Kimberly Wilson's Blog, page 95

Self-Care

Eternally, woman spills herself away in driblets to the thirsty, seldom allowed time, the quiet, the peace, to let the pitcher fill up to the brim.—Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Tissues. Sudafed. Cough drops. Advil. EmergenC packets. Rest. Repeat. This has been my experience over the past couple weeks. I got through most of the virus in time to host last weekend’s Writing in the Woods retreat and have been sleeping 12 hours a night since Sunday.

Although my head still feels fuzzy and energy remains low, I see health on the horizon and will be so grateful to be “normal” again.

Before teaching last weekend, I started the mornings with yoga (above photo) and a soak in the tub. It set my day in motion with a slow, sacred start.

The practice of self-care can often be viewed as selfish, yet I find it to be essential to show up with a full cup (or pitcher as Lindbergh notes in the above quote).

When I asked readers about their favorite chapters from Hip Tranquil Chick in a recent survey, “Self-Nurturing Survival” and “Signature Style” received the most love. This (and my recent cold) reinforced the need to emphasize self-care in daily life.

Since we’re down to the last two months of 2016 and will soon be moving into holiday season, this reminder couldn’t be more timely.

Here are a few ways to practice self-care:

1. Go to bed early.

2. Adopt a pet.

3. Have tea with a friend.

4. Get out during your lunch hour for a brisk walk.

5. Pack your lunch.

6. Tote your water bottle and stay hydrated.

7. Move—yoga, hiking, biking, dance.

8. Move your spine. Video.

9. Write in your journal. Muse.

10. Meditate.

11. Release expectations.

12. Create a morning and evening ritual.

13. Observe your self-talk and replace negative comments with positive affirmations.

14. Nibble on dark chocolate, roasted thyme and tamari nuts, or roasted pumpkin seeds.

15. Nap.

16. Say no.

17. Reward your efforts before moving on to the next thing.

18. Get out in nature.

19. Practice self-compassion.

20. Feed your body plant-based love.

21. Soak in the tub.

22. Keep fresh flowers on your desk or mantel.

What would it take to fill your pitcher to the brim? Consider balancing input with output. Insert pauses into your day to exhale. Remember, we’re human beings, not human doings. And sometimes, we simply need a nap. Bisous. x

Save

The post Self-Care appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Introvert Dream House

Any one else ready to move in?

I found this image by Introvert Doodles over the weekend and have had dreams of moving in ever since. As an INFJ, I need lots of quiet space and crave alone time to create, muse, and rest. The glass ceiling turret, secret passageways, and library reading nook are everything.

The talented illustrator, Marzi, has a book coming out this holiday season. Hmmm, I predict it making its way onto Santa’s wish list! Bisous. x

Save

Save

Save

The post Introvert Dream House appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour #382: Expectation Hangover

Expectation Hangover with Christine Hassler. We discuss expectation hangovers (when life does not live up to our expectations). You’ll learn what they are, how they happen, and many ways to manage them on the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual levels.

 

Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #382: Expectation Hangover

Upcoming Events

Hip Tranquil Chick 10-Year Online Celebration: December 4 {Sign up by 11/4 to receive the mp3 bonus}

New Year’s Eve Mini Retreat: December 31

Tranquility du Jour Live: January 12

Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25 {Save $150 if signed up by 12/1}

Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May 19-21

Tranquility du Jour Guest

Christine Hassler is author of 20 Something, 20 Everything, The 20 Something Manifesto, and the national bestseller Expectation Hangover: Free Yourself From Your Past, Change Your Present, and Get What You Really Want,  which was recently released in a new paperback edition. She left her job as a Hollywood agent to pursue a life she could be passionate about. For over a decade she has been sharing her passion to ease suffering on the planet as a speaker, retreat facilitator and life coach. Christine believes once we get out of our own way, we can show up to make the meaningful impact we are here to make.

Savvy Sources
Christine

christinehassler.com
twitter.com/christinhassler
facebook.com/christinehasslerpage
instagram.com/christinehassler/
christinehassler.com/category/podcast/



Mentioned in podcast

Daybook 5.0 {22 copies left}
Tami’s Snapchat video of Daybook unboxing


Social Media

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


Tranquility Tips + Tools

My 5 Books
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse the FAQs
Go back to school with these tranquility-filled E-courses
Download the Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android
Download the latest Tranquility du Jour Live
Shop slow fashion: TranquiliT’s fall look book
Sign up for bi-monthly Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Watch doga {yoga + dogs} videos featuring Mookie and Belle Starr
Read about my passion for animals

Request

Pen a review on iTunes and/or share this podcast via social media, s‘il vous plaît
Ask questions, share what you do while listening, or how this podcast has helped you. I love hearing from you!



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.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Tranquility du Jour #382: Expectation Hangover appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Happy Halloween: Ways to Celebrate

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

Celebrate in your own special way:

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. 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.

