iTunes and/or share this podcast via social media, s‘il vous plaît.
Pen a review of my books on Amazon or Goodreads.


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 download the podcast “automagically” on iOS or Android.

The post Tranquility du Jour #407: The Writing Process appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.