here's the family (sans matisse - the forgotten one) frolicking in fall fun.

big boy bonnard is on the steps outside the pink palace trying to get back in before we whisked him away to the vet to have a large pimple on his face checked out. more surgery for this one next week.

beau and louis are gleefully posing among the fall foliage in rock creek park on sunday.

i'm holding my dear "son" at the pugtober fest at dogtopia in maryland. yep, you read that right.

and the last photo is louis on the dog slide at dogtopia. entertaining sunday for all.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:31 AM | 3 comments

Here at HTC headquarters (ok, my itsy bitsy pink condo), we wanted to encourage the sharing of hip tranquil chickness with others over the impending holidays or as a "thinking of you" gift for your favorite leopard-print loving girlfriends.

Soooo, we came up with the following: purchase 3 copies of Hip Tranquil Chick between November 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007 and receive a complimentary tranquility toolkit. Inside the tranquility toolkit you will find yummy tea infusions, a DVD with the first 100 episodes of the HTC podcasts, an unreleased bonus podcast muse by moi, and the signature chariTea soiree toolkit - all wrapped in true hip tranquil chick style. This is the perfect bundle to host your closest HTCs or give thanks for the season solo and set intentions for what is to come!

To redeem, send a copy of your receipt from any book outlet noting your purchase of Hip Tranquil Chick via fax to 615.827.2385 or via e.mail to info@hiptranquilchick.com, along with your snail mail address.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:12 PM | 3 comments

• click play to hear this episode, or click here to listen to older shows!
• direct download (mp3)

Welcome to the 106th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat.

Today’s menu features a must-have pose in On the Mat, getting your groove on with Elayne Chow in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: Down Dog – great stretch for calves

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is an interview with Elayne Chow. After many years of management consulting, Elayne left the corporate world to live her dream of spreading the love for leading a fun-filled adventurous life with like-minded women.

Elayne was tired of the constant focus on promoting physical activity to lose weight and improve appearance. So she started Graceful Edge to inspire women to get out there, all in the spirit of having fun.

Originally from Canada, Elayne is partial to all things cool. Winter running, skiing, toques for every occasion and ice cream. Visit gracefuledge.com to learn more about upcoming events, great tidbits on gear and apparel, and check out the great panel of experts (including moi).


Omwork: To encourage a sense of diving deeper into today’s podcast, I will post Omwork relating to this segment on our HTC forum. Please connect with fellow HTCs there and play with the following:

1. What activity has always intrigued you?
2. What steps can you take to start it?
3. How can you infuse flair into your outdoor passions?

Savvy Sources:
gracefuledge.com
teamestrogen.com
beginnertri.com
watergirlsatplay.com
sheclimbs.org
Her Sports Magazine
Visit forums

Haute Stuff Shoppe: Shop online for my new retail therapy page complete with the Hip Tranquil Chick book, yoga CDs, and tranquilista gems.

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Come our next 1-day retreat in DC on Saturday, January 12 and a weekend of all things hip and tranquil in the Catskills of NY in March. I’ll be leading workshops and hosting book signings in Montreal this week; Charleston, WV and Charlotte, NC in February; and back to Denver in April. Details for all special events at hiptranquilchick.com. I hope our paths will cross.

Join us for our next le chic teleclass chat focused on hip holidays on Monday, November 12 at 8:30ET. Details here.

Mentoring: Interested in diving deeper into hip and tranquil topics 1:1? If so, view all the scoop here.

Au Revoir: Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com. We’re on MySpace and Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music from Podsafe Music Network. Today’s selection is Turn by Karmacoda. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of their music at karmacoda.com.

Thanks for joining me for the 106th edition of the HTC podcast. Namaste.

• You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes!
• New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast Alley.
• 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

Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business?
Check out nineball media

posted by kimberly wilson @ 4:55 PM | 2 comments

yesterday i read for hours, napped (despite waking up late), headed downtown to watch a documentary at the lovely e street theatre, hit H&M and barnes and noble beforehand, purchased 2 new books (JUST what i need), watched kurt cobain about a son (didn't know much about him so interesting and well done film), then returned to the bookstore to capture the remaining 30 minutes that they kept the lights on, walked 30+ minutes home in the lovely chilly air while hitting mcdonalds (more fries and hot fudge sundae cravings), safeway (for some firewood), and CVS (to restock on multivitamins, mascara, and earplugs). when i got home, i finalized and submitted my piece for the examiner, then got online to check out a few books that i'd perused at the bookstore but didn't purchase. yikes, next thing i know, 30 minutes has passed and i'm the proud owner of 4 more books. beau joked that he's going to have to get some sort of parental control or something over my access to amazon.com. uh oh.

