last night i indulged in three glorious hours of bookstore browsing after seeing anita o'day: life of a jazz singer. despite a self-declared bed day, around 2pm i got antsy and took louis on a long walk. then on a whim checked to see what was playing at the local artsy filmhouse, found this flick and raced out the door to celebrate taking downtime. i did it in style - for 5 hours! despite the fact that i donned only red lipstick and a faux fur leopard-print stole over the black leggings and long sleeve top i'd worn and slept in the night before, i hit the town. teeth unbrushed. hair amuck. happy as a clam to have an artist date. i wrote in my journal awhile and took these notes from a plethora of books i was enjoying:

• pare down. go through clutter.
• set up an uninterrupted power hour each day to handle e-mail and get organized
• time segment your days
• keep a "what i have done" list for the end of the day
• write out your ideal day (sound familiar? - encouraged the same thing in hip tranquil chick for your life)
• "start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -- st. francis of assisi
• set aside 10-15 minutes at the start and end of your day to reflect
• "when one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do note see the one which has been opened for us." -- helen keller
• critical to establish rigorous benchmarks for success ahead of time, then evaluate them without emotion as you move along.
• when public speaking, create a road map. tell people what you're going to say, say it, and then tell the what you just said.
  
• rank to-dos by importance

tonight's podcast will come later this week. beau/podcast producer is busily driving home during our production time. stay tuned for this week's audio musings!

up at 9am, but have decided i don't want to leave my bed. sure i had to prep a smoothie chock full of frozen mango, frozen wheat grass, protein powder, 2 bananas, and apple juice. yet this concoction followed me back to bed to be consumed in comfort. louis/wormie (his new nickname now that we've discovered he has hookworms - that was our happy thanksgiving news!) is curled up nearby, i have hot apple cider and a peppermint candle burning. seriously, what more do i need besides some hard core rejuvenation. today is the day.

guilt is creeping in from time to time as there is so much i want to do - movies, yoga, bookstore, art exhibits. yet, this is what i need to do! after a week of having to be proactive about a deflated economy coupled with trips to the emergency vet, it seems apropo that thanksgiving would fall on the drama to remind me to stay focused on all there is to be grateful for. beau, wormie, and moi opened the studio to an overwhelming response of yogis wanting to get their yoga on before indulging. so many that i taught an overflow class in our third studio. yay for do-gooding and raising money for the tahirih justice center. beau cooked a yummy meal and after indulging i napped for 3 hours. isn't that what thanksgiving is for - napping and expressing gratitude?

after teaching a gratitude workshop and hosting a booksigning tea at logan circle's lululemon yesterday, i started a little online holiday shopping last night. found these fabulous wreaths made at a farm in new jersey - yummy, scented, and can be used for cooking! ordered a great paper recycling kit for my nephews that are into craftsy endeavors. perfect for teaching young 'uns to reduce, reuse, recyle! of course, many family members will be getting eco-luxe bamboo items from TranquiliT. finding ways to give chic, conscious gifts on a small budget this holiday season allows me to expand my creativity. if you have some fabulous green, cheap chic gift-giving ideas, share them in the comments section of the blog. let's help make this holiday season our most conscious one yet!

oh, one more thing, teleclass on monday at 9pm ET. focus is on the 8 petals of a mindfully extravagant holiday! join us. if you can't make the call, register here and we'll send you the mp3 within 48 hours of the call for you to listen to at your leisure.

now, back to bed day . . .

as i prepare to teach today's gratitude flow at tranquil space, i wanted to share a favorite poem:

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

wondering how to green your home and office? click here to listen to all sorts of ideas on making your life more green.

go green on black friday by shopping TranquiliT's HUGE one-day 25% off online sale! remember, we plant a tree for every online order shipped. go green, shop green, and share green from the comfort of your own home.

here are some tips for hosting a green thanksgiving. wishing you and yours a beautiful thanksgiving holiday from TranquiliT.

