A Hedgehog or a Fox ~ Which are you?

October 14, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

The other day I was listening to the “Happier With Gretchen Rubin” podcast (a favorite, by the way) and the topic was “Are You a Hedgehog or a Fox?”. She and her sister, Elizabeth Craft, discussed the idea that people can be divided into two groups – foxes and hedgehogs.

The Hedgehog and the Fox is an essay by Isaiah Berlin. The title refers to a line attributed to the Ancient Greek poet, Archilochus:

“a fox knows many things, but a hedgehog one important thing”

Gretchen and Elizabeth put their own spin on it and describe the two groups like this:

The fox has lots of diverse interests.

The hedgehog is interested in one or two main things.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

As I listened to the discussion I immediately thought of the book Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher. Sher describes people she refers to as “scanners”:

Scanners love to read and write, to fix and invent things, to design projects and businesses, to cook and sing, and to create the perfect dinner party. (You’ll notice I didn’t use the word “or,”because Scanners don’t love to do one thing or the other; they love them all.)

I’ll never forget how excited I was when I first heard about scanners. That’s me! I am interested in so. Many. Things.

writing/blogging
music
art
architecture
interior design
cooking
literature
medicine
health and nutrition
all things French
New Orleans
films
politics
gardening
homesteading
green living and the environment
homemaking
productivity
style and fashion
history
yoga
meditation
travel

And the list goes on. And on.

It can be hard for me to focus on any one thing for long because I’m constantly getting ideas for something else I want to do or learn or practice. No, I’m not A.D.D. and I can make myself finish whatever task is at hand. But there in the back of my mind are little thoughts flitting around like fireflies.

Hey, I should start a podcast!

I wonder if I can find a good YouTube video to teach me how to crochet.

I should sign up for an online course on philosophy.

I could put together a resource page about (any number of topics) for the blog.

And speaking of this blog…conventional wisdom is that bloggers should select a fairly specific niche and stick to it. Well, that’s just not going to happen here. While I do have a general focus on “creating a beautiful life”, I feel like that’s broad enough to include most anything I’m interested in. That’s why you’ll find recipes, homemaking tips, music, travel, books, and many other topics covered here. I realize that not everyone who reads Life With Dee will share all of my interests but most people ought to be interested in at least a few. And for those who prefer a narrow, single-topic blog there are many of those out there so it shouldn’t be difficult to find one or more which better suit them.

There was a time when people like me were admired. Consider Leonardo Da Vinci, the ultimate Renaissance man. While he is best known as an artist, he was also a scientist and an inventor.

An emphasis on liberal arts used to be a respected part of a university education but today many believe there should be a tighter focus on the skills which will lead to a job. And that’s not unreasonable considering the skyrocketing costs of college.

Of course we need people with a laser-like focus and the ability to reach high levels of expertise in their fields. Hedgehogs, if you will.

Still, there’s something to be said for foxes – those of us who seek knowledge and experience in a wide range of pursuits. And not just because we make great Trivial Pursuit partners. I found it very helpful when homeschooling my kids, especially since they both exhibit scanner tendencies, too. In fact, that is part of the reason we drifted into unschooling territory. We all simply found life way too interesting to be happy with any one curriculum source.

I think the reason I love blogging so much is because I can learn something new every day and there are so many aspects to it:

writing
web design
social media
graphic design
marketing
research

And so much more. I’m grateful every day that I am able to indulge my Renaissance soul and that y’all have decided to come along for the ride.