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

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

Save

Save

The post Happy Halloween: Ways to Celebrate appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Summer to Fall Style

Last week we had 80-degree weather in DC so I shed layers and wore open-toed clogs. Yesterday morning I walked the pups in 40 degrees and bundled in layers from head to toe. This time of the year can leave our bodies in a state of confusion.

I used to have a summer and winter wardrobe where I would rotate heavy sweaters with 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 as nothing else is season-dependent.

During our fall Tranquility du Jour Live session, I shared tips on creating your own transitional style to help lengthen the wearability of your favorite pieces.

Here are a few of the ways I make my wardrobe year-round:

Add tights, boots, and an organic fleece infinity scarf to a summer dress {see above with the shift dress}
Add a turtleneck under your summer dress {see above with the slip dress, ruffle dress and 2in1 maxi dress}
Add a chunky sweater over your sleeveless maxi 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

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 beanie in my bag and am seldom without a scarf around my neck. The fleece scarf is so cozy, and comforting—it feels like a security blanket.

Sure it can be fun to update a wardrobe from time to time, but 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 style! Bisous. x

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Summer to Fall Style appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Transitional Style

Last week we had 80-degree weather in DC so I shed layers and wore open-toed clogs. Yesterday morning I walked the pups in 40 degrees and bundled in layers from head to toe. This time of the year can leave our bodies in a state of confusion.

I used to have a summer and winter wardrobe where I would rotate heavy sweaters with 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 as nothing else is season-dependent.

During our fall Tranquility du Jour Live session, I shared tips on creating your own transitional style to help lengthen the wearability of your favorite pieces.

Here are a few of the ways I make my wardrobe year-round:

Add tights, boots, and an organic fleece infinity scarf to a summer dress {see above with the shift dress}
Add a turtleneck under your summer dress {see above with the slip dress, ruffle dress and 2in1 maxi dress}
Add a chunky sweater over your sleeveless maxi 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

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 beanie in my bag and am seldom without a scarf around my neck. The fleece scarf is so cozy, and comforting—it feels like a security blanket.

Sure it can be fun to update a wardrobe from time to time, but 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 style! 

What are your favorite ways to move from season to season seamlessly? Bisous. x

Save

Save

The post Transitional Style appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Share Your Story

When we gather online Sunday, December 4 to celebrate Hip Tranquil Chick‘s birthday over bubbly, a potpourri of tranquility practices, and a colorful new chapter highlighting the past decade, I’m excited to share YOUR stories.

One of the segments in our two-hour gathering is YOU. I’ll be reading some of your stories and/or playing a few left via voicemail. I may also be in touch to schedule a podcast interview to share your story further!

If you’re willing to share the story of how Hip Tranquil Chick has had an impact on you, please leave a voicemail at (202) 796-8351 or send it via email to me. If your story is chosen, I’ll send you a treat as a token of gratitude. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. I can’t wait to share yours with others.

A few responses so far:

It was because of Hip Tranquil Chick that I completed a 200 hour level yoga instructor training and a master of science degree. Kimberly gave me the confidence through the book and her podcast.

On the mat, it has taught me to pay attention what works for me rather than just going through the motions and following the teacher. Off the mat, it has inspired me to try to new things and take risks, including starting my own documentary film business.

What drew me most to Hip Tranquil Chick is that it gave me “permission” to create a luxurious life that also includes yoga and do-gooding, among other things. I have practiced yoga since 1994 and your book was the first of its kind to say “you can love pearls and dressing up, and Paris, and champagne, and being fabulous”.

Hip Tranquil Chick really helped me become more authentic in my life. When I first discovered and devoured the book, I was around 21 years old and I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere. I was a girl who loves yoga but who also loved wearing chic black clothes and leopard print. Your book helped me see it was not only okay to be who I was, but wonderful. 

Hip Tranquil Chick inspired me to create a steady yoga practice, and ultimately led to me becoming a yoga teacher myself. Right after I finished my training, my ex-husband and I entered the final, heart wrenching year of our marriage, and I credit my yoga training, and by extension you Kimberly, with helping me to breathe and keep a positive outlook in what I hope will be my rock bottom. I am forever grateful. That book and you changed my life.

A reminder: If you register by October 31, I’ll send you a bonus mp3 where I tell the story of writing Hip Tranquil Chick plus the process of penning this new chapter. Look for this fun bonus early November. Bisous. x

Save

The post Share Your Story appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Week{s} in Review {Pics + Links}

Week in Review

Another two weeks have passed and we’re nearly to the end of October. I’ve become one of those people who can’t get over how quickly time passes. Remember when we were young and it felt like forever to get to winter break? Now time zooms by and I find myself pausing to even remember what month it is.

