dearest readers,

i'm breathing a sigh of relief as i knocked everything off my list yesterday - 5 meetings, 1 french class, laundry, began packing, designed dress layout for book launch, wrote newsletter muses, and recorded 2 podcasts (one on que for when i'm away). now i'm able to causually prepare to leave the country for a week. it feels odd. i haven't been away solo for vacation since i went to spain for my 30th birthday - so over 3 years. it feels lonely and invigorating at the same time (i'll be the only american at this small womens' retreat). as i was reflecting in my journal this morning, i wrote "i hope my time away with give me a chance to break some bad routines (non-stop connection to e-mail, aka addiction), to regain perspective, and to reflect." basically, i'm excited to see the forest for the trees so to speak. sometimes it takes pulling myself out of routine and my regular setting to truly appreciate the trees. sound familiar? resonate?

as i mentioned in a previous post, this trip is my reward to myself for the book. it's so important to take a moment to honor your efforts and i hope that you, too, will take a moment this week to reflect on the completion of a goal. treat yourself. maybe it isn't a retreat in spain, but maybe it is a new journal, new book, freshly sharpened scented colored pencils, a weekend away at a nearby spa, or a yoga class with your favorite teacher. whatever it is, i encourage you to become your own cheerleader (sound familiar from yesterday's podcast?).

thank you to those of you who wrote in to share some fun insights with our readers. my beau will post them while i'm away so you will still have daily doses of tranquility coming your way. best wishes for a fabulous week and happy halloween! back in touch on november 8. xoxo

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:03 AM | 3 comments

HTC: October 30, 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 55th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the raspberry and leopard-print embellished flat in Washington, DC.

Listen to my first interview on Hip Tranquil Chick!

Today’s podcast is on starting a biz, topped of with a pose of the podcast, insights on upcoming events, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog. Watch for upcoming episodes on numerous things hip and tranquil such as ecotrends, home spa tips, podcasting, and more!

Pose of the Podcast: Crow/Bakasana

Haute Stuff Shoppe: Shop online for the book, CD, leopard print scarf, or crystal tee.

Soirees, Chats & Booksignings & Retreats: The step-by-step scoop for hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree is up! The downloadable PDF has discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! Send photos from your soiree and, if you’re local, I’d love to swing by!

You’re invited to our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 in DC at the new swanky boutique Hotel Palomar. The event is also an unveiling of the Tranquil Space Foundation whose signature program assists girls in finding their inner voice through yoga, creativity, and leadership. RSVP here.

Escape with me to our first HTC retreat in upstate NY for June 2007. Details at hiptranquilchick.com.

Au Revoir: Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists from PromoNet. Today’s selection is Blugirl by Soul Ballet. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of his music at 215music.com.

Thanks for celebrating the 55th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast with me! Namaste.

You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click here to listen to any episode!

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:59 PM | 0 comments

the dream was always running ahead of me. to catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle. ~ anais nin

as we move into a season of reflection and giving thanks, i can’t help but smile when i think of how special this time of the year is to me. aside from the delightful chill in the air, the ability to don legwarmers again, and the joy of hot baths, november means even more. tranquil space began as a seedling in my living room seven years ago this month so i always take a moment to reflect on how blessed i have been to connect with so many fabulous folks since its inception. and now with my book, hip tranquil chick, hitting the shelves, it is a joy to see three years of effort come to fruition. i share this with you because i know that you, too, have dreams inside of you and they can sometimes feel daunting. so i wanted to share some thoughts on how to turn them into reality:

1. fulfill a need. when i began tranquil space, there was little to no yoga in dc and the studios that i visited outside the city weren’t quite the right fit for me. so, i went through a teacher training and began inviting people into my living room. same with the book. i’m a self-diagnosed bibliophile who is currently reading at least thirty books. i couldn’t find a book that helped translate yoga as a lifestyle for the modern girl, so i decided to write one.