Labels: green living

you may recall my excitement over finding a box full of sparkles in the studio basement. voila, here is a photo of the chandelier with sparkles attached! yay for dangling, shiny things and contractors who feel emasculated putting them on. poor guy said he had to dig real deep to find his princess side. i think that's important for men to do on a regular basis. glad i could contribute!

wishing everyone a thanksgiving full of sparkles. have a fire. burn a peppermint candle. eat loads of pumpkin pie with whipped cream (of course!). indulge. start the day with some yummy yoga (2 charity classes tomorrow at tranquil space). bake cookies. simmer apple cider. take a nap. celebrate family and friends. note all you have to be grateful for. make a donation to a favorite charity - even if only $5. nap again. sip mint tea to soothe a full belly. end the day with restorative yoga. sleep like a bebe.

get your smoothie on with these fabulous recipes from melissa klein of suncompass:

Almond “Milk”
1 cup raw unsalted almonds – soaked in water 8-10 hours, drained
3 - 4 cups water
2-3 teaspoons raw agave (optional)
Pinch sea salt (optional)
Blend all ingredients till smooth. Strain through a fine sieve; reserve pulp.*
Store in fridge for 3-4 days. Makes 1 quart.
* Almond meal can be used as a skin exfoliant, dried and ground/turned into almond flour, or frozen to use later.

Almond Berry Blast
1 cup almond milk
1 banana, chopped
1 cup cherries or berries
_ cup soaked goji berries or dates…or dried apricots
Variation: anything! You can add some raw chocolate or rose water for an unusual twist.
Blend till smooth. Enjoy!

Apple Parsley Lemon
Green smoothies are a terrific way to eat more leafy greens for masses of nutrients, more fiber and increased energy from chlorophyll. Drink them for breakfast for a power-packed start to your day, as a snack between meals, or as a liquid lunch if you are pressed for time. You can add ground flax or hemp seeds if you have it as a meal.

2-3 apples
Juice of 1-2 lemons
4-5 leaves of kale or a bunch of parsley
Chunk of ginger (optional)
Celery stalks (optional)
Add water and blend till smooth. Enjoy!
- Over –
Delicious Green Smoothie Ideas
From Victoria Boutenko’s Green for Life

Mango-parsley
2 large mangos
1 bunch parsley
Water
Kiwi-banana-celery
4 very ripe kiwis
1 ripe banana
3 stalks of celery
Water
Peach-spinach
6 peaches
2 handfuls of spinach leaves
Water
Pear-kale-mint
4 ripe pears
4-5 leaves of kale
1/2 bunch of mint
Water
Mango-weeds
2 mangos
1 handful of lambs quarters, stinging nettles, purslane, etc
Water
Finger banana-spinach
10 finger-bananas
2 handfuls of spinach leaves
Water
Strawberry-banana-romaine
1-cup strawberries
2 bananas
1/2 bunch romaine
Water Bosc pear-raspberry-kale
3 bosc pears
1 handful of raspberries
4-5 leaves of kale
Water
Pineapple ginger
1 small pineapple
1 large mango
1/2 head romaine lettuce
1-inch fresh ginger
Water
Note: The ratio of the above recipes is about 60% fruit, mixed with about 40% green vegetables. You may vary proportions to suit your preference. Keep for up to 24 hours in the fridge or cooler, stored in a glass container.

week in review:

monday - 13 hours at studio handling oodles of to-dos including a 3-hour meeting with my accountant. numbers are not my friend and i would much rather decorate or do something creative. each meeting with my beloved accountant takes at least few days off of my life. topped the day off with yoga 3, meditation, and an interview.

tuesday - only 11 hours at the studio. went through spring samples (you're gonna love the spring line). had a private session focused on core - my abs are finally not sore and taught two classes.

wednesday - leave at 3am for nyc. conference until 6pm. to bed early. louis loves daycare.

thursday - conference until 3. head to philly to see madonna. she inspires me to do more yoga. back to nyc hotel at 2am.

friday - conference all day. hear "give it to me" in my head constantly. have a few final hours after conference with louis in daycare to play. we head to union square. dine at republic - LOVE their noodles, browse a few local discount shops, hit barnes and noble, and the lovely cupcake cafe (note photos). pick up louis from daycare. he left quite an impression. we rushed in every night asking how he did touting that we were louis' parents. this last pick up they were like "oh, you're here to get louis!" apparently, he was infamous at paws in chelsea. home at 1am.

today i get to unpack, clean and "holiday" chez moi, head to the studio for some yummy yin yoga, and entertain our fabulous teachers this evening at chez moi. we'll have awards, cupcakes, apple cider, a blazing fire, and smells of peppermint and rosemary to add to the merriment! now, off to play cinderella . . .

thinking about a new furry friend? have a passion for pets? looking for a new volunteer opportunity? look no further than tranquil space this sunday 1-4pm. attached is all the scoop on our adoption event partnership with washington humane society - one of our ongoing charities!

also, yogi appreciation week at tranquil space TODAY - 27th. 10% off class passes AND tranquility boutique shopping. we are super-duper grateful for our fabulous yogis!

dashing off to philly tonight to see madonna! SO excited. thanks for all your fabulous input on podcast ideas. xo

The holidays are fast approaching but it's not too late to start working on DIY projects for Christmas gifts! Avoid the frantic panic by starting your planning now.