anyway, this guilt is arising out of taking down time, reading, being, and feeling totally low energy. i blame the changing weather and my desire (like much of nature) to begin a hibernation process - clearly mine is done through more books and sleeping. my to-do list is growing so i guess i'll be returning to "normal" tonight after dinner with pals. but until then, my passion for being and reading and resting is top priority. anyone else feeling totally low energy? how are you handling the "screech to a halt" shift from the bustle of spring and summer? must run, have new books to read AND there is some silly pug event this afternoon that i gotta get louis all dolled up for. photos to come, for sure!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:48 AM | 9 comments

remember that whole bit about singing for saturdays (former july blog post)? well, today is one of those days! woke up to interview a fellow author, esther blum, who wrote eat, drink, and be gorgeous. beau made me some steel cut oats sprinkled with papaya and i'm curled up with my laptop, pug, kitties, journal, books, and planner pad on a makeshift matress we pulled together last night to sleep in front of the fire. i'm in heaven. so this is what a saturday can be like? i'd hoped to get to the studio for class but feel drawn to lying low this time of the year. just being. breathing. writing. reading.

canadians, i'm crossing the border next week and teaching a couple workshops in montreal at centre de luna yoga. please come out. can't wait to explore this city again. such culture, history, and flair!

also, i've attached info on our 4th annual holiday trunk show. save the date AND, if you're a creative chick, e-mail info@tranquilspace.com to get an application to feature your wares at our event. it's a fun and festive way to support female designers while getting your holiday shopping done early or to showcase your creativity if you're a designer. happy creating!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:29 PM | 0 comments

tonight's concert was AMAZING! she is raw, sexy, talented, an icon, and a darn good piano player. such a treat, even if i got soaked heading there and back. well worth it. i ended up getting a ticket that placed me in a row they wanted to keep handicap accessible, sooooooo they moved me to the 4th row. no complaints there.

of course, i got home, lit a fire and candles, and made beau switch the tunes from hip hop to more tori. gotta hear more! she ended with hey jupiter. love that song. have played three times since i've been home. poor, poor beau and pug.

great questions regarding resentment. a girlfriend brought it up last night, too, with "i don't wanna pry, but what is going on?" basically i'm dealing with a poor decision i made (noted in a previous blog post about trusting my intuition) and all the emotions that come along with the clean-up.

i never think of resentment as jealousy. a friend recently shared feeling resentment/jealous toward women who have something she wants (relationship, career, etc.). i reminded her that women with things i want serve as inspiration and it really is a matter of reframing. i know, easier said that done. to me, resentment is anger toward someone for something they have done.

either way, once i get through the journey, i am happy to share insights regarding lessons learned and how best to cope. until then, i'm still in the muck and wading through as gracefully as possible. off to listen to more tori and watch another documentary while the rain pours outside. 'night.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:13 PM | 2 comments

fresh home from a fun indian dinner, book signing with amy cohen, and post-signing glass of vino. lovely evening. after years of teaching on thursday night, it is fun to explore what life offers each thursday evening.

i'm sooooooo excited to share that i got a ticket to see tori amos tonight! this will be my fourth time to see her and i always come away inspired, impressed, and full of chick power. this girl rocks. she can play two pianos while straddling the piano bench. crazy talent! this is my second time to see her solo and i love sitting in the audience, singing along, and feeling completely anonymous.

i'm feeling a bit lighter these days after a must-have transition is occurring. amazing how life feels so heavy at times and what a shift it is to feel some relief. i'm loving it.

gotta head to bed so i'm full of energy to teach the seniors at the assisted living center yoga in the morning. zzzzzzzzzz. sleep tight.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:07 AM | 2 comments

tuesday night's presentation at GWU's women in business group was such fun. this photo shows me after the book signing with the women in business executive board.

next is sir louis with his new "chewy vuitton." can you stand it?

last is me and christy (my lovely executive assistant) working on some design collages at midnight last night.

tonight i'm off to meet amy cohen (last week's podcast interviewee) at her booksigning in dc. all this rain is making me veerrrryyyy sleepy and my body is a little achy from this week's yoga so i may have to engage in a little r & r before dashing out tonight. ciao.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 3:15 PM | 0 comments

i love my tuesday night yoga crowd. i've had this class since the start of tranquil space and LOVE teaching it. tonight's reading at the end of class was from pema chodren (love this lady!) and focused on how resentment hinders joy. sure, i know that. you know that. but how do we shield the emotions that creep in? in the passage that i read (from wisdom of no escape) she reminds us that resentment will prevent us from noticing flowers set out on a dining room table - the basic beauty of everyday life.

as i personally struggle with resentment at the moment, i found it apropo to have come across this beautiful reminder to read to the class. negative emotion breeds negative emotion. how to fan to negative flames with kindness when brimming with resentment? hmmm, now that's one to ponder!

this evening i enjoyed speaking to GWU's women in business group. amazing girls filled with such drive and desire to make a difference. i was honored. i'll have a photo with the executive board of the group, along with a link to listen to my speech followed by their Q & A, up soon. in the meantime, keep shining and notice those flowers. we deserve joy in abundance! so long resentment.

