Serene Spa July continues

 

Hello chic friends!

 

I am back today with the second week in our ✨ Serene Spa July ✨ series, where the aim is to make our home life feel as relaxing and peaceful as a high-end spa. In last week's post I shared Days 1-3, and today we continue on :)

 

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Day 4 - Apply your makeup in a relaxed fashion

 

I love how beauticians are always beautifully made up. Their maquillage is impeccable - poreless complexion, a richly pigmented lipstick, and enviable eye makeup.

I’m still practicing my eye makeup each day - even after all these years of doing it I know I still need to push myself out of my comfort zone and try new things.

Today was not one of those days 😅 But I did put on a brighter lipstick than usual because I always admire a bold lip on a lady and think it brightens her whole face up.

I know we all prefer differing amounts of makeup. Personally I believe that any face can be improved with even a little.

Plus it’s a creative way to spend ten minutes with an enjoyable audiobook or listenable YouTube video.

 

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Day 5  - Make yourself a spa snack.

Many years ago, my brother won a couples massage at a five-star hotel. Because he was single at the time he took me as his plus-one. Thank goodness we were in separate rooms is all I can say! Anyway, it was blissful, and afterwards we lay on loungers in white fluffy robes while a light snack was served to us.

We had herbal tea, dried apricots, raw almonds, and dates. It was so elegant and delicious to nibble on.

And we can do this for ourselves easily. Here are my favourite ideas for a spa snack:

💝 As above, dried fruits and raw nuts in a small dish.

💝 Fresh fruit washed, sliced, and displayed nicely.

💝 A small portion of unsweetened Greek yoghurt, I have tiny glass bowls that I serve a few good blobs in and it tides me over until dinnertime if I get hungry in the afternoon. Yoghurt plus half an apple sliced beside it is bliss!

💝 Crudités and a little hummus

Plus herbal tea if you like a drink too. There are many luxurious herbal teas around now. As part of a facial I had recently I was given a très fancy herbal tea in a takeaway cup. I looked up the brand and maybe I’ll treat myself to a box one day (it’s called Storm and India and the tea bags are handmade from fabric!) I see they also have loose tea in tins. I have a teacup with a removeable strainer so I am set up for it!

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Day 6 - Curate your own lady basket

 

 

 

A while back my husband Paul noticed how much I carry around - from my desk, to the living room, to beside my bed - my phone, iPad, reading glasses, a notepad, AirPods, current book or magazine... there was a teetering pile or else two trips.

Anyway, he suggested I needed a basket to carry everything around in, and the lady basket was born!

I repurposed this one, and it does the job perfectly.

 

You can put whatever items in your lady basket that are useful to you. But make sure to clean it out often. You don't want a big heavy lady basket with tons of stuff in it. Keep it to only the items you use often.

Isn't the name cute? I just love it!

Have fun curating your lady basket (and I bet you can find a container that you have already for it).

Let's start a lady basket movement shall we?

 

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Day 7 - Infuse your home with fragrance

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many ways in which to do this. Some of my favourites include:

💝 Lighting scented candles

💝 Using wax melts

💝 Diffusing essential oils

I love to light a candle in the hall, that way it wafts throughout the whole house, and I have an essential oil diffuser in my office which smells beautiful.

I have favourite recipes (usually three drops of each) such as:

Orange, geranium, lavender
Lemon, mandarin, peppermint
Lavender, lime, orange

I am a fan of citrus essential oils, and lighter fragrances overall.

There are also other ways to make your home smell wonderful too:

💝 Using naturally scented or fine fragrance cleaning and laundry products.

💝 Throwing the windows open each day even if only for a short while.

💝 Keeping dusting, vacuuming, and bedding up to date. Clean smells clean!

💝 Baking or cooking a cozy meal.
 

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Day 8 - Dim the lights 

 

 

 

 

As you may have noticed from the various photos I have posted of our home, it has quite a moody, deep vibe. In addition to our dark painted living room we have long eaves on our home, so I always keep lamps on every day. I just love the look too. If it costs me a bit more in power each year so be it.

Lamps on in corners gives such a cozy, lovely feeling no matter the season.

Even in our loo here (with the fabulous gallery wall :) the overhead light is very soft. The shade is gold on the inside so the light is gentle.

At night it is soothing to switch off lights and only have lamps on. Our mind is calmed and begins to wind down for sleep time.