2. start small and research. explore ways to “moonlight” with your dream. is your desire to open a flower shop yet you are currently a paralegal? well, work part-time on the weekends in a local shop and buy all the books you can on the internal workings of a flower shop to ensure it is a good fit. gradually move away from your “safe” job into the life you crave.

3. be of service. is your dream to be a yoga teacher, an attorney, or a knitting storeowner? whatever it is that you dream of doing; explore ways of giving back with your work. you’ll earn good karma points and have a great time all at once. nothing makes me happier than teaching chair yoga at an assisted living center each month.

4. reward your efforts. as congratulations to myself for the completion of hip tranquil chick, i’m dashing off to spain on halloween to spend a week at a creativity and leadership retreat with one of my favorite authors, lynne franks. she wrote seed: the feminine way to do business that had a huge influence on me in my early business years. it is important to take the time to honor yourself for your efforts or days, even years, may slip by.

5. never stop growing. we all know the importance of repotting a plant to give it ample room to grow and develop. we’re the same way. be sure to carve out the mental space to learn new things, expand your horizons, read, and travel. it will do your dreams good!

keep dreaming, girls!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:30 PM | 0 comments

straight from my publisher's website. hope you enjoy!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:11 AM | 2 comments

bonjour. looking for a fun way to highlight your favorite charity, get the girls together, and spend some time in playful reflection? if so, be sure to download the host a hip tranquil chick signature chariTea soiree toolkit filled with discussion tips, an agenda, invites, recipes, and handouts! i've tried to make this as thorough and fun as possible so i look forward to your feedback and photos! au revoir and happy soiree!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 8:08 PM | 1 comments

Q: I have had my own home practice for about 6 years now. I once studied under a teacher for about 6 months, but after she left, I went back to my home practice.

I feel very comfortable in my own space here at home and unlike what others may have found about practicing at home, I am very dedicated and resist all distractions. I practice an hour to an hour and a half every day, with a variety of styles of yoga, from hatha to kundalini to flow to yin to ISHTA- just whatever I am feeling that day.

My question is: I am feeling the need to bond and connect with other yoginis, but yet, I am worried about joining in a class setting. At home, I don't worry about being competitive with others or feeling foolish if I fall out of a pose. I know I could certainly use the practical knowledge of a qualified teacher to asess my postures, but how can I get over my fear of feeling like I won't be to 'measure up' in a class?

Signed,
Home-bound Yogini


A: Oh dearest home-bound. You are an impressive yogini. Many people struggle with carving out a home practice and you're a beautiful example of dedication to it. However, now it is time to wean you off the exclusive home practice and get you in with a group of yogis that can become a great community for you. Here are a few tips:

* Ask for teacher referrals.
* Look for a flexible schedule and offerings unless your routine/lifestyle is regimented.
* Find a teacher that assists during classes and doesn't practice with you the whole time on the mat. Class time is for a teacher to teach, not practice.
* Research online for a yoga community that resonates with you. Review their website, mission, class offerings, style, and overall feel to ensure it works for you.

We all fall over in class. It's the fun of it. Let go of any concerns surrounding not keeping up with the Jones'. I know, easier said than done but if you attend a class at your level, you'll be surrounded by like-bodied yogis. Approach your practice with an attitude of reverence and surrender feelings of judgment. This is your special time to connect within, focus on you, and release the outside world.

Your desire to connect with other yogis is powerful. It's great to find a community that you'd enjoy mingling with off the mat, also. I hope these few tips help get you off the home mat and into a studio at least once a week. Start small and gradually increase if you're loving the camaraderie! Good luck and keep me posted.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:03 AM | 3 comments

dearest hip tranquil chicks,

whew, what a week. non-stop action from the minute my feet hit the floor until my head hit the pillow. meetings, meetings, and more meetings. do you ever look at your to-do list and wonder what in the world you did even though you see a ton of words with lines through them? if you could see my planner pad . . . every single line is filled, there are highlights all over (to help certain lines stand out over others), and the to-dos seep into the appointment section. if i could take a picture of it, i would. i think you'd laugh.

