Walking | Simple Pleasures

I'm going to start a new blog series on "simple pleasures."  It falls under my "everyday occasions" category, but it is also something different.  In our lives that seem to get bigger and busier, I try to keep a habit of lavishing in simple pleasures.  Good cups of coffee, getting up early, lighting candles, steamy showers, bubbly baths, slow Saturday mornings, nice pajamas, fresh sheets, and daily morning walks.  All of these things are simple, tiny and mostly easily attainable, but could be overlooked or forgotten in hectic schedules.  So this series here to remind all of us of the little moments that make big impacts.  The first in the series is absolutely essential for me everyday.  I would love to hear about your favorite little everyday moments.

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Daily Morning Walks

I have walked (almost) everyday for 12 years.  Before that I did lots of various "workouts" from aerobics classes (that's what they were called 20 years ago...), yoga, running, etc.  Nothing really stuck for me or added anything to my life except to check the fitness box - not that I was even that 'fit.'

It all changed for me when I got Mr. Darcy.*  He was a puppy and he needed walks.  Lots of long walks. I found what started as a new daily chore has become my lifeline.  I have to walk everyday, no longer for Mr. Darcy, but for myself.

My walks are when I do my best thinking.  Almost instantly when I leave the house, I can feel how it opens my head, clears my mind and lifts my mood.  Literally, just steps outside of our drive I take that big deep breath and feel refreshed.  If I'm ever feeling at a creative impasse, or struggling with something (as simple as a new product idea, blog post or as complex as a tough relationship), I know I can always contemplate it most clearly on a walk.  I always come back from a walk full of energy, ideas and happiness.  My lungs are full of fresh air, my posture is improved, my body feels leaner and stronger and my head is clear.  Life can be so simple sometimes.



My favorite time of day to walk is early each morning as the sun comes up.  In the wintertime, our schedule is a little off as the sun is coming up at about 7:45.  Emma gets up at 7am and leaves for school by 8am, and I don't want to miss time with her in the morning, so my walks get pushed to 8am in the winter.  But soon, I'll be back on schedule, leaving the house at 6am and being back home by 7am, catching the sunrise at about 6:30.  Sunrise in the middle of the summer can be before 6am, and can be as late as 8am in the winter.  You know things like this when you are a morning walker.

This year, I've incorporated walking to my favorite coffee shop into my early morning walks.  They open at 6:30.  It takes me 30 minutes to walk there and 30 back, so being out of the house at 6am is always my goal so I can be back in time for Emma to wake up.  It is a 3 mile loop for me and I always come back warmed up from walking and coffee and it feels great.

To be up, outside before anyone else and to witness the sunrise on a daily basis is so special.  On most days, it is my motivation to get up and out early - to catch the sunrise.  In the warmer months, we often take sunset walks as a family.  I'm trying to pass on my love for walking to Emma, as it has been such a saving grace for me.

My minimum temperature is about 15 degrees.  I bundle and even wear ski pants if necessary.  It is amazing how toasty you get after walking about 10 minutes outside in the cold.  I always come back sweating and red cheeked - perfect start to a winter day.

The other benefit of walking outside is getting to observe nature.  We don't live next to a great park or have any trails to walk on, so I rely on finding the prettiest natural spots I can in our neighborhood.  We walk along a creek that lines a golf course where we observe ducks and ducklings, and watch the water freeze, thaw and observe the life that happens around it.

In the next couple of months, I'll watch tiny buds appear on the trees and get excited to see their progress each day.  I'll notice as more birds appear each morning and their songs increase.  I'll rush home to share the quince and daffodil report to Mike and Emma in March when I see the first ones appear, or in September when I notice the first maple tree begin to turn.  Such simple things.  All things that are within our grasp each day if we take the time to look.

In preparation for this post, I did a little looking around for great walking quotes.  Here are some that resonated with me.

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.  -Friedrich Nietzsche
An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.  -Henry D. Thoreau
The most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.  -Carrie Later
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best.  -Thomas Jefferson
Thoughts come clearly while one walks.  -Thomas Mann

There is also so much data on how healthy a daily walk is - mental health and physical health.  Reading the results to these were so fascinating - like mood-lifting depressed patiences as much as medications can do, adding seven years to your life (!!) and curbing sweet cravings.  I'd include the stats (you can find them here), but I really wanted this to be more of my testament.  Also, when I try to motivate myself with longterm goals it doesn't really work for me.  I am more of an instant gratification person and that is what walking does for me - instantly I feel better for the entire day.  That's what keeps me getting up every morning because I know I will feel great immediately.

Do you walk?  I'd love to hear the benefits you get from walking.

Summer Smoothies | Taking a real break

They are great to-go for walks or into the car in my Clear Cups & Lids.

Summer Break

It may be very obvious around here, but I'm taking a little hiatus the Summer.  For me that means making a strong effort to focus on home and family vs. work.  I love sharing here and building my store, but every now and again, I need to regroup.  I need to simplify our routine, simplify our obligations and take it down to basics.  Summer is the perfect time for that.  I feel like this whole idea of beautifying by simplifying is the root of my brand and it really helps me get back to it when I make an effort to truly live it.

Busyness is a problem in this world.  Most of us have to/feel like we should be busy all of the time.  Such the rebel as I am (eh?) I try to reject this as much as possible.  I would like my family's life to be less busy, less obligated, less committed and consequently, more full.  I want Emma's summer to be full of downtime and "her" time so she can be comfortable not running at a full tilt her entire life.  I'm hoping that teaching her to be content with simplicity and content making due with just being (instead of being entertained) that she will spend less of her days chasing what's next, depending on others for her content-ness and more time just enjoying and being responsible for her own joy.