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

good morning! went to bed at 10:30pm last night and feel so refreshed. saturday night/sunday morning we were up until 3am watching some crazy documentary. love 'em.

wanted to share two things before i dash off to my 10am appointment:

1. last night i led my first yoga + writing workshop and we had a lovely group of 5 women. one of the participants sent me a review of the workshop that she'd posted on her blog. read all about it here. i loved leading this workshop and look forward to offering it again in 2008. thank you, nona, for sharing and joining us on the writing journey.

2. tomorrow night i'll be speaking again at GWU. it is open to the public if you'd like to come. afterwards i'll do a book signing, too! please join us at the GWU marvin center (800 21st street, nw room 403) at 8:15 for a 30-minute presentation on yoga, creativity, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.

must dash. best wishes for a great start to your week! xo

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:27 AM | 3 comments

• click play to hear this episode, or click here to listen to older shows!
• direct download (mp3)

Welcome to the 105th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat.

Today’s menu features a must-have pose in On the Mat, creating a home spa + girl’s group with in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: Plank

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is an interview with Jennifer Worick. Originally from a small town in Southwestern Michigan, Jennifer left the Great Lakes State for a job in magazine publishing in Washington, DC. After six years, she followed her bliss to Seattle, where she made the switch to book publishing. She has since lived in Philadelphia and is now back in Seattle, happily making her living as a freelance writer and editor.

Aside from writing and frequenting coffee shops with free WIFI, Jen also enjoys knitting, making jewelry (you should see her with a torch!), reading US Weekly in the tub, drinking gin and tonics (preferably on a deck with a view, or, well, in the tub with her US Weekly), breathing in the fresh pine air during a hike in the woods, trying to figure out how to put that pine scent into a homemade lotion or potion, making up back stories for interesting strangers, and thinking up new book ideas. Needless to say, she's a busy gal!

Omwork: To encourage a sense of diving deeper into today’s podcast, I will post Omwork relating to this segment on our HTC forum. Please connect with fellow HTCs there and play with the following:

1. Set up a home spa evening.
2. Start a girls’ group.
3. Invite your inner prairie girl out to play.

Savvy Sources: check out jennifer’s amazingly diverse and fabulous book selection

Haute Stuff Shoppe: Shop online for my new retail therapy page complete with the Hip Tranquil Chick book, yoga CDs, and tranquilista gems.

Signature Style: Knit legwarmers

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Come our next 1-day retreat in DC on Saturday, January 12 and a weekend of all things hip and tranquil in the Catskills of NY in March. I’ll be leading workshops and hosting book signings in Montreal in November; Charleston, WV and Charlotte, NC in February; and back to Denver in April. Details for all special events at kimberlywilson.com. I hope our paths will cross.

Join us for our next le chic teleclass chat focused on hip holidays on Monday, November 12 at 8:30ET. Details here.

Mentoring: Interested in diving deeper into hip and tranquil topics 1:1? If so, view all the scoop here.

Au Revoir: Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com. We’re on MySpace and Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music from Podsafe Music Network. Today’s selection is Waking Dream by Natalie Walker. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of her music at natalie-walker.com.

Thanks for joining me for the 105th edition of the HTC podcast. Namaste.

• You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes!
• New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast Alley.
• 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

Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business?
Check out nineball media

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:41 PM | 3 comments

since you don't turn 3 every day, we had to throw a lil' par-tay for sir louis. we had louistinis (complete with cranberries), yummy savories, and orchids sprinkled throughout. by the time the last guests left at 12:30, louis was tuckered out and snoring away on my lap. it's not easy entertaining for a pug. even lakshmi and buddha, sitting on my altar, appeared tired post-soiree.













shortly i'm off to a partner workshop with doug swenson. beau is accompanying me for the fun. then the teachers have a special 2-hour session with doug. he comes annually to tranquil space and we love his spirit.

i woke up feeling blessed and very grateful for the people in my life, especially you. happy saturday.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:39 PM | 3 comments

i've been meaning to share a photo from the tranquil space team retreat and here it is! darling, eh? what an amazing group!