I love dimmers on lights too. Whenever we've had any electrical work done, I switch out that room's light switch for a dimmer.

All of this corresponds nicely with being at a high-end spa. The moment you walk in it's hushed and softly lit and it is an invitation to feel peaceful and relaxed. I love to make my home feel like that too.

 

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Day 9 – Sip on your spa drink

 

 

 

When you visit a spa, you are served a simple yet delicious drink. Often it will be fruit-infused water, or sparkling water.

It’s so simple to do this at home by slicing washed fruit into water and storing it in the fridge. Lemons and other citrus, fresh berries, and even slices of cucumber are all delicious. Use what is in season and least expensive, or even better, what you have growing at home. F R E E is always preferable, and freshest!

We have the best little lime tree which is so prolific. I freeze washed quarters and use them for ice cubes in my cold drinks, and also in my smoothies. And I’ve squeezed them and made ice cubes from them too.

Herbs are lovely in water as well – a sprig of mint is delicious, and looks wonderful.

And course, if your spa serves champagne, even better! But for day-to-day sipping, infused waters are just the ticket.

I love chilled for sipping, but I drink lots of room temperature water every day too.

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Day 10 – Increase the beauty that surrounds you

 

Even in the home you currently live in, and without going out and buying anything new, you can increase the effect of beauty in your environment.

This is something I love to do every day, and here are some of my favourite ways in which to do so.

💝 Set a beautiful table for dinner (most of us have lovely dishes and napery that we rarely bring out!)

💝 Tidy away surface clutter such as half-read magazines and newspapers. They can be stacked neatly if still in use.

💝 Take photos of rooms to see what stands out and sort those things (I read that home magazine photographers tape lamp cords to a table leg if they are visible, as an example).

💝 Bring elements of nature into a room with faux or fresh flowers, or a potted plant.

💝 Have small groupings of ornaments or candles. Cluster them rather than spread around. A home stager gave me this tip when she was photographing our last house for sale.

💝 Rotate décor items so they seem fresh in different areas or even different rooms. Art on the wall can be moved around too.

There are so many things we can do to increase the beauty in our home. I love to think of the term ‘elegant lifestyle’ or ‘elegant living’. Keeping this phrase in mind inspires me to do even five minutes of tidying and beautifying.

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And that's this weeks' wrap-up! Please join me again next Thursday for the next instalment, or you can follow me for daily posts on Instagram or Facebook if you'd like some instant gratification :)

I hope you enjoyed this week's tips for Serene Spa July. Please tell me your favourite, and also anything you would add!

xx Fiona

A sorted life = self-care

 

Good morning and Happy Friday!

Gosh, I have had such a productive week at home, both mine and my mother’s.

There has been tidying, organising, unpacking and more going on. Whoever knew sorting out loose ends could feel so good?

Even something as simple as clearing away hot spots brings such a high :)

Our kitchen counters had been cluttered with extra items ever since the cyclone but no more baby. They’re clear now!

My next project is putting up a few pictures that have been hanging around (except they weren’t hanging, that was the problem :), plus tidying up the ‘everything cupboard’ in the garage.

And, I have a lunch date with my husband Paul today. Yay!

 

And earlier in the week I had such a good day in the garden - it was a big day of weeding and gardening. I love to see a nice garden, but it doesn't come naturally to me to want to potter around and do things in it all the time.

So, I make a day of it every so often and do everything. And it was so satisfying! I weeded my herb garden which contains parsley, chives, thyme and oregano. I also transplanted a rosemary plant and some mint. I planted the mint in a pot then the garden so it doesn't take over everything else. Plus mint likes it wet, so the pot will keep the moisture in more too. Let's hope everything thrives in my herb garden!

I watered the transplants even though it was meant to rain, and we did indeed get a light, misty sustained rain that afternoon which was just perfect.

I also decluttered ALL of my outdoor pots. Everything that was in a terracotta pot is now in the garden. This was one of the things I identified that I could do to ‘make my life easier’. The question ‘How can I make my life easier?’ is one of my regular journal prompts and it always brings up good answers.

I have all the pots stacked to donate. And I now don’t have to weave around them to hang my laundry out, water them, plant them, buy potting mix and bring it home… so many jobs eliminated.

 

I have enjoyed pots in the past, and the sight of a recently planted, well-watered pot brimming with bright flowers still brings me joy.