since i'm going to be away for a week, would any of you like to submit pieces to keep some action (and inspiration) on the blog? amanda was such a great guest blogger while i was inaccessible in august that i thought i'd open the possibility up to any of you who have a desire to share some hip and tranquil thoughts. if you have some (words of wisdom, recipes, book recommendations, poems, style tips), please pass them along to me via e-mail by tuesday, october 31 to have posted while i'm away.

finally, listen to my first interview about hip tranquil chick. it's with a dear friend of mine and fellow yogi, darren main. i hope you enjoy it!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:26 PM | 0 comments

Greetings fabulous ones! I was actually able to hold a copy of the book in my hands today. Wow, it's amazing to see a dream come to fruition three years after concept. My hope is that you will be equally enamored with your copy. They should hit the shelves within a week or two. The cover is soooo darling. Gotta love pink and leopard-print.

If you're a fan of all things hip and tranquil, please help spread tranquility by:

• Purchasing additional copies of the book. Hip Tranquil Chick makes a great stocking stuffer or special gift for fave girlfriends.
  
• Coming to the Book Launch Fete in DC on Thursday, November, 16.
  
• Hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree. Details here. If you're local, I'd love to join!
  
• Writing an review on Amazon.
• Sharing your thoughts on My Space.
  
• Reviewing the book on your blog.
  
• Subscribing to the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast via iTunes.
  
• Celebrating the concepts of the book during a weekend escaping the city at our Hip Tranquil Chick retreat.
  
• Connecting with your local library to ensure they have a copy of the book in their collection.
  
• Calling your local Barnes and Noble, Borders, or indie bookstore to make sure they carry the book.
• Donating copies of the book to a local charity or community organization.
  

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:53 PM | 4 comments

i spent the day at a training on working with young girls called dare to be queen. i am still processing the day and was saddened to hear so many stories of neglect and abuse. it has shaken me to the core. isn't it always easier to live in our own little bubble, toss some money to certain causes, and stay ignorant of the drama around us?

since i'm someone who always wants to fix things, i walked home wondering how i could make it all better. how can i break the cycle? a friend recently threw her back out and was put on medication to break the pain cycle before she could be treated for the injury. it's similar with our psyches, isn't it? we have to put a bandaid on it, help ease the pain, and then go deeper?

as a little girl raised in the midwest, i definitely had different experiences growing up than the youth that i see in dc today. we discussed two major differences being the internet and constant exposure to violence. i'm excited to wrap my head around the day, the girls, the curriculum, and how best to make a difference with our women of tomorrow.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:06 PM | 0 comments

sad news about hiptranquilchick.blogspot.com - once we transitioned the blog to our newly redesigned site, we lost that address and it has now been replaced with something about "tight black pants." well, the wild world wide net is unpredictable. never fear, however, you can get all the scoop at www.hiptranquilchick.com! i also plan to launch a weekly inspirational muse called the hip tranquil times - more scoop coming soon.

the sun is shining and the air is brisk. i was up until 1:30am reading (i can't get enough of all these new books) and now have a day of meetings and the infamous french class ahead of me. oui! i'm trying to tie up lots of loose ends and doing quick check-ins with our fabulous teacher team before i head off to spain on halloween next week. as a treat to myself for writing hip tranquil chick, i signed up for a retreat in palma de mallorca with one of my favorite authors, lynne franks. she wrote a book called SEED: the feminine way to do business. i picked this book up when i had just started tranquil space in my living room and she's served as an inspiration for over 6 years now from afar. i adore the concept of creating a responsbile business that truly serves others and she was my first introduction to that concept. i hope to have Internet access to share with you all i'm learning while on retreat. if not, plan to receive tons of info when i return on november 8.

i hope that your week is off to a great start. if you live near the dc area and would like an invite to the hip tranquil chick book launch fete (and mini fundraiser/unveiling of the tranquil space foundation) on thursday, november 16, e-mail me to receive your invite via e-mail or download it at http://www.hiptranquilchick.com.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:51 AM | 3 comments

HTC: October 22, 2006 Shownotes




Bon Jour!
Welcome to the 54th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the raspberry and leopard-print embellished flat in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is on living life as a performance, topped of with a pose of the podcast, insights on upcoming events, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog. Watch for upcoming episodes on numerous things hip and tranquil such as ecotrends, home spa tips, meditation, and more!