today was not a typical day. up at 8 for my 9am meeting and realized i had no juice in my system. canceled, crawled back into bed, and slept until 12:30. had to get up and head to my exciting procedure. filled out tons o' paperwork, got all dolled up in the not-so-tranquil hospital attire, and awaited my IV. never fun but now they do a local numbing so i didn't even feel it. divine! then a breathing tube and wheeled in for the procedure. i remember feeling very good and then waking up shortly thereafter. next to a chair where i consumed as many saltine and graham crackers as i could get my hands on. yum! first bit of food or drink in over 12 hours! a nice man wheeled me out to the curb (with beau in tow) where my chariot (dc cab) awaited. back home to rest some more. unfortunately or fortunately, they didn't find any abnormalities. so the quest continues to figure my silly gurgling issue out while my throat is a bit sore due to swallowing random objects.

in some odd way, today was a nice respite from my typical day. i mean, it's not every day you're wheeled around, given crazy drugs, and get to wear a paper hat! there's always a silver lining. hope your day was equally exciting!

tomorrow is louis' the pug's 3-year birthday party. definitely photos to come. and doug swenson is in town this weekend at the studio so lots o' fun lined up. plus my yoga + writing workshop at tranquil space - sunday 4:30-7:30! come out if you're writing curious. happy friday.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:07 AM | 1 comments

incense is burning, my new aroma water swirl thing is a swirlin', bhagavan das is playing, and my desk is piled high with folders, books, and notecards. barely space for the laptop but i have managed to squeezed it in somehow.

tonight after teaching to a packed house in our new arlington space, i made my second appearance on arlington's independent media's weekly TV show. not quite CNN but such fun to share yoga with a fresh audience. i think we need a hip tranquil chick TV show!

tomorrow i get to go under as i'm getting an upper endoscopy. not quite shopping, yoga, or bookstore browsing but it's not every day you get to swallow a camera. i didn't know what it was until a few days ago. when i called to schedule it, i said, "my doctor says i need an upper something." somehow that translated to the appointment taker. then i get the paperwork that says i have to have a companion to escort me home or they can't perform the procedure. i got concerned. beau googled it and got very quiet. he was like, "oh, you get to rest and they check things out." there you have it. they check things out . . . with a freakin' camera! technology is amazing. i should be entertaining tomorrow after my medication!

in classes the past 2 nights i've played with a fun transition that i wanted to share:
warrior 1, add eagle arms, bring back leg around to full eagle, back to warrior 2

ok, gotta dash to bed and get beauty sleep for tomorrow's fun! maybe i'll top the procedure off with more french fries and hot fudge sundaes!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:20 AM | 6 comments

monday evening was a treat as i got to sing along to krishna das at a local church. definitely not a typical monday night. after singing for a couple of hours, i began having visions of mcdonald's french fries in my head. so during om namah shivaya, i turned to my friend and said, "let's go get fries!" i topped the fries off with a hot fudge sundae and must confess that it was a lovely way to end the evening!

if you, too, enjoy chanting, bhagavan das is coming to tranquil space over thanksgiving weekend. he's amazing (beastie boys helped produce his latest album) and i've never seen him live so this should be fun. we could go get french fries afterwards . . .

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:35 PM | 13 comments

• click play to hear this episode, or click here to listen to older shows!
• direct download (mp3)

Welcome to the 104th edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat.

Today’s menu features a must-have pose in On the Mat, being a late bloomer with in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: Crow

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is an interview with Amy Cohen. Amy Cohen was a writer/producer on the sitcoms Caroline in the City and Spin City, a dating columnist for the New York Observer, and the dating correspondent for cable TV's New York Central. She is the author of The Late Bloomer's Revolution, published in July 2007 by Hyperion Books. She lives in New York City.

Omwork: To encourage a sense of diving deeper into today’s podcast, I will post Omwork relating to this segment on our HTC forum. Please connect with fellow HTCs there and play with the following:

1. Are you a late bloomer?
2. What story do you have to share that would inspire and motivate others?
3. From Amy: I often felt as if my journal were nagging and beckoning me, feeling constantly ignored. What really helped me after years of thinking "Ah! I didn't write in my journal! What kind of writer am I?" was I got a blank journal and now I write both long and short entries with drawings and cartoons. And it' s fun. That's the key. Even when I'm writing about mortifying things (as I often do), I enjoy it now.


Savvy Sources:
The Late Bloomer’s Revolution
Amy's coming to DC: October 25
Join Kimberly for a Yoga + Writing workshop this Sunday

Haute Stuff Shoppe: Shop online for my new retail therapy page complete with the Hip Tranquil Chick book, yoga CDs, and tranquilista gems.

Signature Style: Legwarmers

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: Come our next 1-day retreat in DC on Saturday, January 12 and a weekend of all things hip and tranquil in the Catskills of NY in March. I’ll be leading workshops and hosting book signings in Montreal and the Boston area in November; Charleston, WV and Charlotte, NC in February; and back to Denver in April. Details for all special events at kimberlywilson.com. I hope our paths will cross.

Join us for our next le chic teleclass chat focused on staying tranquil during hip holidays on Monday, November 12 at 8:30ET. Details here.