But for the season of life I’m in right now I love the simplicity of no pots and also the clean open look of a terrace, lawn and garden.

An easier life = excellent self-care!

What could you do to make your life easier? What’s one thing that comes to mind that you could do that would make a big difference like my pots?

 

 

No. 1, thank you! You've made my day. If you have ordered my newest book, I hope you are enjoying it and getting some good, useful advice and inspiration from it.

The goal when I write my books is to share what inspires me and what I have learned. And also I write them for me. I write what I want to read, and what I need to hear. They are as much reminders for me as anything else.

I know there are many of YOU who would write an excellent book. You know who you are! And I'd love to read it.

Let your fanciful side fly free and let her write what she wants to write. Don't worry about what anyone might think, do it for you.

You have to be the one who has your own back, in anything in life but especially your creative work.

Anyway, that's just a little pep talk today as I settle in for some writing time :)

I hope you're doing well!

xx Fiona

PS. My book 'The Chic Author', goes into everything I did to begin self-publishing my books. Whether you're a complete beginner or have already written a book, there will be something in this book for you.

It's here on Amazon.

And in my eStore (eBook only) for an Amazon alternative.

 

 

And my newest book '100 Ways to Enjoy Self-Care for Gentle Wellbeing and a Healthy Body Image' is on Amazon (paperback and Kindle).

And the eBook in my eStore.

 

 

(My Amazon links are affiliate, which means that I may receive a small commission on anything you purchase through my link. AND it's an Amazon Smile link too, which I have directed to the ASPCA. I don't know how they manage to do both with one link, but they did. Thanks Amazon!)

Summer chic, naughty dogs, and... my fridge!

 

We went out for lunch on the weekend and it was so nice to dress up and wear a summery dress.

 

 

 

I had the best lunch too, a ‘goodness bowl’ salad with protein at Giant Brewing Co in Havelock North. It was yum!

 

 

 

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Asking for a friend... Do you ever receive 'assistance' from your pets? Here is sweet Daphne helping (un)fold the washing. In this case a quilted pillow cover.

Thankfully she didn't get into the pile of dinner napkins. That would have made me much grumpier!

Life is never dull with pets, especially four of them. Nina cat is very self sufficient and makes her own fun outside often, although she does spend a lot of time napping on the tartan wing chair in the living room.

It's the three dogs always getting into something - running outside to bark at the birds, keen for food at any time of the day... the list is endless.

Still, where can you get this much 'fun' all for the price a package of Jimbos medallions and a bag of dog biscuits, I ask you?

Tell me, how do your pets 'help' around the house? I'm keen to hear if they are worse than mine.

 

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And to finish this week, I know it’s funny to show you a photo of my fridge, but I love my streamlined fridge so much I couldn’t not. It really does bring me joy to open it each day and see all that empty space. A while back I gave myself permission to declutter my fridge. This is what I got rid of:

:: Expired condiments with hardly any left.

:: Jars of half-empty, expired ingredients such as green curry paste.

:: Small pieces of cheese wrapped up that I forgot about and so were past their best.

Are you sensing a pattern here? I’d keep these things hoping I’d get use from them but never did; they were just cluttering up my fridge.

One day about four months ago I took everything out and, after doing a quick wipe of all the shelves, put the items back one by one, asking myself honestly if I wanted to use that item. The ones I didn’t got put aside.

Once all the ‘good stuff’ was back inside the fridge I looked at the small collection on the bench and made a big decision to bin them. A big decision for me that maybe would not have warranted a second thought from someone else.

The things that tripped me up were that I am thrifty and like to make the most of the money I’ve spent, I don’t like waste, and I also feel like I’m being disrespectful wasting the world’s resources.

Once I got over that, I felt so free. And, my fridge has never accumulated items like this again. It is a breeze to use things up while they are still nice, I love going into the fridge to get dinner ingredients to prep, and it’s pleasurable to go to the supermarket (aside from the prices!) because I buy only what will make meals for that week. I don’t try to stock up on specials anymore.

Tell me about your fridge, is it like mine? Or do you love a fridge stocked with anything and everything? Whichever way you lean, I hope this post has inspired you to let go of some guilty clutter!

xx Fiona

 

 

PS. You can find all my books here on Amazon, or click on the pictures below for those specific books :)

My Amazon links are affiliate, and via Amazon Smile which donates money to the ASPCA. The price you pay isn't any different, so thank you if you choose to use my links!