So, this is the first summer (since middle school...?) that I have taken off from work.  Emma is going to camp one morning a week so I can come here and make sure the boat is still afloat.  Thanks to Laurie and my pack/ship team, the store can run without my daily help - yay!  

I've always believed that "work" didn't have to look or even feel like work.  However, with the growth of the store, I've spent way too much time at my desk over the last year and I'm ready to stretch my legs.  I'm also excited to mentally remove myself for a while to re-commit to this dream and lifestyle of simplicity and enjoying.

(I have been taking photos of our dinners, projects and such along the way and will share periodically.  The photos will be a little more casual than usual, as most will just be snapshots before dinner or mid-project.)  

I'm spending free time immersing myself in magazines (the kind you hold in your hands) and cookbooks.  I'm making a real attempt to garden and work in the yard.  I'm doing housework, working on a couple of home projects and trying to pretend just for a couple of months that I don't have a job.

Emma is working on her cartwheels.

She is playing, discovering and being 4.

  

We cook together, walk to the grocery store together, do chores together and take naps together, but she is in charge of her day - her playing, her boredom, her happiness.

I'm enjoying watching her become more independent, stronger and resilient.

Her last day of school in May.

I know it is not realistic for everyone to quit their job for the summer.  During my busier times that still include work (the rest of the year!), we make an effort to say no to too much, to have some time that is just for being at home.  Even a lazy Saturday morning walk to get donuts can make a week of work melt away.

I hope you are all taking a break of sorts this summer to simplify and redirect.  The sacrifice of whatever you need to give up is worth it.

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Summer Smoothies

Each day we take a walk and have a smoothie.  I'm much better at exercising when food is involved.  There is no kale or protein powder in here, just yummy fruit - so yummy and smooth.  When we were in Seaside this spring, I was spending $8 each morning on one of these at a food truck - yikes!  These cost about $0.75/each at home : )

This has become my favorite formula to make :

- Orange Juice with Mango
- Frozen Organic Berries (cheaper that fresh!) : I keep them in my kitchen containers in the freezer for easy access.  I buy mine at Target, about $10 for a giant bag of blueberries and strawberries.
- Banana
- Chia Seeds (recent addition, not pictured) : Bought a huge bag of organic at Costco for $7.  They add iron, omega-3s, etc.  Taste like tiny strawberry seeds.

Plastic Kitchen Containers are restocked.

When we lived with Mike's parents during our reno, I was convinced that I needed a fancy ($$$) blender after using his mom's.  But, when we moved back in, I was more interested in furniture than smoothies so I settled for this $20 one from target.  I have to say - works so good!  I'm glad I didn't spend $500 on a blender just for smoothies.

At the beginning of the week, I fill the large container with strawberries and medium one with blueberries.  My goal is to use up the entire container of each by the end of the week.  Then, I at least know that I had a substantial amount of fruits mixed in my diet.



So far, our summer diet consists of Tomatoes and Mozz salads, BATs (avocado instead of lettuce), waffles or muffins for breakfast and cheeseburgers on the grill for dinner.  And these healthy smoothies... all about balance ; )

Our Fall Trip to New England | Cape Cod, Plymouth Plantation & Boston

Last year, right after I launched the holiday collection, we took off for a trip to New England.  Mike's company is still based there, so we frequently tag along his work trips and extend them into vacations.  Each time we do some of our old favorite things from when we lived there (Concord, Beacon Hill) and explore new places.  Since we were visiting in the middle of November, we thought it would be fun to do some Thanksgiving activities and visit Plymouth Plantation on our way out to Cape Cod.  We all loved it.  

Since today is the day after the Holiday Launch this year, I thought it would be a good time to share our photos from last year, that I never got around to sharing : )

We started out in Boston.  While Mike was at work Emma and I hopped on the Freedom Trail Trolly and did the touristy things.

We started with breakfast in Beacon Hill at Tatte.

Our favorite was the Boston Tea Party Museum and Ships.  It is really well done and charming.

Emma throwing the "Tea" overboard.

Paul Revere's House.  We always walk through this when we are in the North End.

The North End for lunch and resting our tired legs.  We did more walking than riding!

Finally ending up in the Public Garden.

When the weekend came, we went out to Concord for a little visit to all of our old favorite spots.

Lobster Mac and Cheese at the Main Street Cafe

Autumn Inspiration at Winston Flowers

Verrill Farm for Scones and stock for our Cape Cod stay, of course.

Then we made our way to Cape Cod, stopping at Plymouth Plantation on the way.

We LOVED it.  The living history was fascinating and just walking through the village was so much fun.

We finally made it out to Chatham Bars Inn.  Ahhh.

I love the little dining room inside the Inn.  Those blue painted chairs!  The large scale block print drapes!

We rented a cottage right on the oceanfront.  Off season prices made it affordable : )

We ordered breakfast in every morning and enjoyed the view.

Followed by a cold walk on the beach to explore.  I love traveling in the off season.  There aren't crowds, and we can afford to stay in luxurious accommodations.

The Super Moon sunset from our room.

We roamed around and explored shops, too.  I loved this garden store with fresh greens.

We also stopped by Cape Cod Lantern Co. where we ordered all of our light fixture for our home.

I spied a couple more that I need to find a spot for.

Especially this "Stephens" Lantern, even if it is spelled the wrong way : )

Thanks for letting me relive our trip through these photos.

Just looking at these photos, I can breathe in that crisp, fresh salt air - just what I need right now.  My brain always feels a little mushy after a big launch!