All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.

--William Shakespeare, As You Like It (Act II, Scene vii)

The personal work that you do is the back stage work that manifests on stage.

We present ourselves to the world through:

1. Actions
2. Outward appearance
3. Voice
4. Who we associate with

Pose of the Podcast:
Tadasana

Haute Stuff Shoppe:
Shop online for the book, CD, leopard print scarf, or crystal tee.

Soirees, Chats & Booksignings & Retreats:
The step-by-step scoop for hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree is up! The downloadable PDF has discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! Send photos from your soiree and, if you’re local, I’d love to swing by!

You’re invited to our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 in DC at the new swanky boutique Hotel Palomar. The event is also an unveiling of the Tranquil Space Foundation whose signature program assists girls in finding their inner voice through yoga, creativity, and leadership. RSVP here.

Escape with me to our first HTC retreat in upstate NY for June 2007. Details at hiptranquilchick.com.

Au Revoir:
Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me at kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists from PromoNet. Today’s selection is Honeythief by Halou. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of their music at halou.com.

Thanks for celebrating the 54th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast with me! Namaste.

You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click here to listen to any episode!

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:45 PM | 0 comments

hello my darlings,
wow, who would have known that confession could be so much fun. i heard from so many of you and really appreciated your responses. guess i'll have to confess more often!

if you haven't yet seen our new look, please visit www.hiptranquilchick.com. let me know your thoughts.

thursday in nyc was fabulous. starting at 5:30am and home at 1:30, to bed at 3am. whew, what a day. the ladies who launch event was inspiring as always. the speakers were fun, the vibe was warm, and the day was perfect. a full-day focused on personal development (even if i was a little under the weather) is my idea of a dream day. after the event i gallivanted down to union square in preparation for a yoga class at the shala. en route, i passed a day spa with "walk-ins welcome" on the front glass. since i had an hour to kill, i peeked my head in to see if they had any openings for reflexology. indeed they did so i was in bliss for an hour. then off to yoga for a long intermediate practice that felt amazing. afterwards i headed to jivamukti a few doors down for a bliss salad - filled with avocados and yummy greens. i got two new books while there - diet for a new america (reconnecting me to my need to be vegetarian) and a translation of the yoga sutras. finally, back down to penn station where i had noted a new borders nearby. unfortunately it was closed so i decided to head to the h&m across the street. ok, another confession, this is another guilty pleasure. although i love supporting independent designers, i can't help but find myself drawn to h&m's selection and prices. at the train station i picked up another book, true to yourself: leading a values-based business. due to extreme excitement about my new books, i didn't sleep at all on the train and read the whole way home!

today after teaching and having two meetings, i put together halloween treats for the tranquil space managers & teachers - a goody bag filled with lip gloss, a tea light, candy necklace, and pumpkin lollipops. yum! i LOVE holidays and am a sucker for goody bags. if you have a moment, send a halloween card or goody bag to your friends and/or family. these little surprises (especially via snail mail) can mean so much.

during dinner tonight, i kept ordering for my beau. i was like "we'll have an apple salad and fried mozzerella." when i continued this mode for dessert, he said, "you know i can order for myself." "oh, why bother when i can easily do it for us both?," i replied. we laughed at this odd role reversal. personally, i love it when these things happen.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:06 PM | 1 comments

thanks for all your well wishes. wow, i should get sick more often. i'm honored to have received such sweet notes! i got in some good yoga and meditation today despite still feeling quite weak. gotta get to bed soon as i'm dashing off to new york tomorrow for an all-day ladies who launch event and to get in some good new york yoga. ahhhhh.