The state of the world, decluttering, and my favourite thrifty decor tip

 

In the past little while I have had yucky feelings about the safety of our world. Inflation, empty shelves at the supermarket, food shortages and food safety, rising crime, more people struggling, and seeing the effects of drugs and gangs in my community when I’m out doing errands. It doesn’t feel good.

If you’re a spongey/empathetic person like I am, these things can leave you feeling bad and like the world is going to hell.

But then I got a thought-message that said, ‘Stay in your bubble Fiona’. All any of us can do is stay in our lane, and do the best we can. Live our life the best way we’re able to and assist others by not falling apart ourselves. Not that I’m in danger of falling apart, but I have felt low yesterday and today.

Every time I get an update on my retirement savings account it’s gone down, even though I put money into it every month. And I know I’m one of the lucky ones. I can buy the food that’s doubled in price and I do still have a retirement account.

But these world stresses can’t last forever. Nothing ever does. The sun will come out again; hang in there.

After my ‘stay in your bubble’ message and giving myself some pep talks, I’m feeling more buoyant again. What use is my constant worrying? What good is that going to do anybody including me?

So I’m here to say to myself, and you if you need it, to stay in your bubble. Find contentment in your daily routines and don’t try to fix everything nor worry about the state of the world. It is what it is. It’s a rocky time post-pandemic.

Build for the future. Keep your frequency high and cultivate an air of light-heartedness. Focus on the good things. That’s what I’ve been forgetting lately. Instead I focused on everything that was going wrong. But there is always good and bad, so why would I not focus on the good?

There is always goodness around. Sometimes you just have to search a little harder for it.

Big hugs to you all!

 

 

 

 

It’s been a rainy ole week here as a tropical cyclone passed through New Zealand. We are lucky enough to be on the edge of it in Hawke’s Bay but upcountry fared far worse.

I hope you’re doing good where you are. I am staying busy at home, tidying up and clearing out. Is it the time of year that makes us want to declutter our home? You too?

I even found myself reading ‘100 Ways to Declutter Your Home’ last night. C’mon, who reads their own book? I do, obviously! You can find my decluttering book here on Amazon (it’s actually quite good!)

 

And I've been watching Marie Kondo on Netflix this week while walking on my treadmill. So good and so motivating. She is a delight to watch as well.

Questions for you:

Are you a weather geek like I am?

Are you decluttering your home now that it’s January, for no other reason than it’s January and you feel like it?

Are you counting on 2023 being the year that you get your home fully – 100% – sorted, even the hidden corners that no one ever sees? Yass! Me too!

It’s going to be so much fun :)

 

 

And to finish this post, my favourite thrifty home decor tip. I love decorating with books. They make the most excellent plinths.

There are so many decorative items you can showcase on books: real candles, faux candles, photo frames, flowers in a vase, and I’m sure many other options which I haven’t even dreamed of yet. (If you have any other ideas please let me know!)

The photo is of my siblings and me, about 20 years ago although it doesn’t feel that long. Surely I’m still in my early thirties, right?

Anyway, go and dig out some pretty books and make a display! Once you start you will become addicted, I promise :)

Have a great week!

xx Fiona

 

 

 

 

(My Amazon links are affiliate, and via Amazon Smile which donates money to the ASPCA. The price you pay isn't any different, so thank you if you choose to use my links!)

 

An overland bird safari, and my favourite four-step decluttering process!

My husband Paul and me

 

Hi everyone!

 

We had guests stay for a long weekend and they took us on a gannet trip on the Sunday. It was invigorating and fascinating! We had the best guide in Wayne, with a mere 45 years experience taking the safaris.

It’s so good to be a tourist in your own town :)

(Wayne’s Instagram is here with some beautiful and historic photography - he even met David Attenborough in 1982 and spent the day with him as he showed him around the gannet colony!)

 

Cutie gannets. They build their nests from mud and seaweed, and bury their egg in that. Both the male and the female gannet take turns standing on the nest, keeping the egg warm with their thermal webbed feet. So dedicated!

 

At the bottom of this cliff, on the beach, is another gannet colony. You can see them if you look :) Plus, there were seals hanging out by the gannets too. They looked like big grey rocks, until you saw one move that is.

Peeking out above the clouds you can see Mt Ruapehu which is 3-4 hours drive away. Mt Ruapehu is an active volcano... we have all the fun here in New Zealand I tell you!