Mentoring: Interested in diving deeper into hip and tranquil topics 1:1? If so, view all the scoop here.

Au Revoir: Share your hip tranquil chickness with me, request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com. We’re on MySpace and Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music from Promonet. Today’s selection is The Buddha Bar by Blue Tribe. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of their music at their page on eMusic.com.

Thanks for joining me for the 104th edition of the HTC podcast. Keep blooming! Namaste.

• You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes!
• New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast Alley.
• 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

Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business?
Check out nineball media

posted by kimberly wilson @ 11:53 AM | 2 comments

my weekend has contained pockets of unscheduled time due to 1) not having to drive to baltimore friday afternoon to pick up my race packet, 2) not running the half-marathon on saturday, 3) feeling a bit too much like feel-like-something-is-coming-on last night to attend a going away par-tay, and 4) cancellation of the jivamukti workshop at tranquil space bethesda today. although it is a bummer about my toe (healing nicely by the way) and that we didn't have enough jiva divas in bethesda, i'm delighted to have this space. today is non-scheduled (sure there are a TON of to-dos but no gotta-be-heres) until evening dinner plans with two very special couples in annapolis.

so, i'm up in my loft bed with louis who is diligently chewing away on a yummy rawhide bone and i'm reading the late bloomer's revolution by amy cohen (tomorrow's podcast interviewee AND a raging success story who is blessed with the lovely sarah jessica parker playing her in an upcoming movie based on the book!). love memoirs. since i'm not a fiction girl, these books provide me the fun of fiction with my loyalty to non-fiction.

last night, while the rest of the world was celebrating saturday and my neighbor was throwing a feisty party, i sat on my hot pink meditation cushion - coming to terms that i may have been the only one choosing to spend her saturday night in such a way while the sounds of techno blared around me and the scent of incense swirled. i giggled. then louis jumped up to nip my nose and i lost my flow. back to the chaise lounge to read and journal. i was in heaven.

back to reading and being. moments like this make up for my tendency to overschedule. last night i was loving it so much that i tried to find additional time through 2007 to squeeze in some scheduled unscheduled time. saturday nights are a treat for this - especially with a fire going, puppy nearby, chill in the air, cozy lap blanket, candles and incense in abundance, and comfy clothing.

finally, attached is an image of my planner pad taken on my kitty hair-covered meditation cushion. i don't have a color-coding system per se, i just like to use different colors to make my to-dos, meetings, and appointments more fun. i will also bring in highlighters to add more color and to help things pop out. i use the top left hand columns for my various business to-dos, the right hand columns are notes for my meetings. i'm a planner pad addict! happy sunday!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:45 PM | 3 comments

here are the just-arrived fall designs from TranquiliT: the grecian tunic in chill pepper, perfect pant in espresso, 5-in-1 hoodie in chill pepper, and dolman in apple. they should be up online shortly and we have a new photo shoot coming (forgive my amateur photography above) to pull the entire line together - including giving great ideas on how-to-wear! happy fall!

posted by kimberly wilson @ 10:25 PM | 3 comments

the week was a whirlwind (do i sound like a broken record?). monday's final call ended at 10:30pm, e-mails until at least 1am every night and days packed with meetings from 10am - 10pm. don't worry, i was sure to squeeze in yoga practices, hot baths, incense and candle burning (why am i addicted to this?), journal writing, and playtime with louis.

ahhh, yesterday provided some relief as it was a day set aside just for gala prep, including a trip to costco. that place is consumerism gone wild. someone should do a documentary on it. sensory overload. during yesterday's errand-running, my accomplice, the lovely jackie (far right in photo), joined me to pick up a donation from lululemon for the gala's silent auction. well, we decided that we deserved a few minutes of shopping and i came out with the most fabulous leg warmers. it's that time of the year and until i do my fall closet clean-out, i have no idea where i stored such chilly weather accoutrements during my spring clean-out. ah, gotta locate my arm warmers and leg warmers or fall will not be the same.

wednesday night was a highlight this week. beau was away and we both vowed to go to bed early since it had been such a crazy week and we had the gala the next day. well, we were e-mailing about the gala program until 2am. however, i got SO much organized. paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. since i had 7 meetings b/w tuesday and wednesday, i took tons of notes that contained numerous to-dos. if i just file them, the to-dos don't happen so i'm trying to create a system for keeping meeting notes but translating the action items into my planner pad. oh yeah, and keeping on top of all the crazy medical bills arising from trying to cure my odd "gurgle throat" and creating end-of-year goals for hip tranquil ventures, tranquil space foundation, tranquil space, TranquiliT, and tranquilista! the few hours set aside for the race that i'm not able to run this weekend will come in very handy as i work to closet clean and finalize my Q4 plans. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE getting goals down on paper.

