Showing posts with label ways to relieve stress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ways to relieve stress. Show all posts

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Wine, Women & Wax

The lights are low, nothing harsh to make you squint your eyes or scrunch your face. You and 6 girlfriends have cracked a bottle of wine and settled into the couches as the laughter starts to roll.



Time stands still, just for a couple of hours. You don't have to cook, clean, stop and pick up, drop everything and help, or answer ANYTHING. 

You catch up, you share stories, you compliment one another's latest outfit, hairstyle or shoes. You brainstorm, you comfort one another, you commiserate, you brag. 

As you get into your car to head home, you feel strong. You feel empowered. You feel ready to face tomorrow's lists and tasks and uncertainty with renewed vigor. 

That's what getting together with your girlfriends is for. When is the last time you did that? The holidays are over. You've spent the last 2 months taking car of everyone else in your life more than usual. You deserve a little me time, a little we time. 

What do you say? Give 'em a call! Want to add a little retail therapy? Give me a shout and I'll bring the wax!
 
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Friday, October 5, 2012

Fall Harvest

The cooler weather is a joyful blessing in our house. We love having the windows open and the cooler air breezing through the house.

This time of year, we see all the farmers harvesting and gathering their crops. I got to musing, it's the season where we all harvest and gather our friends and loved ones as well.


Summer is busy with vacations, and more individual activities. There are the occasional picnics or Barbeques but by and large, everyone seems to be focused on the kids summer activities, or the family vacations and not a lot on just gathering with friends and other loved ones.


As fall arrives with it's subtle color changes, and invitation to gather by the fire, we find ourselves reconnecting with our friends and loved ones. At least, I sure do. 


I enjoyed a FABULOUS dinner with my best girlfriend this week - wine and sushi! It was marvelous. And we committed to a date on the calendar for dinner just us two once a month at a minimum :D


With the kids back in school and on a more regular schedule, I've planned dinner with another girlfriend this month as well.


And don't forget... this gathering with our friends does magnitudes to reduce and help manage our stress levels. Just one more reason for 6 girlfriends and a bottle of wine.

What do you think, does the change of seasons and the cooler temps call you to gather with your friends?
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Calgon take me away!


Remember those old commercials? I totally do! And they were from before a time when I was handling grown up responsibilities like a house, husband and business.

Since then, our lives have only become more busy and more hectic. And our need for that bathtub, bubbles, and beverage has only grown. 


Here are some tips to help you claim that time and space in your home and your day.

My most popular tip is the do not disturb sign. So many of my customers use this one with great joy! If your family isn't great at respecting yours (and most aren't so don't feel bad about this) make a sign or a door hanger. 

Allow your kids (husbands included) to do the same for a pre-defined amount of time per day or per week so they feel empowered to claim their alone time and will be less likely to intrude on yours. - For example 10 year old Johnny is allowed to put out his door hanger for 15 minutes once a week. You won't disturb him during this time. This also builds a surprising level of trust and respect with your kids.
Let them know that your time will not exceed (fill in the blank with your needed time - 1 hour, 2 hours, half an hour) and that they will get your full attention when that time is up.


If that doesn't work, the ever popular lock is another great suggestion :)

In a bathroom or vanity area, we take time to look good and feel even better. Having a place where we can pamper ourselves can help us relax and tap into our playfulness.
Important elements:

  • Soft lighting
    If you like to read in the tub, ample light is needed
    If you just like to soak and relax, super soft light is perfect, perhaps some candles.
     
  • A tub to soak in and some great bath products
    It doesn't have to be a jacuzzi, just enough to get a great soak
    Fabulous bath beads, oil or bubbles are great for that "calgon take me away" experience.
  • A tray or table
    Must be within arms reach of said tub
    Nothing worse than having to stand half way up when you're soaking happily away to reach your book or beverage
        
  • Great towels
    You don't need to upgrade all your linens, but a couple really fluffy fabulous towels just for your special escape days are definitely in order. (a great item to add to your birthday or Holiday wish list)
It doesn't take a lot to create an extraordinary space for yourself. I'd love to help you create just the look and fragrance to make your experience perfect.
Here are a couple of sample spaces to give you an idea.