Here's some *relatively* easy projects that might interest your fancy (think of projects that can be made in bulk):
-soap making
-bath salts
-handmade books (journals or narratives)
-hand-stamped stationary or cards
-candle making
-beading (easy tutorials for mala beading can be found in these previous posts: 1, 2, 3)
-knitting and/or crocheting
We encourage you to check out your local craft communities for classes and workshops.

If you are local, TranquiliT has a great line up of classes designed to get you DIY-ing for some great holiday gifts this year:
Holiday Knitting Project: Beanie, Dec 6, 9:30-12:30pm
Crochet Jewelry, Dec 8, 6-8pm
Revamp your Old Jewelry (Earrings), Dec 10, 7-9pm

Lastly, check out the great necklace above made by Kim, who joined me for the Revamp you old jewelry (necklace) workshop last night. The piece above was made from 3 separate necklaces Kim had on hand that were broken. Yay, Kim! Thanks for letting us share your work.

If you have a DIY project that you made and would like to share, please pass them along to me at christy@tranquilit.com.

~christy, events designer

Today's tip assists setting an intention by stopping, sitting, and being with your breath. Taking the time to move out of your head and into your body is powerful. As we continue to explore our practice of healthy living, I want to encourage you to spend time "being" rather than always "doing." No easy task, I know!

To get started, take a moment to be in your body. Find a comfortable place to sit still and simply experience your breath. Bend your knees and place your heels with one in front of the other. If your knees are above your hips, sit on the edge of a blanket, pillow, yoga block, or phone book to elevate your hips and release any tension in the hips or knees. Ideally, your hips would be higher than your knees. If a cross-legged position is not comfortable, sit on the edge of a chair with your feed under your knees. Rest your hands onto your thighs, lengthen through the crown of your head, draw your shoulder blades in toward one another and then down your back as your chest lifts. Close your eyes and feel each inhale and each exhale. Just be.

OMwork (homework with a yogic twist): Try this for two to five minutes to start and then gradually build up to 20 minutes three times a week. Sitting cross-legged and experiencing the power of the present moment will assist you in feeling more grounded, revitalized, and focused -- ready to take on the twists.

Namaste, Kimberly

Labels: yoga

dearest blog readers,

bonjour from chilly new york. the 2:30am alarm came early and poor louis the pug was royally confused. however, we made it to new york, dropped luggage, parked car, day cared louis, and got to our 3-day workshop just in time. love it when that happens!

we're on a quick break so i wanted to reach out to ask your input. we just shared the 140th podcast (woo-hoo) and i'm excited to see what the next 140 episodes will hold. i want to do something special for the 150th (20 weeks to go) and would love any special requests. also, the main reason for this note is to hear what topics you're dying to hear more about. over the past 3+ years we have covered writing a book, going vegan, exploring macrobiotics, ayurveda, beading, oodles of yoga poses, aromatherapy, time management, greening, podcasting, spiritual activism, ethical leadership, travel, self-love, throwing a soiree, self-care, sewing, feminism, buddhism, creativity, make-up, living your yoga, and much, much more. what is your pleasure?

from last week's podcast comments it appears you crave some planner pad support. what else? feel free to note in the comments section or e-mail moi at kimberly@kimberlywilson.com. there are so many fabulous topics to cover and i continue to search for the most applicable, inspiring, and interesting ones i can find! if you have something fabulous to share OR you have a suggestion on a must-have topic to cover or recover, do share.

in the interim, please continue to connect with our community through all these great outlets: forums, facebook group, and newsletter. i'm honored to have you in my life and look forward to continuing to serve you through tranquility du jour! xo

tonight beau, pug, and moi will head to new york around 3am. since i teach until 9:30pm, this allows us to slumber a few hours and then head straight up to our 9am session. three days of mind body university (training for our yoga studio software) and louis the pugs gets to play with other pups at a nearby daycare in chelsea. basically a win-win for the whole family! while there for a whirlwind three days we get to dash down to philly to see madonna on thursday night. super-duper excited. totally admire that woman and always head home post-concert to do tons o' chaturangas. those arms! got all packed before heading to the studio for the day and look forward to a few unadulterated zzzzs before hitting the road bright and early with a snoring pug in tow.

boston readers: cool green event tonight featuring TranquiliT and other fab green designs

dc readers: yogi appreciation week at tranquil space november 20-27 - save 10% off class passes and boutique shopping. THIS saturday i'll be leading a workshop in the TranquiliT showroom on taking your craft to a business. join moi if you can! all others, read craft, inc. it's fab!