So that was our weekend, and this week I have been tidying and organizing our house, because, well, it's not tidy and organized at the moment. My most recent 'success' was our shoe closet. Yes I have a shoe closet! It’s a double width storage space in our laundry which is the perfect place to house our shoes - mine are here on the right and my husband Paul’s are on the left.

 

 

 

I had a clean-out and a tidy up, throwing out one pair of favourite well-worn summer wedge sandals, and donating a dozen other pairs that I just don’t wear anymore.

It feels SO GOOD to have all my shoes neat and tidy, with space for every pair. Before I did this I had a pile-up at the bottom 🙈

But as you can see I still have plenty to wear. Those pairs I decluttered weren’t worn anyway and now I have breathing space. Isn’t that always the way? It can be so difficult to contemplate getting rid of things, but when you do my favourite four-step decluttering process it is so simple, and even dare I say it, enjoyable. Especially afterwards, but during too.

Here’s my process:

1. Take everything out of a space.

2. Clean/dust the space and make it nice.

3. Put back only the items that are your nicest and best, the ones you enjoy the most, the newest and most special etc. Be guided by the size of your space when you decide what to put back.

4. Look at the items left over and decide that you are happy to donate them to someone else to wear and love, since you don’t. You will feel so light and joyous once they are gone. I always feel happier when I do this and I’m sure you will too.

Let me know what area you’d love to have the fairies do for you, and then jump in and start it! I am going to do my plates and dishes next.

xx Fiona

PS. If you need more inspiration to simplify your home and have it feeling so lovely and free. with space to live your dream life, download my newest book here and get cracking. '100 Ways to Declutter Your Home' has all my favourite tried and true practical and inspirational tips, reminders, suggestions and ideas on how to have fun streamlining your possessions.

Any improvements I want to make in my life have to be FUN and EASY, and this book follows the same principles. Otherwise I just won't do it! I don't have children of my own, but I reckon I would have made a great mum, from my experience cajoling and convincing my inner toddler to get with the programme and go for my desires, even though she is screaming and kicking and would rather be sitting on the sofa with a book...

If this sounds like you, you might enjoy this book, and my others as well!

You can find them all here on my Amazon author page.

 

(If you use my Amazon links I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much if you choose to!)

Home decor inside and out, and a colourful wardrobe

Hello chic friends!

This is sweet Nina cat sitting sentry at the front door. Alongside my favourite red-orange geraniums! I love the look of them against the brick colour, although... we are going to have the brick painted.

I know, it goes against all advice to 'never paint brick', but we decided we want to, so that's what we'll do. We are either going to go very dark - sooty matte black, or off-white. Dark is quite fashionable, off-white is more classic.

I am leaning towards dark! I know it will be quite dramatic and wow-factor. There is a long-ish wait time for our painter so it will give us plenty of time to save up, but we should have it done by the end of the year.

Initially we were planning to repaint all the dark parts, plus under the eaves, just for maintenance. Then we expanded our plan - it happens doesn't it!

Anyway, until then, Nina will keep guard outside, enjoying the autumn sun here at the moment :)

And I'll be inside, finishing my book 'How to be Chic in the Summer'. It's almost there and I hope to have it in your hands this month!

 

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Below is our living room… I love this room so much. The inspiration is Ralph Lauren English country style meets French chateau.

 

 

The chandeliers are from the original owners, made from farming equipment from the husband’s family in Holland. One is a yoke and the other a wagon wheel.

I love that this room has wow-factor; it feels really special to be in here, even on an ordinary day.

And, on a fun note, it was nineteen years ago this week that I met my husband Paul at a pub in Auckland. What a fortuitous evening that was.

 

I have gone from someone who wore wore mostly neutrals and a few soft pastels, to a lover of colour and pattern as you can see!

The first photo is of my blouses and tops, and the second my wool jerseys for when it's cooler.

 

I still like neutral bottoms though, mostly skinny or fitted jeans in white, light-wash, dark-wash, army green, charcoal and black.

I had a fun few hours on the weekend reorganising my closet for autumn/winter and packed away my summer gear.

I like to merchandise my clothes so they look like an appealing boutique. This means hanging everything up, even items that others would usually fold such as heavy jerseys, or tee-shirts in the summer.

In my book 'The Chic Closet' I talk more about this technique in 'Chapter 5: Inject excitement with a capsule du mois'.