ok, so while i'm on the confession kick, i must also share that my "use" of the beautiful french language is not pretty. my "accent" is a lovely blend of spanglish. i left class monday night so disappointed (you know that feeling from grade school of getting really frustrated over a math problem) that instead of taking a friend up on the offer of veggie sushi, i hit the nearby book store and got a BIG rice crispy treat. ate it on the walk home as i had a pitty party for my inability to speak fluently after the second class. so maybe fluently is a bit agressive, but i'm still trying to figure out the darn alphabet, accents, and pronunciation of the verb conjucation! i've been told there are some great french podcasts so i think i'll check them out.

i hope you are all taking good care of yourselves. this weather and time of the year can be tricky on the immune system and psyche. seems like we should be gathering our nuts and preparing for a nice long slumber, doesn't it? well, instead of gathering nuts (your neighbors may get nervous), pull out your journal, do some seasonal reflection, hit the yoga mat, and curl up with a good book. i'm with you in spirit! xo xo xo

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:21 PM | 7 comments

i began feeling sick en route back from leading the retreat this weekend but kept plugging away. "no time for getting sick" was my motto. well, the little lump in my throat has grown, the fever has intensified and so has the achey body. ah ha, guess it is time to take a breather. somehow the body just has a way of insisting.

i had hoped to pull through to teach tonight, but after feeling worse post-nap, i decided to get a sub. even though i feel a bit beaten, i haven't been able to disconnect from my friendly laptop. a colleague recommended i watch tv and relax. gasp! i turned it on for a few minutes and felt guilty. tv mid-day felt like such a guilty pleasure, so back to the laptop. hmmm, is there actually a lesser of two evils?

next i lit a fire, made more decaf chai tea, drapped onto my chaise lounge with a goosedown and pug nearby, and made some calls that i'd needed to make (oh, and sent more e-mails that i needed to send). i guess it is good to embrace being sick and relish in the down time that the body insists upon. however, today proved to me that i'm not very good at resting when i would rather be out and about handling the typical daily drama that life so beautifully brings.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 5:11 PM | 8 comments

HTC: October 17, 2006 Shownotes




Bon Jour!
Welcome to the 53rd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the raspberry and leopard-print embellished flat in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is on questions to ponder through journal writing and a guided writing meditation, topped of with a pose of the podcast, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog. Watch for upcoming episodes on numerous things hip and tranquil such as ecotrends, getting organized, meditation, and more!

To ponder:

• How am I feeling?
• What am I scared of?
• What makes me happy?
• What do I really want?
• My biggest dream is to . . .
• My ideal relationship would be . . .
• My ideal lifestyle would be . . .
• I am not being honest with myself about . . .
• Where do I see opportunities for growth on and off the yoga mat?

Pose of the Podcast:
Place sparkly pink pen in hand and get to writing!

Au Revoir:
With a desire to continue growing our community, I’ve set up our very first HTC retreat in upstate NY for June 2007. Please join us for a weekend of all things hip and tranquil!

Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at Kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

You can now order Hip Tranquil Chick, the Get Your Yoga On companion CD, a leopard print scarf, or a crystal tee.

Save the date for our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 at the new swanky boutique Hotel Palomar in DC. RSVP here.

We’re almost done with the step-by-step scoop on hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree! Watch for this downloadable PDF coming soon with discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! If you live near DC, I’d be happy to swing by your soiree!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists from the IODA PromoNet. Today’s selection is Jade Buddha Temple by The Shanghai Restoration Project. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of their music, at shanghairestorationproject.com and their Promonet page.

Thanks for celebrating the 53rd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast with me! Namaste.

You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click here to listen to any episode!