• direct download (mp3)

Bonjour! Welcome to the 140th edition of tranquility du jour: a guide to bringing tranquility to your every day.

Today’s show menu features happenings and musing with moi on greening.

Workshops + Retreats: Join moi for events in DC (including a workshop at the TranquiliT showroom on growing your craft to business, Denver in January, Montreal in March. Plus we've got a day focused on creating 2009 at our 2nd annual new year's gala, weekend of tranquility and creativity at our 3rd Annual Hip Tranquil Chick retreat in a lovely farmhouse not far from NYC March 27-29, 2009, a retreat to Costa Rica over Memorial Day, and another week at Kripalu next August 9-14, 2009. All the scoop is at my workshops page.

Featured eco-luxe TranquiliT: Luxe Bridal

Featured guest: Moi with fodder from eco-coach.com

Chic Community: Mingle on our forums, Facebook, Twitter, and youtube.com/hiptranquilchick.

Savvy sources: eco-coach.com, TranquiliT's eco-blog, eco-chick, idealbite.com

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Hope Over Hope by Karmacoda. A BIG hello to the lovely Heather Pierce, who provides vocals for the band. You can learn more about their music at karmacoda.com.

Leave your thoughts on hip tranquil chick by writing a review at Amazon.com!

• 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.

Labels: podcasts

We're delighted to share that TranquiliT was featured as a fave takeaway from DC's Greenfest last weekend. Read all about it and more at ecosceneinc.com.Thank you, Ecoscene for mentioning TranquiliT as a fave!

Back after five days of writing in the hills. Tres productive and just what the doctor ordered. Made great strides on three chapters (stages as they will be called in Tranquilista.) Long journey home with oodles of traffic including a blockade in the heart of DC's rush hour at a busy traffic circle and a poor soul's vehicle broken down on the bridge (not the ideal plac for a breakdown). None of which make for a speedy return! Despite the arduous journey, I'm delighted to be home with beau and pug. About to curl up on the couch to savor a fire and a documentary. My version of heaven!

Local eco-chicks: Come see TranquiliT tomorrow at the Art of Living Center, 2401 15th Street. Here's the scoop: Live Green and the Art of Living Foundation are hosting “DC Eco-Feast”, a family friendly vegetarian potluck where DC area residents can learn easy tips for going green, and rest the mind and body through yoga, meditation and massage. Sounds fun, eh? We'll be there 12-4!

All others: Savor some down time this weekend. Get a jump start on holiday shopping. Indulge in a yoga or dance class. Go see an art exhibit. Curl up at home. Write in your journal. Browse a bookstore. See a movie. Volunteer. Adopt an animal. Take a hot bath. Eat something decadent. Be good to yourself.

It is definitely time to dust off your winter wears as it is getting quite chilly outside these days. Fear not, as TranquiliT has some fun accessories for you to add to your winter wardrobe. Arm warmers and our beanie are always great, but the scarf you can't go wrong with!

Made with yummy, super soft organic bamboo, you can be stylish (and warm!) without having to worry about itchiness you might get from typical winter accessories. It also makes a great stocking stuffer for the upcoming holidays. Check out the fun ways to wear our scarf on our youtube page.

As if this wasn't great enough, why not add a dash of originality and creativity to your piece? I've taken some paper beads from Paper to Pearls that support local beading collaboratives in Uganda and have hand sewn them to the edge of the scarf. I love that the papers beads are larger in size, but light weight. It adds just enough color to my slate gray scarf.

Other eco-friendly and fairtrade bead options are ceramic beads from Kenya at Kazuri beads or Bead for Life who also makes paper beads in Uganda.

As I say every week, we would LOVE to showcase some of your creative DIY work! Please send an email to me at christy@tranquilit.com with a photo and description of your piece to be considered.