must dash off to another meeting but wanted to share a quick shout-out to all of you. i will send more photos of the gala event once i have 'em. i was all excited to look at photos on my camera last night and there were only 2. ugh! others took many photos so stay tuned. the event was so much more than i could have imagined. amazingly organized by our steering committee and board (featured in photo sans the lovely amanda), we raised almost $2k from the generous silent auction donations, we had almost 80 guests and raised money based on ticket sales and additional donaations (still have to tally that - money is not my forte), and received lots of interest in getting involved with tranquil space foundation. SO exciting. i see this work as being so important and an amazing way to plant seeds with three tranquil tools: yoga, creativity, and leadership!

best wishes for an amazing weekend and may you continue to sprinkle seeds of tranquility among your very bustling life! namaste.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:03 PM | 6 comments

gala fun tomorrow! please join us on thursday, october 11 from 6:30-8:30pm in celebration of tranquil space foundation. you can get tickets online, at tranquil space studios, or at the door. all sorts of fabulous silent auction items such as sailing lessons, jewelry, TranquiliT all-in-one, consulting, and more! wine, tasty treats, and delightful mingling off the yoga mat are included in the $30 tax-deductible donation. oh, and first 50 ticket buyers get a free yoga class. hope to see your smiling faces there as we work to provide yoga, creativity, and leadership tools to teens.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:49 AM | 3 comments

here's louis and me choosing a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch on long island this weekend. beau and louis among the colorful mums. and, of course, louis as a skeleton! can you stand it? loving the fall foliage.

wanna escape into the country for a weekend? join me for a weekend full of yoga and retreating at a beautiful spiritual center 30 minutes outside charlottesville, virginia october 26-28. we'll explore the interplay of yoga, journal writing, meditation, hiking, soaking in the hot tub, warming in the sauna or simply taking a much needed nap. a perfect escape for the weary soul right before the holiday rush begins. transportation is on your own. saturday and sunday vegetarian meals are included, along with an abundance of healthy snacks.

cost: dorm room $275 per person, double room $325 per person. get the scoop at www.tranquilspace.com or call 202.223.9642.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:17 AM | 4 comments

while running around to get out of town on saturday, my pinky toe went one way while the rest of my foot another. i've never broken anything but the swelling, inability to bend it (although i did shove it into stilettos for the wedding), and red line along the toe doesn't bode well for my half-marathon this weekend. frankly, maybe it is a blessing in disguise considering i was using this week to train for it!

happy columbus day. i hope you're having a lovely one. mine began with a quick walk with louis and friends through rock creek park, a meeting with my fabu assistant, some beading with girls from the studio - now a foundation meeting, some yoga (we'll see how the toe likes jump backs...), and an evening call with a new rep for TranquiliT. made some fun new necklaces for tranquilista - love beading. the creative process is delightful. truly. gotta dash to finish a rose quartz and turquoise necklace before my foundation board meeting. ta ta.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 3:56 PM | 4 comments

• click play to hear this episode, or click here to listen to older shows!
• direct download (mp3)

Welcome to the 103rd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat.

Today’s menu features a must-have pose in On the Mat, more “dear HTC” questions answered in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: Lunge (featured in the latest Examiner)

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast features more answers to “Dear HTC” e-mails:

1. I've been in a three year relationship, that has been equal parts the best years of my life, and some very difficult ones. Both of us are growing individuals and find it that our baggage and fears keep getting in the way. I know the age-old adage that "relationships are hard work" but how do you know when you've worked hard enough and it's just not meant to be? Since no relationship is perfect, how do you decide what is "good enough"? And when things get tough, how long do you stick with it to try to resolve your problems?

2. I too am creative but my path, like yours started, but is still currently in, the corporate business world. I work on so many fun projects, met many great people, and grown in my professional maturity as well as worked on my sensitivity. After 5 years, I have been, and more so now, feeling suffocated. The corporate environment is not me. It can be very demanding and never always the finished product that you want. I have also started to realize that “packaging…” even though fun to design…. Is adding to the part of a larger environmental problem.. Which in turn.. Doesn’t fit with my core values…. Your story, from being a paralegal, to changing your career, inspiring others, remaining positive, being strong, being spiritual…It all hits so close to home for me. I was actually relieved to hear that at one time your were in a corporate work place so that I could feel like a better path is attainable… I don’t have to be stuck in the corporate world….But I am having a hard time figuring out what is it exactly that I should do. The scary thing is that I don’t want to go back to school for a new profession… but I don’t feel at the level to take on anything full time like you did with Tranquil Space. I am currently in that “moonlighting” stage, where I am at the verge of burning myself out because I am trying to juggle my passions with my current job. Ironically, even though I think I cant take the corporate world.. I still really like telling and impressing people with where I work… but on the inside.. Something is missing…

Questions
1. How did you deal with telling everyone you know.. That you were changing careers?

