Category Archives: Life

7 Tips for Creating a Sacred Space in Your Home

Create Sacred Space in Home

You look forward to yoga class every week because of the serenity it gives your mind and body. You come home feeling like you’re walking on air and nothing else matters… but that feeling goes away the next day as you take on the world again.

Each Sunday, you and your significant other enjoy the affirmation and renewal you receive at church. You leave feeling stronger and better equipped to handle life’s challenges. But somehow, that energy leaves your mind and spirit during the rest of your week.

You have one of the toughest jobs in the world: being a parent. It’s a very rewarding position, but you look forward to every chance you get to have peace and quiet. Those are your moments to unwind and give yourself some much needed attention…if you could find a place amidst all the toys and games scattered about.

Taking time out for our spirit is as necessary as eating well and keeping a peaceful mind. We have areas of our home designated for specific purposes: cooking, eating, sleeping, beautifying, creating… but how many of us make sure to include a sacred space for regular practice?

Read on for my tips on creating a sacred space or reviving the space you already have in your home.

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Finding Inspiration in the Smallest of Things

Today I ordered a pizza, which welcomed me with this little surprise:

Pizza Box Tent inspiration

Why did this little plastic doo-dad (apparently called a “box tent”) bring me great satisfaction? As a child, I used to use these for my Barbies and other dolls… in their decor. I re-purposed them as tables (they really do work well) into the little vignettes I’d craft out of other items.

The reason this made me smile hard is because remembering this very bit of nostalgia was the confirmation I needed to forge ahead with a decorating career. Continue reading

Creative Resolutions for 2013

Happy New Year!

I imagine if others are like me, there’s always a project to be tackled in our homes. I have an ongoing list of things to continue doing. I decided to make some of them resolutions for 2013.

I don’t usually set resolutions just for New Years, but this year is more symbolic for some reason. These aren’t just things that need to be done at home; they’re also goals for me to continue down my creative path and fulfill my passions.

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Day ???: No Diet Soda Challenge

Over one month ago was my last post about eliminating diet soda from my life. Full disclosure: I have continued to drink it on occasion, just not nearly as much as I used to. And definitely with the intention I used to, which was of dependence.

In light of that, I’d say I was less successful than I could have been, but am very glad I persisted with breaking the dependence. I’m still drinking my green tea in lieu of the soda and feel great for this replacement.

When I have partaken in the faux sugared soda, I have noticed a sense of familiarity. When I first drank it, it felt like a treat and something rare. Perhaps due to more times of drinking it, that sense went away. Thankfully, I’ve got the awareness to know I could fall back into drinking it regularly again.

As noted before, removing the soda from my diet has coincided with less fast food. I’m still making more meals at home and improved my nutrition as a result. I’m considering doing another challenge in which I truly abstain from diet soda… to further emphasize its importance on my health. At least for now, I’ve moved beyond the dependence. :)

Day 23: No Diet Soda Challenge

Another benefit to cutting out soda: less cans and/or plastic bottles. Which also means less trips to the recycling bins. :)

I have to fess, I did have some diet Coke today. But it was a weird feeling. There was no craving. It was just a “what the hell” kind of decision. And when I drank it, I didn’t feel this rush or wild sensation for having drank it again. That, I believe, is a sign of progress.

When I say I’d like to not drink it anymore for life… I have to be honest and say I’m giving myself some allowances. In spite of knowing how unhealthy it is, my primary goal is to not have the dependence. It is similar to the mentality I now have with alcohol (although it was never an addiction): I can live without it and my body’s better for not having any, but there are times I still like to drink. To sum up: moderation.

I’m still mindful that even though I didn’t feel like I fell of the wagon, I won’t use that to rationalize drinking diet pop more. I’m not going to let it be a once a week occasion, because even then I feel that’s excessive. I’m just not going to beat myself up for it if it happens nor feel like I’m fallen back into an addictive pattern.

Day 18: No Diet Soda Challenge

To help drive home the benefits of no longer drinking diet soda, I’ve been reading articles about how how harmful diet soda is to our health. This article on Psychology Today’s website was from a woman who quit drinking diet soda after years of it being part of her lifestyle. She describes how addictive it was for her and how much she consumed during various parts of her life. This led me to reflect on how “important” soda has been in my life as well.

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Day 14: No Diet Soda Challenge

I’ve been doing alright with this challenge, although I did fall off the wagon again this weekend. Only once though. I was tempted to drink more, and heard the rationalization in my head, “You’ve already relapsed and drank some pop yesterday, why not again today?” Or, “You could just drink diet Pepsi on the weekends.” Good thing I was able to see those thoughts for what they were and abstain.

Towards the end of this week, I started noticing some changes in my body. Continue reading

Day 9: No Diet Soda Challenge

Sometimes I take advantage of my time on the treadmill to reflect and reinforce healthy habits in my mind. Today was a great day for this. I play a constant loop of ocean waves on my iPod, which helps me zone out and tunes out the other noise at the gym.

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Days 6-8: Diet Soda Challenge

Days 6 and 7 were a bust. Saturday, I went for it and drank a 20-oz. of my drug of choice, diet Pepsi. Yesterday, I was at a family gathering, saw the 2 liter and gave in before drinking it.

Why? It’s not that I needed a caffeine boost. This makes me think there is more to the addiction than we realize. Maybe the ingredients in soda/diet soda are worse than portrayed. I had some shame on Day 6, but not enough to pour it down the sink. And yesterday? I had no shame whatsoever.

Surprisingly, I’m not even beating myself up about it today. Today, I have done well (none at all!) and not even had a craving. I realize the mistake I made and how giving in to the craving really didn’t amount to anything. Drinking that crap didn’t even really give me a rush or make me feel any different than usual… which leads me to see that it really isn’t necessary and is pointless.

So here’s to more progress! I fell and I’m back up. No worries.