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:16 AM | 1 comments

fresh back from a fabulous fall foliage retreat weekend with an amazing group of yogis. although i lead the retreat and am "on" the whole time, i always return refreshed after spending time outside, doing some yoga and meditation, sipping more tea than my body is used to, and sleeping to the sounds of nature. some take-aways that the group came up with were: carve out more unstructured play time, organize chaos, make a quilt and sit still, take baby steps and celebrate them/breathe when life is difficult, doing things without judgment and living with questions, focus on self-care, laugh and smile more/not take life so seriously/release control. i share these with you as a gentle reminder of our ongoing need to slow down, laugh a bit more, and celebrate play!

a poem by rilke that was read by a retreater and spoke to many of us was:

I would like to beg you dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.

p.s. podcast coming tomorrow. i hope you had a delightful weekend and got to enjoy some of the fabulous fall foliage and weather.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 7:35 PM | 2 comments

i came across this poem today as i was putting a plethora of torn out magazine articles into their proper places. this is a favorite poem that i wanted to share and request we reflect upon:

i will not die an unlived life. i will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.
i choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise.
i choose to risk my significance, to live so that which came to me as seed goes to the next as blossom, and that which came to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 4:33 PM | 1 comments

today i was blessed to attend the washington area women foundation luncheon and got to hear the CEO of the bill and melinda gates foundation speak. there were 1200 women at the event and the generous spirit of giving back was contagious. the growth of the wawf was encouraging considering we're (the tranquil space foundation) still meeting in my living room and are funded fully by tranquil space studio. it's all an evolutionary process, right?

the speaker from the gates foundation encouraged women to become audacious and to take bold steps because that is where greatness comes from. she and the other speaker, ann fudge, noted the importance of girls and women finding someone who believes in them. i, too, agree that this can make all the difference in the world. how can we let someone struggling know that we believe in them? offering support, a gentle nudge, and the tools to move forward can have profound effects.

the speakers also emphasized the importance of having high expectations. we must have high expectations for ourselves and others. the hip tranquil chick never accepts status quo. one of my favorite writers, anais nin, said that life shrinks or expands in response to one's courage. i agree. be courageous, be bold, and take audacious steps to living the life you deserve. be sure to lift others up along the way. otherwise the success is pointless.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 8:42 PM | 1 comments

HTC: October 9, 2006 Shownotes



Welcome to the 52nd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the raspberry and leopard-print embellished flat in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is on fall fashion fun, topped of with a pose of the podcast, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog. Watch for upcoming episodes on numerous things hip and tranquil such as ecotrends, getting organized, meditation, and more!

• Leggings
• Roomy knits
• Cowl necks
• Sweater dresses
• Slim black pants
• Skinny jeans
• Pencil skirt
• Peep toe flats
• Wedge boots
• Ballet flats
• Platform shoes
• Capes
• Bubble everything
• Hats
• Obi and BIG belts around the waist
• Skull/crossbones print
• Mad for Plaid
• Ankle boots
• Leopard-print
• Bold color – crimson, plum, royal blue
• Velvet
• Black is the new black: Sheer black
• Eco-friendly fabrics

A couple fun fall fashion articles:
from The New York Times and from Focus On Style

Fave great deal finds:
H & M, Tar-jay, TranquiliT

Pose of the Podcast:
walking meditation to do while shopping

Au Revoir:
With a desire to continue growing our community, I’ve set up our very first HTC retreat in upstate NY for June 2007. Please join us for a weekend of all things hip and tranquil!

Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at Kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

You can now pre-order Hip Tranquil Chick, the Get Your Yoga On companion CD, and/or a leopard print scarf. Save the date for our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 at the new swanky boutique Hotel Palomar in DC. RSVP here.

We’re almost done with the step-by-step scoop on hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree! Watch for this downloadable PDF coming soon with discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! To host a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree in your area, please send your stats (name, location, e-mail) to kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com and you'll receive your Toolkit via e-mail shortly. If you live near DC, I’d be happy to swing by your soiree!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists from the IODA PromoNet. Today’s selection is Borderline by Jody Watley. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of her music at her PromoNet page and jodywatley.net.

Thanks for celebrating the 52nd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast with me! Namaste.

You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click here to listen to any episode!