So, what about you? Are you a hedgehog or a fox?

~~~~~

“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all
the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.” – John Burroughs

Fox clipart courtesy of EducationScotland.gov.uk
Hedgehog via WPClipart.com.

Create a Beautiful Life With a Gratitude Journal

September 28, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 5 Comments

We are probably all familiar with the idea of keeping a gratitude journal. Back in 1995, Sarah Ban Breathnach published the book that started it all – Simple Abundance. She shared it with Oprah and the rest is history.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

Keeping a Gratitude Journal

I’m all about anything which helps me “create a beautiful life”. I honestly believe that, to a large extent, we find what we look for. If we begin each day looking for things to be grateful for we will find them. That’s why the practice of journaling can make such a big difference in our daily experience. Just knowing that you’ll be writing one or more things you are grateful for in a journal makes you more aware of the good things you encounter throughout the day.

Scientists and psychologists have actually studied gratitude and found that intentional gratitude can significantly increase personal well-being.

The benefits

Gratitude can improve your health, your relationships, your sleep, your productivity and more:

31 Benefits of Gratitude You Didn’t Know About

Tracking Happiness: The Benefits of a Gratitude Journal

The Benefits of Adding Gratitude to Your Attitude

Tips

There are many ways to keep a gratitude journal so you’ll need to decide what works best for you. It’s also important to be specific and consistent.

Turn Pain to Joy: 11 Tips for a Powerful Gratitude Journal

5 Tips for Keeping a Gratitude Journal

A Simple Weekly Mindfulness Practice: Keep a Gratitude Journal

Resources

Books about gratitude, journals and apps…here is a brief list of resources to help you get started on your gratitude journey.

The Book that began it all

Other Books about Gratitude

Gratitude Journals

There are many ways to keep a gratitude journal. Any blank notebook will do and I’ve heard of people who write their daily gratitudes on index cards. But sometimes it’s fun to have a pretty journal or a book designed specifically for gratitude journaling.

Here are some fun options, including the original – The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude:

Gratitude Apps

For some, a phone app may be the better way to keep a gratitude journal. The big advantage is that our phones are always with us. We can maintain our gratitude practice no matter where we are.

Here are three highly-rated gratitude apps, all of which are free:

Notes to Self – A Gratitude Journal

Grid Diary

Personal Journal – Free Diary and Gratitude Journal

More about gratitude:

In Praise of Gratitude

How to Practice Gratitude Meditation

7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude That Will Motivate You to Give Thanks Year Round

The Productive Woman Podcast –

Mindset Matters – Productive Attitudes

Do you keep a gratitude journal? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Leave me a comment.

Setting and Achieving Your Goals ~ A Challenge

September 16, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

Do you set goals for yourself? If so, are you making progress on your goals? Setting and achieving your goals can be quite a challenge but it’s something I’m really working on.

Probably the most important step in achieving one’s goals is to write them down. There are any number of ways to do this but one fun way is to enter your goals on the Day Zero Project site. You select 101 goals to complete in 1001 days, enter them and then check them off as you do each one.

I did this back in 2008 and while I didn’t complete them all (quite frankly, I forgot all about it a few months into it) I did eventually do 32 of them.

Let’s take a closer look at setting and achieving your goals.

Setting and Achieving Your Goals

One of the most important life skills I learned in nursing school was how to set goals. We learned this in regards to nursing goals and outcomes but it applies to any type of goal. You may well be familiar with SMART goals but if not, here’s a quick overview:

S – specific
M- measurable
A- attainable
R- realistic
T- time based

A goal, whether it be related to patient care or a personal goal, needs to be:

Specific – “I will go to bed by 11 p.m.” not “I want to go to bed earlier.”

Measurable – “I will decrease my diastolic blood pressure by 8 points” not “I will get healthier.”

Actionable – It needs to be something you can take action on.

Realistic – It’s probably not realistic to set a goal that you will lost 50 pounds in one month.

Time based – A goal should have a time frame in which to complete it.

It’s important to record your goals somewhere and that’s where Day Zero comes in. It’s free and not only does it allow you to record and keep track of your goals, you can also see other people’s goals which can inspire some of your own.

Here was my list in 2008:

101 in 1001

Here is my current list:

Dee’s 101 Things in 1001 Days List

You may notice that you can only see 100 of the 101 goals. Day Zero allows you to make some of your goals private which is a nice feature. We all need a little something in our lives that no one else knows about. I debated about making a few other goals private but decided to be open and share them with you. Gulp.

Some of these goals don’t really fit the SMART goals guidelines. For instance, a few are blog-related number goals. Technically I can’t control the number of hits to my blog — the goal should be more along the lines of the actions I will take to reach those goals. But for the sake of this list I went with the outcome I desire.

You will also notice that there is no order to the list. I just filled them in as I thought of them over the course of a couple of days. I printed out a copy and my next task is to categorize them in a few ways.

By topic (home, personal, relationship, etc.)
Time required
Priority

I will then make reminder cards for long term goals which require daily attention (writing a book, fitness, etc.) to place where I’ll see them often.

Then I’ll choose 3-5 goals to work on at a time and write those in my planner.

I’m also going to put a reminder on the first day of each month in my planner to read my whole list, check off the ones I’ve done and evaluate my progress on the bigger goals.

Finally, I’ve teamed up with an accountability partner for my number one goal – writing a book. I highly recommend you find someone to share your goals with…someone who will help keep you accountable.

Now it’s your turn. You don’t have to come up with a list of 101 things, although it’s actually kind of fun to dream big. If that seems daunting to you, choose the number that feels right to you. Find someplace to record them, create a plan to work on them and if possible, find an accountability partner.

Before you know it you’ll be putting a checkmark by each one on your list and thinking of the next set of goals you’d like to tackle.

If you do decide to make a list on the Day Zero site I’d love to see it. The site is set up so you can follow people. Feel free to follow me and I’ll follow you back. Just leave me a comment with the link to your profile.

Extras:

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind

Bucket List

Lifetick

Other goal setting resources:

10 BIGGEST MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE IN SETTING GOALS (AND HOW TO FIX THEM) – podcast by Michael Hyatt

How To Change Your Life By Setting Goals by Crystal Paine

Top 100 Goal Setting Books