While my pace has slowed over the past few years, my awe of life’s fleeting moments has heightened. Recognizing that this moment will never come again helps keep things in perspective. It’s a gentle tap on the shoulder to savor what’s right in front of me because I’ll never have this experience again. Even if I do repeat that same meal with the same people in the same setting, something will be different. I may be different, the weather may be different, the vibe may be different.

Each moment is our only opportunity to really drop in. We can do our best to pause and notice or return to that feeling of waiting for winter break to come—dreaming that happiness is on the other side.

The past two weeks included: celebrating Tranquil Space’s 17th birthday, teaching mindfulness, taking yoga, collaborating with clients, watching two Presidential debates, brunch and movie (The Girl on a Train) date with a friend, handling business taxes, biking to the Kennedy Center to see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a mindfulness daylong for clinicians with Tara Brach, recording four podcasts, releasing one podcast, a doctor’s appointment, tea and writing date with a friend, announcing the Hip Tranquil Chick 10 event, the last two hours of social work supervision, recording doga videos, nursing a sore throat/achy body/cough, prepping for next weekend’s Writing in the Woods retreat, and finishing Life Without Envy and Compassion in Action.

Wishing you a weekend with pockets of space to savor. Chew each bite of pumpkin pie with reverence. Sip your favorite hot beverage and feel the steam rising from the mug. Soak in the tub and notice the water envelop your skin. Get out in nature and observe the scent of fall leaves. As yoga teacher Judith Lasater says, “Each moment of your life is a moment of potential practice.” Practice, practice, practice. Bisous. x

Pics in Review

Sunday morning reading in bed
Belle Starr
Painted pumpkins for Tranquil Space’s 17th birthday
Sunday evening reading
Family portrait at Tranquil Space’s birthday
17th birthday festivities
Belle’s tutu fluff and pink jersey
All smiles with this lovely bunch

Savvy Sources

The Pink Lady of Hollywood

My video interview with Darren Main on Living Yoga Live

The Scientific Reason Why Introverts and Extroverts are Different

Nourishing Rituals in the Home

3 Steps to Find the Heart of Your Story

Fall Weeknight Meal Planning Tips

4 Decluttering Epiphanies

13 Ways to Reduce Stress and Lead a Less Hectic Life

How Noticing Your Thoughts Leads to Healthier Habits of Mind

Podcast: On Being with Mary Karr

Weekend Wish List

Inspiring evening at Politics & Prose

Safe travels to Charleston, WV

Explore Charleston, WV

Savor Garth Brooks show

Recover from this bug

Study

Stop at a pumpkin patch

Take yoga

Save

Save

The post Week{s} in Review {Pics + Links} appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Hip Tranquil Chick 10 Online Event

I’m delighted to announce December’s Hip Tranquil Chick 10-year birthday, a special bonus if you register by October 31, AND a sneak peek into the freshly penned *draft* HTC10 introduction.

Late 2006 a pink and leopard-print book hit the shelves filled with tips for life on and off the yoga mat. To celebrate Hip Tranquil Chick‘s 10-year birthday, let’s gather online Sunday, December 4 from 5-7pm ET over a glass of bubbly, a potpourri of tranquility practices, and a colorful new chapter highlighting the past decade.

The event will stream from my tiny Pink Palace with a live in-home audience. Festivities include mini workshops, seated yoga, mindfulness practices, a reading from HTC10 (the new chapter), your stories on how the book inspired you (see the FAQs on how to share yours), and more!

HTC10 is a 10-year retrospective filled with photos, inspiration, lessons learned, stories, and savvy sources, plus a peek into my dreams of what’s next. The Playbook complements our live event with suggestions on how best to prepare for and participate in the online gathering with helpful checklists, recipes, playlists, how-tos for the practices, and more. Both PDFs will be sent your way shortly before our gathering.

Register by October 31 to receive a bonus mp3 where I tell the story about writing Hip Tranquil Chick plus the process of penning this new chapter. I can’t wait to celebrate during this festive season (think twinkle lights and holiday jazz) and your presence will be the cherry on top!

HTC10 + Live event + Playbook + Bonus $25

HTC10 + Live event + Playbook + Bonus + Signed copy of Hip Tranquil Chick $42

Hip Tranquil Chick 10 Introduction {DRAFT}

The biggest economic crash since the Great Depression. The iPhone released. iPods become obsolete.  The U.S. elects the first black President and a major party nominates a female presidential candidate for the first time. Facebook, Uber, and Instagram enter the lexicon and become verbs. Marriage equality recognized. Yoga, mindfulness, and podcasts boom. What a decade!

On the micro scale, I had two surgeries to repair injuries—we’re talking spurs and rotators here—and exchanged yoga pants for pumps when I took a job downtown. I lost my beloved 99-year-old Gramma to, well, being 99. My firstborn pug and black cat crossed the rainbow bridge due to cancer. We adopted two rescue dogs, Mookie and Belle Starr, from Oklahoma and I traveled to Paris six times. Throughout these ebbs and flows, I’ve come to know that one thing is certain—everything changes.