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:58 PM | 0 comments

this evening i met with my fabulous start-up team and board to discuss the curriculum plans for our signature program. we reviewed the yoga, creativity, and leadership plans while also discussing possible names for our program. after we began to get a little punchy, we called it a night and decided to continue the convos via e-mail. every meeting continues to get more and more honed in on the exciting work we will be doing. it brings about such a great sense of community to have the opportunity to work with an impressive group who is equally invested in making this organization a success.

i'm enjoying learning about the non-profit world as this is my first exposure to the internal workings of them. on wednesday i'm spending a lot of the day at the washington area women's foundation's special event. i'm so looking forward to hearing the speakers and mingling with fellow women invested in making a difference. after all, isn't that what it's all about?

i was chatting with a student yesterday about the evolution of tranquil space and how my journey happened organically out of a desire to grow personally, rather than a 5-year strategic plan. i emphasized with her the importance of leaving a legacy. although all of our legacies will be very different, it is the notion of leaving one that matters. have you thought about what yours will be? lord knows mine is always in flux, but let's do our best to leave a mindfully extravagant one.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:15 PM | 2 comments

friday ended with a visit to the vet for my two kitties, bonnard and matisse. sure i know that bonnard (my first feline love) is a bit "fluffy," yet the vet basically demanded we put him on a diet immediately. he's gained 4 lbs in one year (shocking considering his only diet change is a daily dose of skim milk). he is already quite nervous about the lack of food bowl availability. the vet said that his 19.2lb body equates to a 400lb person. yikes! we're limiting his intake by not keeping an unending bowl around. i worry how this diet is going to play out. he's nervously circling his bowl, following us around the condo (he usually has nothing to do with us), and has a look of dread on his poor little kitty face. send good kitty weight loss thoughts. . .

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:57 PM | 2 comments

oh my goodness, have you seen this fabulous movie? beau and i saw it last night during date night and i can't stop giggling. the movie is so darn cute!

on another note, do you ever have those days when you're spinning your wheels the WHOLE day and feel like there is nothing to show for it? the past few days have felt like this due to all-day meetings that were very process oriented. now i have to digest it all and get it on paper. that's my best way to work. with my focus on the studio, teaching, developing the foundation, designing new pieces for TranquiliT, carving out time for louis and beau, and putting energy into hip tranquil chick, i'm feeling the need to crawl into bed with a good book and stay there for awhile. yet, isn't that what happens to us all this time of the year? it's the perfect time to hibernate, regroup, reassess, and slow down. the frenetic energy of summer has passed and it is now time to turn our attention toward priorities, energy conservation, and overall well-being. i hope that you, too, can find a little hibernation time, along with some time to reflect on your seasonal intentions.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 3:32 PM | 1 comments

i've come across this question a lot lately in my after hours reading and in chats with friends - what would you do if you knew you would not fail?

i am off to the dog park with louis (who has been a complete menace while beau was out of town) to journal, sip some blueberry green tea, and contemplate this question before diving into my day. as i try to vary my routine a bit by taking this morning time to do things differently, i hope you, too, can carve out a little space to do the same and reflect on this question. share your answers if you're so inclined. happy reflecting!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:17 AM | 5 comments

soooo, classes began tonight with verb conjugation (lord have mercy, you don't want to hear my poor pronunciation beyond what you're exposed to on the podcast!). whew! thank goodness i'm getting help. considering my only other language exposure has been four years of spanish, i find myself saying "si" and "y" constantly. gotta expand my french repertoire beyond my poor excuse for spanish.

i have to say that i feel rejuvenated by being back in a classroom. there's nothing like learning something new. i tell ya, it's good stuff! this whole french thing is fun. oui. oh, and my teacher is from africa and claims that 22 of the 52 african countries are french speaking! au revoir, mademoiselles.

fun french links:
french style
more french style
and more french style!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:56 PM | 2 comments

HTC: October 1, 2006 Shownotes




Welcome to the 51st edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat. Produced from the raspberry and leopard-print embellished flat in Washington, DC.

Today’s podcast is an interview with Warren Brown on starting from scratch, topped of with a pose of the podcast, and groovy podsafe music! View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog. Watch for upcoming episodes on numerous things hip and tranquil such as fall fashion finds, getting organized, meditation, and more!