~~~~~

Disclosure: The following are affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

I Went to a Movie Alone – And Why You Should, Too

August 25, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

Yesterday afternoon I went to a movie alone. By myself. No one else. I didn’t even try to find someone to join me. And it was great!

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

Early this summer I made a list of 10 things I wanted to do:

Summer Fun ~ 10 Things On My Fun List

One was to attend an afternoon movie all by myself. Yesterday morning when I realized that our local theater was doing a special 25th anniversary showing of Thelma and Louise I knew I had found my opportunity. Not only do I love the movie but it brings back memories of a fun road trip with my friend, Roz. Minus the whole “driving off a cliff and dying” part.

So despite a lengthy to-do list I decided to go. I did the absolute essentials – the rest could wait. It was a 2 p.m. showing so I skipped lunch at home and enjoyed my favorite theater treats – Raisinettes and buttery popcorn instead. I love the combination of sweet chocolate and salty popcorn. Yum!

This was the first time I’d ever done this but it won’t be my last. I had a wonderful time! I wasn’t sure if I’d feel awkward going to a movie alone but I didn’t. There were very few people there in the afternoon now that school is back in session. And there were only three other people watching Thelma and Louise. It was awesome! No one kicking the back of my seat. Nobody in front blocking my view (I seem to attract the tallest person in the place to the seat in front of me for every movie, concert, ballet, musical, etc.).

I’ve recently done a few other things alone that aren’t usually thought of as solitary pursuits.

I went to the Matisse exhibit at the OKC Museum of Art. This was actually the third time I’ve gone to the museum alone in the past year. I bought myself an annual pass so I would feel free to stop by whenever I’m in the city for something else. I’ve come to love being alone to view art at my own pace.
Instead of grabbing fast food in the car on my way home from a conference in the city, I went to a sit-down restaurant. I ordered delicious fish tacos and a side salad which I enjoyed so much more than a drive-thru burger.
I had a drink in a hotel bar alone. While in the city for the aforementioned conference, I decided to go downstairs to the hotel bar for a drink. I could have taken it to my room but I’ve been trying to get outside my comfort zone lately so I sat at the bar instead. It was a Monday night and there were only a couple of other people there. The television was tuned to the Olympics so it really wasn’t that uncomfortable to just sip my drink and watch the diving events.

Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking these things are no big deal. But according to my research, a LOT of people are uncomfortable doing social things alone. In fact, there’s even a research study on this topic:

Inhibited from Bowling Alone

The researchers found that people tend to overestimate how much their enjoyment of an activity depends upon whether or not they have a companion with them.

I found a number of interesting articles about going to the movies (or other activities) alone:

Why You Should Go to the Movies (and Do Other Stuff) Alone

Seriously, why are we so afraid of going to the cinema alone?