2. Did you worry what others were going to say, what they would think of you?

3. How do you really know which passion to move forward with when you have so many passions?

3. I am working hard to develop myself as a HTC. I try and go running first thing in the morning to get my head in the right place for the day - go to work feeling fairly calm and collected - then my work colleagues come in who are stressed, frazzled and frantic. I really find that this rubs off on me! However hard I try and remain in my own little calm and collected bubble by the end of 10 mins I also feel frantic and panicked!!! I think the way people react to chaos is infectious.

4. I'm an aspiring hip tranquil chick, have read your book, listen to your podcasts and read your blog regularly. I, like you, love to read non-fiction self development books (I noticed a pile in the picture of your laptop cover!) My question is, when you read about these inspiring ideas, how do you put it all together? Or even some of it together? I feel an initial boost of inspiration, then I start feeling overwhelmed and scattered. And then I feel stuck.

Omwork: To encourage a sense of diving deeper into today’s podcast, I will post Omwork relating to this segment on our HTC forum. Please connect with fellow HTCs there and play with the following:

1. Explore your current relationships. What is working? What isn’t? Create a relationship wish list. (p. 93 HTC)
2. Create a vision statement for your life right now. (p. 64 HTC)
3. Are you passionate about your work? If not, take action. (p. 112 HTC)

Savvy Sources: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Community Corner: “I just listened to the 100th episode of HTC (how fantastic that the podcast has come so far by the way!) and I decided I had to tell you how much I loved it!

I laughed out loud hearing you talk about your childhood hiking and soccer outfits, and in fact I once when I was nine I went to a soccer team photo shoot decked in pink lipstick, sparkly butterfly hair clips and pink nail polish with a big flowered hairband around my wrist. The photographer actually laughed when she saw me!

I too have always felt different, especially as a teenager. I'm a total self help junkie, a solid introvert (in fact, my Myers Briggs in INFJ as well!!) incredibly ambitious, addicted to my journal, fascinated by spirituality and all things tranquil and fabulous, and constantly seeking ways to improve and analyze myself. As close as I am with some of my friends, I still felt alone, and I'll admit it, I felt weird! None of my friends read books about Buddhism and aromatherapy in their spare time! I felt alone until I discovered your podcast and blog. I never knew there were women out there who thought and felt the same way I do. So once again I want to say thank you for reaching out and sharing yourself with the world. You've had such an impact on my life. Not only have you reassured me that I am not alone (or weird) but you have given me countless resources and inspiration! You are my biggest inspiration. I look forward more than I can describe to finishing school and being able to follow your example and start creating my ideal hip tranquil chick lifestyle and opening my own business (or businesses!) and writing many, many books along the way.”

Haute Stuff Shoppe: Shop online for my new retail therapy page complete with the Hip Tranquil Chick book, yoga CDs, and tranquilista gems.

Signature Style: tranquilista gems

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: I’ll be leading workshops and hosting book signings in Montreal and the Boston area in November; Miami Beach in December; Charleston, WV, Asheville and Charlotte, NC in February; and back to Denver in April. Save the date for our 1-day retreat in DC on Saturday, January 12 and a weekend of all things hip and tranquil in the Catskills of NY in March. Plus Kripalu and Omega next summer! Details for all special events at kimberlywilson.com. I hope our paths will cross.

Join us for our next le chic teleclass chat focused on hip holidays on Monday, November 12 at 8:30ET. Details here.

Mentoring: Interested in diving deeper into hip and tranquil topics 1:1? If so, view the scoop here.

Au Revoir: Request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com. We’re on MySpace and Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music from Promonet. Today’s selection is Ageless Beauty by Stars. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of their music at arts-crafts.ca/stars and myspace.com/stars.

Thanks for joining me for the 103rd edition of the HTC podcast. Namaste.

• You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes!
• New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast Alley.
• 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

Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business?
Check out nineball media

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:59 AM | 4 comments

finally, after a 4-6 week order delay, the plantable boxes for the tranquilista gemstone line arrived this week. aren't they darling? well worth the wait.

my assistant coordinated a beading par-tay for monday afternoon so some bead-lovin' studio girls are coming over to dive into their artistic sides - beads in hand - on my dining room table. will be fun to make some more creations. i love this craft!

gotta get repacked for a quick jaunt north. best wishes for a yummy, crafty, and yoga-filled weekend.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 9:35 AM | 0 comments

happy friday night/saturday morning!

got home from loo-ray around 2:30pm, headed to a 3 consultant meeting (after a quick shower and wrapping of gifts in leopard-print tissue + handwritten thank you notes - can't show up empty handed), then to get my hair highlighted (got keep those highlights highlighted), next to see into the wild in bethesda (cried, cried, cried - read the book!), and finally home around midnight. i leave tomorrow for a black tie wedding on long island. should be lovely - home sunday night.