To create this look:
Full PriceAs a party guestAs a Hostess with
an average party*
2 sconces$120$60 (half price)FREE
Glass Hurricane$70$70$35 (half price)
2 3 x 3 pillars$22$22$11 (half price)
Total:$212$152$46


To create this look:
Full PriceAs a party guestAs a Hostess
with an average party*
3 Forbidden Fruits jars$75$75FREE
Forbidden Fruits Compact$25$25FREE
1 Box Large Tealights$12$6 (half price)FREE
Forbidden Fruits Reed Diffuser$22.50 (half price)$22.50 (half price)$22.50
Total:$145$128.50$22.50
* 6 girlfriends and a bottle of wine - average sales of $500
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Thursday, August 23, 2012

How to relax at home


You make it home at the end of the day, physically worn out and mentally exhausted.
You have to figure out what's for dinner, prepare it and clean up afterward. And you still have an entire day's worth of activities yet to complete. 
If you're a mom, there's practice, recitals, games, homework, and more. 
If you're a wife, your husband always needs help preparing for a trip, meeting, or just getting to the office tomorrow. 
Pets need to be fed, dogs need to be walked, litter boxes, hamster/gerbil/lizard cages and fish tanks need to be cleaned. And none of this even includes the daily tasks associated with running your household. These are just the things you do to take care of everyone around you.

By the time you get ready for bed at the end of the day, you realize you haven't spent one moment thinking about yourself. That exercise routine you've been meaning to start, that will have to wait another week. Getting your nails done, or hair trimmed, maybe you can make that appointment next week.

You probably can't even remember the last time you had a glass of wine or a cup of coffee with your best girlfriend.

So what's the solution? Creating a space where you can relax after work. 

Women, especially, need a place in their home that is just for them. Whether it is a bedroom or bathroom sanctuary, or a quiet corner of a living room with a comfy chair and a book-stand. Or a beautiful backyard deck, patio, swing or hammock. 

Women need to allow themselves that special place where they can unwind and recharge. It's not a luxury, it's critical to our well being and the well being of all those we care for. Though women may keep a household running and everyone else's spaces clean and functioning, we don't always have a place of our own. If your home is small or there are many living in your household, the need for your special space is even more crucial.

We need that space where we can relax, regroup and recharge so we can face the next day, or on some days, the rest of today. Our homes are the natural venues for these special sanctuaries.

We need to be able to close our doors (and lock them if we need to) and breathe a relaxing sigh. Feeling safe and comfortable in our homes or just one special room can help us cope. A place where you can relax, meditate, exercise, create, and/or pamper yourself.  We all need that place where we can just relax and allow our bodies, minds, and spirits to flourish.


Your personal sanctuary is:

your "girl cave"
your safe space
your escape
your hideaway
your me place

Your STRESS FREE ZONE
Key elements to include when designing your personal sanctuary are Fragrance, Lighting, beauty and space.

Did you know that fragrance is the one of our five senses that is most closely linked to memories? Think about what comes to mind when you smell pumpkin pie, or bonfire smoke, or fresh baked bread or cookies

Have you ever noticed that lighting is directly linked to mood? Think about how you feel when it's sunny, cloudy, you're in bright fluorescent light, you're in soft candle light.

Beauty and space create energy. Think about your energy level when you're in a cluttered area of your home like a storage area or a closet or when you're in your favorite room or looking at your favorite landscape.


For me, at this time of year, my mind drifts to a perfect outdoor escape.

The nights are getting cooler, and it's perfect for a bonfire.

The days are pleasant and you can relax on your deck, patio, swing or hammock and read or just get lost in your thoughts.

The final element for your personal sanctuary is boundaries. 

If your family isn't great at respecting yours (and most aren't so don't feel bad about this) make a sign or a door hanger. Allow your kids to do the same for a pre-defined amount of time per day or per week so they feel empowered to claim their alone time and will be less likely to intrude on yours.
Let them know that your time will not exceed (fill in the blank with your needed time - 1 hour, 2 hours, half an hour) and that they will get your full attention when that time is up. 

If you are feeling like you may burn out, it’s not your fault, but it's been long enough!
You haven’t been shown yet how easy it can be to claim your space.
You haven't been given permission to put you first, even for 2 hours.
You know you should be taking better care of yourself, but you always find yourself taking care of someone else instead. 


If you do nothing else, grab my free report and you'll also get my BONUS Report: How to create your personal sanctuary. 

If we create a space together, and you decide when it is complete that it doesn't melt your stress, you can return anything or everything for any reason at all (even "I changed my mind") for a full refund for a full year.

Click here to schedule your Wine, Women and Wax night where

  • I will help you find a way to schedule self-time; only 2-3 hours, but this alone reduces stress more than you might think. 

  • I will help you re-connect with your favorite friends and family. Did you know that physically getting together as women actually creates a chemical reaction in our brains and increases our serotonin levels, which both reduces stress and increases our level of happiness. 
  • I will teach you how to create this personal space in your home where you can unplug, unwind and recharge, just by adding accents, lighting and fragrance. So that when your girlfriends and a bottle of wine aren't handy, you can still take that stress number down a couple notches.