In Defense of Seeing Movies Alone

21 Reasons Going To The Movies Alone Is The ***ing Greatest (strong language warning)

Why You Should Go Out To Eat Alone

You’re the only person who will notice if you’re dining alone. So enjoy it.

The upshot seems to be that while we may worry that others will think we are “losers” for doing these things alone, most people aren’t paying any attention to us one way or the other. And more importantly, it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

The obvious takeaway:

If you want to see a movie don’t miss out just because you don’t have someone to go with you.

The less obvious lesson:

But what about doing these things alone occasionally even when you DO have a spouse or partner who would go if you asked? In some ways I think that might be even more important. In a longterm, committed relationship it’s all too easy to get in the habit of doing all social activities with one’s partner and start to lose sight of who you are as an individual.

There’s something to be said for maintaining your own private life. I think David was a little surprised last night when I told him what I had done. After 40 years together, that’s a good thing. A bit of mystery can add a healthy bit of spark to a relationship.

Do you go to the movies alone? What about to a restaurant or other activities we usually consider social? Are you comfortable alone or does it make you feel awkward? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

~~~~~

You might also enjoy this post:

Slow Down and Savor Life

August 19, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 5 Comments

Last night we met dear friends for dinner. The restaurant is in a charming old house in a little town about 45 minutes away. None of us had eaten there before but we had heard great things about it.

We had a truly lovely evening. The restaurant was very cosy and personal. The food was delicious and the server was a very sweet young girl. My only complaint was something I encounter way too often in American restaurants – we were rushed through the courses.

The men had finished their salads but we ladies were still eating ours when the main course was brought out. The table was small with no room for extra plates so our salads were whisked away. And then later, with fully half of my food still on my plate we were asked if we’d like dessert.

This was not a busy chain restaurant with a line of people waiting for a table. In fact, there was only one other party of diners in the restaurant at the time and we were at least 2 hours from the stated closing time. As I mentioned, the waitress was truly sweet and I honestly don’t think she was trying to get us to hurry up and leave. On the contrary, I think she was just trying to be very attentive.

Let’s contrast last night’s dinner (and the vast majority of my dining experiences in the United States) with our experience in France:

In France it is expected that a table is yours for the entire evening. There is none of this business of quickly turning tables throughout the evening. Part of that is the fact servers are paid full wages in France and tips are not an expected part of their compensation. But even more so, the French take dining seriously and cannot comprehend why one would rush the process.

One of my very favorite parts of my time in Paris were the leisurely meals. Most were served in at least three courses and never once were we brought the next course before we had completely finished the current one. In fact, there was usually a delay of several minutes between taking away one set of plates and bringing out the next. And never once was David’s empty plate removed until I was through as well. I’ve been a slow eater my whole life and I cannot begin to tell you how uncomfortable it is to finish my meal after everyone else’s plates have been removed. It’s so awkward. Sometimes I’ve had David purposely leave at least one bite on his plate and hold his fork so a server won’t take his plate until I am done.

And being asked if we want dessert when only half way through the main course? One of my biggest pet peeves. How do I even know if I will want dessert at that point? Last night I actually spoke up and politely told the server that I’d like to finish my meal before we decided about dessert.

This post isn’t a diatribe about American restaurant service, though. It’s really a much bigger issue. Our society is in such a rush about everything. We want what we want immediately and never want to wait for anything. Any sort of delay is seen as a waste of time.

But what would happen if we slowed down a bit
and actually savored not only our meals but our lives?

Last week I had reached my limit of overwhelm and decided to take Friday off. I planned ahead so I had very few things I had to do that day. Instead of my usual lengthy to-do list, I spent most of the day doing just what I wanted. I slept about 30 or 40 minutes later than usual. I read from a couple of books and enjoyed thumbing through a magazine I had bought a couple of weeks ago yet never looked at. I played the piano. I fixed myself a nice lunch and enjoyed it at the table instead of in front of my computer. I fixed a delicious dinner and we didn’t go anywhere. It was a beautiful day and a reminder of the importance of slowing down and simply enjoying life now and then.

Rather than rushing from one activity to the next what would happen if we purposely set aside time to just “be”? To sit on the porch and listen to music. To take 20 minutes in the afternoon for a cup of tea. To look at the stars before going to bed.