Warren Brown is the host of Sugar Rush on The Food Network and the owner of CakeLove and Love Café. Mr. Brown loves working in the kitchen and developing new products that are sold through his bakery and café. His career path has been anything but normal, and that adds to a lot of the excitement in the sweets he creates. He completed his undergraduate studies at Brown University in 1993 with a BA in History, and graduate studies at The George Washington University in 1998 with a Juris Doctor and a master’s in Public Health.

In 2000 Mr. Brown left his career as a lawyer litigating health care fraud on behalf of the federal government for the Department of Health and Human Services to pursue a dream and start a business. Sensing that people wanted better cake, he founded CakeLove in 2002. With a lot of hard work, positive word-of-mouth advertising, and direct marketing, Mr. Brown has grown his business from a moonlighting project into a thriving retail business. In 2006 he was recognized for his entrepreneurial passion by the Small Business Administration and given the Small Business Person of the Year award for Washington, DC. In 2005 and 2006 his bakery CakeLove won the best bakery category in The Washington Post’s Best Bets readers poll.

In addition to his weekly appearance on the Food Network hosting Sugar Rush, Mr. Brown has been recognized for his entrepreneurial spirit and featured by a number media outlets, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, People Magazine, Southern Living, Black Enterprise, Inc. Magazine, The Washington Post, and many others. Mr. Brown continues to pursue his entrepreneurial spirit by building additional retail storefronts and expanding the product line. He contributes his time and energy to charitable causes by speaking to young students and rising entrepreneurs about business development and finding one’s passion.

Pose of the Podcast:
3-part yogic breath

Au Revoir:
With a desire to continue growing our community, I’ve set up our very first HTC retreat in upstate NY for June 2007. Please join us for a weekend of all things hip and tranquil!

Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing me at Kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com or leaving a love note in the comments section of hiptranquilchick.com/blog. A reminder that we’re on MySpace and Frappr, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

Have a burning question that you’d like hip and tranquil feedback on? E-mail me to have it featured and answered in our dear hip tranquil chick segment!

You can now pre-order Hip Tranquil Chick, the Get Your Yoga On companion CD, and/or a leopard print scarf. Save the date for our book launch fete on Thursday, November 16 at the new swanky boutique Hotel Palomar in DC. RSVP here.

We’re almost done with the step-by-step scoop on hosting a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree! Watch for this downloadable PDF coming soon with discussion tips, a toolkit, yoga sequences, recipes, and more! To host a Hip Tranquil Chick Signature ChariTea Soiree in your area, please send your stats (name, location, e-mail) to kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com and you'll receive your Toolkit via e-mail shortly. If you live near DC, I’d be happy to swing by your soiree!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music---by new and independent artists from the Podsafe Music Network. Today’s selection is Free and Easy by Lovespirals. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of their music, at lovespirals.com.

Thanks for celebrating the 51st edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast with me! I hope this inspires you to start something from scratch. Namaste.

You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click here to listen to any episode!

New to podcasting? Get more info at Yahoo Podcasts.

Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Do you use another podcatcher? Use this link for the podcast RSS feed.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:44 PM | 2 comments

lazy sunday afternoon

i can't recall the last sunday (my day off) that i actually had free. the weekends have been as much of a whirlwind lately as the weekdays. however, today is different! woke up late morning, discussed with beau how the day would unfold (the challenge of the many things we should do such as grocery or tar-jay shopping, closet cleaning, and overall organizing of life and home, combined with the many things we wanted to do such as read, stay in bed and nap, sip tea, and enjoy the quiet). as i sit curled up on my chaise lounge with magazines, planner, journal, louis, and some jasmine green tea nearby, i have to say life IS good! taking the time to simply be is a must-have in addition to the leggings, tunics, and platform shoes i noted in yesterday's post. i hope that you, too, can squeeze a little down time into your busy life. afterall, that is what sundays are for - taking care of you! enjoy.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 2:16 PM | 0 comments