my week was a blur. how can 4 lovely days in the country go so quickly? i ran 3 out of the 4 days - good choice considering i'm running a half marathon next weekend. most people are tapering their training right now, i'm just kicking it up into a higher gear. yikes! i answered some questions on meditation for the lovely "creating miss perfect," caught up on numerous e-mails offline (we'd do a quick drive-by in town on occasion to download and send), watched some of fight club (genius story but i decided i'd rather read one of my books once the blowing up stuff started), watched the sun set over the valley (picture shown), went through about 25 magazines and WWD papers, added design ideas to my TranquiliT design notebook, came up with a next series idea for my column in the examiner, slept a ton, had good girlfriend chat time with my BFF, did a 4.6 mile hike in the shenandoah mountains (3 pics shown), made some edits to the tranquilology proposal, saw deer and turtles (LOVE turtles), daydreamed about getting a cozy and quaint weekend cottage in the country, and warmed myself in front of the fire before the temperature returned to the 80s.

full of pensive thoughts this evening. more to come once i get 'em processed. i hope your weekend is off to a divine start.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:56 AM | 0 comments

after paying bills (never fun), writing some snail mail thank yous (always a treat), finishing some pending to-dos, getting the october tranquil space newsletter finalized (happy october!), and sending some last minute e-mails, i'm dashing off to the country for some writing and creative work. woo-hoo. serenity awaits.

i'll have limited online access while away but promise to touch base and share the journey any chance i get. it's supposed to be chilly so i plan to hole up in front of a warm fire with tons of tea, good books, gemstones for tranquilista, my computer, and pug on my lap. should be a refreshing week. back friday for some meetings and then up to long island for a wedding this weekend. sending you warm thoughts for an equally serene week among the typical to-dos.

had to share this darling photo of louis on my leopard-print yoga mat. he has an uncanny desire to be on the mat when i am - right in the center. makes updog a bit tricky.

posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:30 PM | 9 comments

hip tranquil chick podcast #102: the pink palace unveiled

• click play to hear this episode, or click here to listen to older shows!
• direct download (mp3)

Welcome to the 102nd edition of the Hip Tranquil Chick podcast: a guide to life on and off the yoga mat.

Today’s menu features a must-have pose in On the Mat, the unveiling of the “Pink Palace” in Off the Mat, and we’ve got Omwork and Savvy Sources for you too. View our shownotes at hiptranquilchick.com/blog.

On the Mat: Forward fold (featured in today’s Examiner)

Off the Mat: Today’s podcast is an unveiling of the pink palace.

Living room












Patio & Kitchen












Dining room












Bedroom












Bathroom













Omwork: To encourage a sense of diving deeper into today’s podcast, I will post Omwork relating to this segment on our HTC forum. Please connect with fellow HTCs there and play with the following:

1. What are your signature design touches?
2. What steps can you take to create soulful surroundings?
3. How many Habitat Must-Haves (p. 143 from HTC) can you add to your home to address the five senses?

Savvy Sources: Anything by Alexandra Stoddard

Haute Stuff Shoppe: Shop online for my new retail therapy page complete with the Hip Tranquil Chick book, yoga CDs, and tranquilista gems.

Signature Style: Play with the Omwork and create a haven at home.

Soirees, Chats, Booksignings & Retreats: I’ll be leading workshops and hosting book signings in Montreal and the Boston area in November; Miami Beach in December; Charleston, WV, Asheville and Charlotte, NC in February; and back to Denver in April. Save the date for our 1-day retreat in DC on Saturday, January 12 and a weekend of all things hip and tranquil in the Catskills of NY in March. Plus Kripalu and Omega next summer! Details for all special events at kimberlywilson.com. I hope our paths will cross.

Join us for our next le chic teleclass chat focused on hip holidays on Monday, November 12 at 8:30ET. Details here.
Mentoring: Interested in diving deeper into hip and tranquil topics 1:1? If so, view the scoop here.

Au Revoir: Request show ideas, or pass along feedback by e-mailing kimberly@hiptranquilchick.com. We’re on MySpace and Facebook, so please connect with the community virtually there, too!

To close out the show, we’re playing podsafe music from Podsafe Music Network. Today’s selection is Spicy Sand by Electrix. You can learn more this week's featured artist, including how to get more of his music at electrixmusic.de.

Thanks for joining me for the 102 edition of the HTC podcast. Namaste.

• You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcast! Click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes!
• 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

Interested in starting a podcast for yourself, your organization or your business?
Check out nineball media

posted by kimberly wilson @ 2:00 AM | 4 comments