I know we all have busy lives but perhaps it’s time to rethink our obligations and our approach to live. We need to give ourselves some breathing room. Take some time to do something we enjoy. Or maybe just sit, stare off into space and do absolutely nothing.

I’m no longer even surprised when I receive confirmation of something I’ve been wrestling with. I already had today’s post planned when I received an email with the link to this podcast this morning:

Become a Lady of Leisure by Tonya Leigh

See? The “Universe” just served up a little a little reminder that I’m on the right track. Life is too short to spend it on a hamster wheel of activity. Every once in awhile you simply must hop off and allow your spirit to be revived.

Ways to Slow Down and Savor Life

You already know some of my favorite ways to do this:

Afternoon Tea Ritual

Stargazing Ritual

Porch Time

I’d love to hear from you. What are some of your favorite ways to slow down and savor life? Leave me a comment and then give yourself a little time off…just for you.

Let’s Go On a Picnic

August 10, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 3 Comments

There is something rather romantic about a picnic. At least in theory. The reality may include the proverbial ants or other challenges of combining food and the great outdoors but somehow the charm of dining al fresco remains.

Let’s take a look at some resources for planning your next picnic.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Books:

Picnic: 125 Recipes with 29 Seasonal Menus

The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration From Basket to Blanket

200 Picnic and Tailgate Recipes

Blog Posts and Articles:

Perfect French Picnic by Janine Marsh

Our Love Affair With Picnics – The Moveable Feast

23 French-Inspired Recipes You Can Pack For a Picnic

How to Plan a Picnic by Martha Stewart

75+ Summer Picnic Recipes to Enjoy Outside

A Picnic at the Beach

Picnics in Paris

Picnic Games For Grownups

97 Of The Best Picnic Date Ideas

Equipment:

You don’t really need to have an honest-to-goodness picnic basket in order to go on a nice picnic but take a look at this:

Isn’t that adorable? I have a small wicker picnic basket but it’s really not big enough for a full-fledged meal. Nor does it have matching accessories. I think this is going on my wish list.

But you could also just bring a small ice chest and a nice blanket like this one:

Movie:

“Oh, Marilla,” she exclaimed breathlessly, “there’s going to be a Sunday-school picnic next week–in Mr. Harmon Andrews’s field, right near the lake of Shining Waters. And Mrs. Superintendent Bell and Mrs. Rachel Lynde are going to make ice cream–think of it, Marilla–ice cream! And, oh, Marilla, can I go to it?”

Anne of Green Gables

Create a Beautiful Life With a Morning Ritual

August 8, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

A beautiful day starts with an intentional morning ritual. This is something I’ve been working on for quite awhile. My morning ritual isn’t perfect yet but I’m making progress.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Dee’s Morning Ritual

This is what my morning looks like when all goes well…which is about once a week. But hey, you’ve got to start somewhere.

Set daily intention before getting out of bed

I take a few minutes while still lying in bed to think about my day. I consider the specific challenges ahead and then decide on my focus for the day. For instance, today’s focus phrase was “steady and productive”. I had a lengthy to-do list which I really wanted to power through because I’m planning to take Friday off. That’s right. I’m going to cross something off my Summer Fun list and spend the entire day just reading!

Turn back the bed covers

I make the bed every day but I let it air first. I turn the covers back, move the pillows and lightly spray the sheets with my homemade lavender linen spray.

Go downstairs, weigh myself and drink a glass of water

I haven’t been drinking enough water lately so I’m making an effort to include more in my daily routine. I know some recommend only weighing once a week but I feel like I get a better sense of what affects my weight if I monitor it daily. FYI: eating a banana split as a late-night dinner isn’t a good idea if you’re watching your weight.

Take my hot tea to the library

My sweet husband makes my tea for me every morning and puts it in an insulated Klean Kanteen so it stays hot. I take it and one of my china cups and saucers to the library, get comfy in my chair and finish the rest of my morning ritual.

Meditate

I’ve been rather hit-or-miss with this but I find when I meditate consistently, my days go better. I may do a group challenge soon so stay tuned.

Read

I’m trying not to get sucked into Facebook during my morning routine but to spend that time reading something more worthwhile. As I shared in my post about My Morning Basket, one of my morning reads is Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book, Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self. It’s written in short sections which lend themselves perfectly to daily reading. I also read a bit from the Harvard Classics and from my grandmother’s Bible.

Listen to a podcast

Right now I’m taking an intensive personal development course which includes a short audio lesson each morning. Otherwise I enjoy watching Crystal Paine’s morning Periscope sessions or listening to one of my favorite podcasts.