Hanging everything up means you can see everything you have, and more easily picture how different items go together, much like in a retail store.

I started doing this quite a few years ago and it's made a huge difference to how easy it is to get ready in the morning, and it's more enjoyable too.

You can find 'The Chic Closet' here on Amazon as a paperback book, or on Kindle too.

 

Happy mid-week everyone!

 

xx Fiona

Day 5: A Week of Christmas Self-Care

 

Day 5: A Week of Christmas Self-Care
~ Cleanse your space ~

 

Whether you are hosting Christmas, visiting someone else's house or having a socially distanced Christmas, you are likely to have more 'things' coming into your home.  It's nice to have a clean out before Christmas so that you can feel spacious instead of suffocated.  Wardrobes and cupboards aren't packed and messy.  There aren't items lying around because they have nowhere to live.

 

Even if you don't do a big declutter - because I'm sure you have enough to do right now - you can still straighten up areas and remove a few items as you go.  Put them aside in a donation box if they are good enough and give yourself the gift of a gently cleansed space this holiday season.

We are clearing some hanger space for guests who are staying, so it's a perfect time to take a look at clothes we haven't worn for a long time and have even bought newer versions of.

Sometimes we have to look at your home with new eyes too, because we can become immune to what is around us.  Go out your front door and come back in as if you were a guest.  Check out the entrance way.  Walk down the hall.  Go into your bedroom and bathroom and see if it pleases you.  What can you tidy up, move somewhere else or declutter?  What hotspots flare up again and again?  Can you fix them once and for all?  Say with a basket for the junk mail?  Or putting a pot plant on top of the microwave so that it doesn't become the dumping ground for stray pieces of paper? Horizontal surfaces are always magnets for 'stuff' :)

 

I also like to swap around decorate items such as pictures on the wall, candles and ornaments and pillows on the sofa or bed.  Moving them somewhere else makes them seem new again.

As I cleansed my space this week, I lit a beautiful candle gifted to me by lovely reader Jo Macfarlane.  All the way from Scotland!  She chose the Bergamot and Lemon scent, and it is divine.  I particularly love citrus scents so it was the perfect choice.  I feel very spoiled and am so thankful to you for your generosity Jo!  You can view Jo's elegant website here.

And I will see you tomorrow for day 6!

xx Fiona

PS. In my book 'Financially Chic', one of my main abundance tools is to declutter, organize, clean and tidy your home.  It's not as much fun as going shopping for new things at first, but then it is much, much better.  You find hidden treasures which seem much more appealing when not surrounded by things you don't care about or which are not in good working order.  You keep going back to look at the drawer/nook/room you have tidied.

 

I always feel a zing of happy energy when I organize even a tiny space.  It's definitely a good mood-changer!

Day 3: A Week of Christmas Self-Care

 

 

Day 3: A Week of Christmas Self-Care
~ Do what soothes you ~

The holiday season is the time of year you want to enjoy most, yet it’s also the busiest and most stressful.  Aside from all the organization that Christmas entails, there are all the loose ends that need tidying up before the end of the year.

Something that always gets out of control for me, but paradoxically is the thing that calms me down the most, is being tidy and organized.  I often ignore a messy area because I tell myself I don’t have time and I’ll get to it ‘later’, and it almost feels as if I am being decadent and utterly frivolous for considering spending time tidying!

So for me, it would be tidying and organizing.  I have quite a few areas that are bothering me at the moment – my wardrobe, writing desk, candle cupboard and sewing room.  Yes I have a candle cupboard…

I’m not going to make everything show-home perfect before Christmas, but giving myself half an hour here and there to do a little bit will make a huge difference to both how the space looks and functions, and how much calmer I feel.  I spent 30 minutes in my wardrobe today, and similar in my sewing room.  Plus I took a box of donations to the charity store.  I feel the weight on my shoulders lifting slowly :)

I know it sounds strange to say that tidying up soothes me, but it does.  (I promise you it’s not a humble-brag).

It might be something else for you, maybe something completely different such as reading a book.  I always take time to read a book, mostly five minutes before I go to sleep which doesn’t sound that luxurious, so perhaps I have to find a bigger spot.  It certainly beats scrolling Twitter for worthiness, and I always seem to find time for that!

Perhaps yours are baking, yoga, or knitting.  Find out what your soothing activities are, and make sure you do them more.

See you for Day 4 tomorrow.

xx Fiona