When Hip Tranquil Chick was released in 2006, I was 33 years old, six years into building my yoga studio, dating a non-profit attorney named Tim, and parenting pets. I dreamed of taking our newly formed non-profit—focused on tranquility for teen girls—global. I worked around the clock and couldn’t imagine a day that wasn’t booked from start to finish. I believed anything was possible.

Today I sit in a corner nook at the Starbucks across from where I see therapy clients and sip green tea with a pen in hand and a different outlook. I’m eager to share how the past decade has changed my view of the world and me. Hip Tranquil Chick was my coming out as an author, lover of pink and leopard-print, and proponent of kitten heels. My vision was to spread the message that yoga is so much more than a practice of stretchy poses on a sticky mat. But what I didn’t know was that my life would become so much more than yoga. Now I spend my days working with clients seeking deeper understanding, go to bed at 9:30pm, and dream of living on a farmette surrounded by rescue pigs.

With the anniversary of the book approaching, I created a survey asking readers what would make a helpful follow up to Hip Tranquil Chick. There was an overwhelming call for what lessons I’d learned since penning the book. I read each comment in awe of the similar requests despite the responses coming from a diverse group of women. They wanted to know more about aging in style, dealing with change and loss, practicing minimalism, handling the influx of technology, finding balance, and incorporating mindfulness. So I spent weeks contemplating lesson after lesson and listing stories that contributed to the lessons. What I found is that many of the lessons are still unfolding and reveal themselves daily—acceptance, mindfulness, kindness. So although some are lessons learned, most are more like “lessons learning.”

There are three key lessons woven throughout the decade: simplify, expansion isn’t everything, and pushing through doesn’t make you stronger. In the pages that follow I’ll share stories of how these hard lessons unfolded. I’ll also share two tips, one that has permeated my life and another that is a playful philosophy of how I want to live my life. One final takeaway that has turned into my life journey is “don’t forget the animals.” More on that one, too.

Lesson One: Simplify

. . .

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Hip Tranquil Chick 10 Online Event appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour #381: Life Without Envy

Life Without Envy with Camille DeAngelis. We discuss three vignettes on the nature of the ego, how she laid the foundations of this book in a Florentine notebook, and how to let go through yoga, meditation, mind mapping, and compassionate eating.

She writes, “If you’re tired of comparing yourself to others, tired of feeling frustrated, anxious, undervalued, jealous, invisible, inadequate, overlooked, taken advantage of, misunderstood: this book is for you.”

Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #381: Life Without Envy

Upcoming Events

Writing in the Woods: October 28-30 {sold out}

Hip Tranquil Chick 10-Year Online Celebration: December 4

New Year’s Eve Mini Retreat: December 31

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

 

Tranquility du Jour Guest

Camille DeAngelis is the author of Immaculate Heart (St. Martin’s, 2016), the Alex Award-winning Bones & All (St. Martin’s, 2015), Petty Magic: Being the Memoirs and Confessions of Miss Evelyn Harbinger, Temptress and Troublemaker (Crown, 2010), and Mary Modern (Crown/Shaye Areheart, 2007), as well as a first-edition guidebook, Moon Ireland (Avalon, 2007). She is a graduate of New York University (B.A. in Fine Arts, minor in Irish Studies, 2002) and the National University of Ireland, Galway (M.A. in Writing, 2005). Her book of practical philosophy, Life Without Envy: Ego Management for Creative People, was published by St. Martin’s Griffin in September 2016. She is a board member of the Writers’ Room of Boston.

A longtime vegetarian, she went vegan in April 2011, and in June 2013 became a certified vegan lifestyle coach and educator through Victoria Moran’s Main Street Vegan® Academy. She is also planning to receive her yoga teacher training in 2017.

Originally from New Jersey, Camille now lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Savvy Sources
Camille


cometparty.com
Instagram
Facebook
2014 Tranquility du Jour podcast


Mentioned in podcast

Daybook 5.0 {30 copies left}
Tami’s Snapchat video of Daybook unboxing

happy 12th birthday sweet louis

{photo from his 8th birthday}

Social Media

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


Tranquility Tips + Tools

My 5 Books
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse the FAQs
Go back to school with these tranquility-filled E-courses
Download the Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android
Download the latest Tranquility du Jour Live
Shop slow fashion: TranquiliT’s fall look book
Sign up for bi-monthly Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Watch doga {yoga + dogs} videos featuring Mookie and Belle Starr
Read about my passion for animals

Request

Pen a review on iTunes and/or share this podcast via social media, s‘il vous plaît
Ask questions, share what you do while listening, or how this podcast has helped you. I love hearing from you!



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.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Tranquility du Jour #381: Life Without Envy appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.