~~~~~

And that’s my ideal morning ritual. Well, for now. There are other things I’d like to include:

Yoga – sun salutations in particular
Morning Pages – I’ve done these off and on.
Piano

For now, though, my current ritual is enough. Once I’m doing it consistently I’ll add something else.

~~~~~

If you’re interested in creating a morning routine which works for you and sets you up for having a beautiful and productive day, I can’t say enough about Crystal Paine’s Make Over Your Mornings course. I’ve gone through it twice already and am going to do it again soon. If this sounds like something you might be interested in click below for more information or to purchase.

I also recommend the Make Over Your Evenings course. I don’t promote anything here on Life With Dee unless I stand behind it 100%. I’ve purchased both of these courses myself and highly recommend them.

5 Ways to Create a Better Day

August 5, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 9 Comments

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” ~ Annie Dillard

Would you like to create a better day? Do you race through your days putting out fires, handling the urgent but with little time for the important? We all have days like that but when it becomes the norm rather than the exception, it’s time to take a step back and reconsider. As Annie Dillard’s quote illustrates, our days add up to our lives. I, for one, don’t want to look back someday and view my life as one giant to-do list being frantically checked off.

This is probably not the time for me to even write this post. This week has been hellaciously busy. I had three meetings on Wednesday alone. Last night I had a board meeting and then met up with David for a local music event we help organize each month. I don’t even want to admit how long it’s been since I vacuumed my house (two weeks? three?).

But maybe that’s why I DO need to share this now. For myself, as much as for my readers. David and I were talking yesterday, quickly running through all the various local events we are working on and filling each other in on the parts we each have been working on. He was at work and had to put me on hold three times to answer phone calls. I had just come home from picking up my monthly co-op order and running a few errands so I was putting things away while we talked. We agreed that we will take some time just for us as soon as this very busy month is over. We have scheduled live music for nine events this month, including a city-wide festival. If I’m counting correctly, that’s 22 live music slots we’ve filled. And I create Facebook events, graphics and flyers for all of these, as well as doing social media sharing for all. It’s been totally nuts.

When life is crazy it’s all the more important to make time for a few touchstones in your day. Time to slow down, enjoy the moment and remember why you are doing all this. So let’s take a look at 5 ways we can do just that.

5 Ways to Create a Better Day

Morning Ritual

The way we begin our morning has a huge impact on the rest of the day. Beginning the day with a simple, pleasant morning ritual starts the day off on a happy note. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. A cup of tea or coffee enjoyed in a leisurely fashion might be all you need, or have time for. But you can also take it up a notch with a full-fledged morning ritual taking an hour or more to indulge in several things that make you feel as though you have nourished yourself well before taking on the world. This is what I’m aiming for with My Morning Basket. It hasn’t become a habit yet but I’m working on it.

Meditation/Prayer/Quiet Time

Daily life can be hectic and it’s all too easy to get caught up in the rush. Set aside time each day to step back from all the ruckus and just get quiet. You can meditate, pray or just sit quietly for a few minutes. I’ve found that the more I meditate the more of this quiet I crave. My mind is a busy, busy place most of the time and just as our bodies need rest, so do our brains. Even five minutes can make a difference in your day.

Afternoon Teatime

You know how I feel about my afternoon teatime, right? It’s my very favorite ritual. When I am planning my day I always plan for a break at around 4 p.m. to brew a perfect cup of tea and enjoy a little break. If you are working outside the home you may very well not be able to have a formal 4 p.m. tea break. But do try to find some time late afternoon or early evening to take a little break of some sort.

Perhaps you’d like to share a cocktail with your spouse immediately after work before you start dinner. As a kid I was always fascinated by the way Darren and Samantha did this in Bewitched. My family were teetotalers so this seemed rather exotic to me. A few years ago I set up a little bar area in our library for this very reason. I thought it would be nice to share a drink with David in our library when he first got home from work. We could sit and chat about our days before I started cooking dinner. It hasn’t happened yet but you never know.

Count Your Blessings

Studies show that the practice of gratitude has many positive benefits. Many people keep gratitude journals and that’s an excellent practice. You can do this in any number of ways. There are even apps for this. You can do it first thing in the morning, mid-day or in the evening. Personally I think evening is a good choice. If you know that you will be writing down your gratitudes before you go to bed you’ll be more likely to stay mindful during the day, looking for things to write later. And as they say, you tend to find what you seek.

Plan the next day

I believe that a good day starts the night before. Don’t wait until the morning rush to try to make a to-do list or plan your day. Take a few minutes the night before to plan the next day. There are many ways to do this. I use a full sheet of paper to map out my day. This paper is divide into categories and includes such things as our dinner plans, anything I need to purchase, people I need to contact, household tasks and work-related items. I make sure to check my planner for any meetings, appointments or other scheduled events.

I also include a few things I want to do just for myself such as playing the piano, practicing my French or reading. By planning the night before my mind is freed from all those to-dos buzzing around in my head. Well, theoretically. As I said, my mind is a busy place but this really does help.

~~~~~

Do you do any of these things on a regular basis? If you have other suggestions I’d love to hear them. Leave me a comment and we’ll discuss.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Morning and evening routines can make a HUGE difference in your daily life. If you feel like your mornings and/or evenings could use an overhaul, I highly recommend these online courses by Crystal Paine:

Create a Beautiful Life With a Stargazing Ritual

August 2, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

If you know me or have followed me on social media any length of time you likely know that stargazing is one of my favorite things. David and I both love to spend an hour or so admiring the beauty of the night sky. No matter what our day has been like, this ritual relaxes us and brings us some much-needed peace.

How to Create a Stargazing Ritual

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Our ritual is simple and only requires a few things:

zero gravity chairs

One of the best purchases we’ve ever made have been these chairs. They recline way back which makes them perfect for stargazing. Of course, you could also lie on a blanket if you live somewhere that isn’t infested with all the creepy crawlies we have out in the country in Oklahoma. But in our case, being up off the ground is essential and these chairs are really comfortable.

something to sip on

Sometimes we’ll each take a glass of wine out with us or perhaps hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate – depending upon the weather and what we’re in the mood for. On a weekend we might choose whiskey (me) and rum (David). In order to keep hot drinks hot or to keep bugs out of whatever we are sipping, we usually use our Klean Kanteens.

a clear, dark night

This last is the one we don’t have control over but that also makes those perfect-condition nights all the more special. Here in Oklahoma it can be miserably hot and humid in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. We really make an effort to take advantage of those times when the temperature is tolerable.

Most of the time we simply lie back and enjoy the view. We like to watch for satellites and shooting stars. David has an app on his phone that shows the constellations so we can identify what we are looking at.

Occasionally we’ll bring the telescope outdoors when there is something in particular we want a good look at. David is notoriously difficult to buy for so I was pretty pleased with myself when I came up with the idea to buy him a telescope a few years ago. This is the one we have. It’s not super fancy or expensive but it suits our amateur purposes. A pair of binoculars can also be helpful and less expensive.

If you’d like to start a stargazing ritual all you really need is a clear, dark night. However, it’s also fun to learn a bit about what you are looking at. Here are a few sites you might find interesting:

Stargazing Basics: Tools, Equipment and Advice

EarthSky’s top 10 tips for super stargazers

13 Tips for Stargazing From Astronomers

Star Walk phone app – This is the one David has.

10 Free Astronomy Apps for Stargazing

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“Look up at the stars and not down at your feet.

Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.”
~Stephen Hawking

Dressing Up Mad Men-Style

July 12, 2016 By Deanna Piercy 3 Comments

Have you noticed how casual our society has become? I’m not just talking about the pajama-wearing folks at Walmart (although perhaps that deserves a post of its own) but it’s becoming increasingly rare for people to dress up for much of anything other than weddings. And goodness knows I’ve even been to a few of those where guests were wearing clothes more fit for yard work than celebrating the beginning of a couple’s lives together.

So we decided to host a Mad Men party.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

David is actually the one who came up with the idea. When we were in California recently we went to Lawry’s Prime Rib restaurant in Beverly Hills to celebrate our 35th anniversary. This was where David had proposed to me back in 1980. In those days men were required to wear a coat and tie. We had no idea that there was no longer a dress code. There are still a couple of restaurants in New Orleans which require a coat and tie (Galatoire’s, for instance) so we just assumed the same was true for Lawry’s.

We were rather surprised, and a bit disappointed, to discover that there is no formal dress code anymore. From what I saw, David was the only one in a coat and tie. In fact, there were men there in shorts…and FLIP FLOPS! The waitresses were still wearing the same uniform style they’ve worn since the restaurant opened in the ’30s and everything else is just as formal as ever.

I will say that it was mostly the men who were dressed inappropriately. A lot of the women were wearing dresses which only made the men with them look all the more ridiculous. Come on, guys, when you ask a young lady out for a date and take her to a fancy restaurant up your game a bit. At least put on long pants and real shoes.

So that’s where the idea for a Mad Men party came from.

David actually made two events on Facebook, one for dinner at a local restaurant and a second for an after-party at a local wine and dessert bar. Then he sent out invitations. We were pleasantly surprised by the response. Everyone thought this was a great idea! I didn’t count but I would guess we had close to 20 people at the dinner and even more at the after-party.

It was so much fun to see everyone all dressed up. Many of the women not only got dressed up but dressed in fashions from the Mad Men era. Several of us even had petticoats under our dresses and I wasn’t the only one wearing gloves.

As beautiful as the women were, it was the men who surprised me. Most wore suits, even some who had never worn a suit before. (Goodwill got a lot of business from our crowd just before this event.) They all looked wonderful! And I think they were pretty pleased with themselves, too.

We had such a fabulous time and we all agreed this should be a regular event. We’re thinking monthly. “Dress-up Saturdays” or “Fancy Fridays”? Something like that. We are also going to plan a group trip to Goodwill for those who want to add some dressier items to their wardrobe without spending a fortune.

David insisted I buy a new dress for this event. I didn’t have time for a trip to the city but I found two dresses on Amazon which I thought might work. They each came with a free return policy and shipped in two days so I figured I had time to try something else if they didn’t fit. Fortunately, they both did. And since they were only around $25-30 each David insisted I keep both. These are the ones I bought:

And of course, dresses like these need a petticoat. I bought this one for only $11.99:

I already had a vintage-looking purse and gloves from an event we attended about 20 years ago. I wore my good pearl necklace and matching bracelet plus vintage pearl drop earrings.

It really was fun getting all dressed up and I’m truly looking forward to next time. We are also talking about hosting a dressy cocktail party at our home sometime soon.

In the meantime we are enjoying watching Mad Men all over again. We bought the first season on DVD and I’m sure we’ll end up buying the rest. This is definitely something we’ll watch repeatedly.

If you share my love of Mad Men you might want to take a look at my Mad Men Pinterest board:

What do you think? Does this sound fun to you? Do you enjoy getting dressed up for something special occasionally?

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Keeping a Gratitude Journal

The benefits

Tips

Resources

The Book that began it all

Other Books about Gratitude

Gratitude Journals

Gratitude Apps

More about gratitude:

The Productive Woman Podcast –

Setting and Achieving Your Goals

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But what would happen if we slowed down a bit and actually savored not only our meals but our lives?

Ways to Slow Down and Savor Life

Books:

Blog Posts and Articles:

Equipment:

Movie:

Dee’s Morning Ritual

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5 Ways to Create a Better Day

Morning Ritual

Meditation/Prayer/Quiet Time

Afternoon Teatime

Count Your Blessings

Plan the next day

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How to Create a Stargazing Ritual

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But what would happen if we slowed down a bit
and actually savored not only our meals but our lives?