~Christy, events designer

Labels: accessories, beads, creativity, diy, scarf, sewing

bonjour from a little cafe in lovingston, virginia. i've just dined on yummy cheese fries, a vegetarian deluxe salad, and a milky way pie - a welcomed respite from the organic frozen meals i've been dining on since returning to the writer's retreat on monday. yum!

got to see the lovely gina (former tranquil space studio director) and her darling husband in charlottesville on my way to the retreat center. she made rice and beans, along with a delightful salad topped with avocadoes and homemade dressing. who makes dressing? i was super-impressed! getting loads of writing done. finished chapter 3, half of chapter 4, and watched a little mind-numbing tv last night to clear my head.

i've received lots of sad news over the past few days that is a reflection of our economy. my college gig and a staple at oklahoma university, harold's, has filed for bankruptcy. i worked at the original location where harold would swing by on occassion. fun memories throwing fashion shows, working midnight madness sales, waking up super-early for inventory (ugh!), and working crazy hours during football game days. the store grew to have 43 locations around the country and it's disheartening to see this midwest institution close. seriously, so sad! this coupled with all the jobs currently being lost and the daily filing of bankruptcy by companies around us (today i found out about one of our site's ecommerce system is going under) is taking its toll. still uber-excited about the change that is to come, but can't help feeling sad about those whose dreaming are coming to a screeching halt in this economy!

how to stay afloat and mindful during this downturn:

1. tighten your belt a little. my fun tarjay runs for random "necessities" are no more. neither are soy chai lattes at starbucks. instead i'm enjoying what i have, paring down, and brewing my own tea at home.

2. keep up your self-care. gotta keep up my monthly pedis, but may limit my manis. yoga, meditation, and an occasional massage are necessities. keep investing in your health. go for a run (free!). take a bath. spend a night in. cook at home.

3. stay informed. keep on top of what is happening, but don't dwell. sure it's the worst downturn since the great depression (or so we're told), but it's critical to stay as positive as possible. this is a great time to make sure ducks are in a row, you're not spending more than you make, you have a nest egg, and you're still saving for retirement even while scrounging to pay your cell phone bill.

4. be grateful. nothing keeps us happier than staying connected to all you have to be grateful for! make a list nightly or at least weekly. especially during these times, it's key to stay mindful of what you have - even if it is as simple as hot water or the love of your pet. thanksgiving is coming at a great time for us all to reflect with extreme gratitude for what we do have.

Today’s dose of tranquility is a forward fold. From a basic standing pose, inhale your arms out to the sides and over your head. Exhale as you hinge from your hips into a fold forward. Avoid folding from your waist (where a belt would be) and rounding your back, instead fold from your hip joint so that the entire pelvis tilts. Relax your head and neck while placing your hands onto your shins or to the outsides of your feet. With each inhale, lengthen the torso slightly to a flat back (as shown in the photo), exhale and fold deeper as you draw your chin to your shins. Stay here for 30 seconds to 5 minutes while moving slightly with each breath.

If you’re chair bound on an airplane or in the boardroom, you can still get the benefits of this pose. Open your feet hip width apart, bend at the hips and dangle your arms to the floor. Surrender your head and neck and savor this intoxicating inversion.

A pose is an inversion anytime your heart is above your head. Inversions are said to burn off stuck impurities (per Ayurveda – the sister science of yoga), help us get comfortable with our world turned upside down, and take a different perspective.

This delightful pose is calming and cooling, relieves stress and insomnia, improves digestion, opens up the hamstrings, soothes the neck, and stimulates the liver and kidneys.

Omwork (homework with a yogic twist): this pose can be incorporated into your busy lifestyle with ease when bending over to pick up a dust bunny, pulling out a book from the bottom shelf, or planting mums in your garden.

Labels: yoga

TranquiliT is having a ball connecting with tons of eco-loving shoppers at Washington, DC's Greenfestival. Come down to the convention center and let's meet and mingle. Open 11-6 today! For continued shopping post-Greenfestival, come see us at Tranquil Space or at our showroom.

last night's hip hop yoga was a ton o' fun! here's a photo of moi during soundcheck that beau captured. felt like madonna. that headset is kinda fun! dj ten (marq few) did an awesome job spinning the tunes.

here's TranquiliT's booth at green festival this weekend in dc. such fun! i think it turned out darling and the collection was a big hit with eco-shoppers today. i had to dash out of the event early to teach a 2-hour hip workshop, but am looking forward to meeting and greeting all day tomorrow. met the author of eco chick guide to life and will interview her for a future podcast show. lots of fabulous folks roaming the aisles at the green fest.

after teaching, out to dinner with beau and then to catch the woody allen flick vicky cristina barcelona. fabulous film. beau fell asleep. i downed a whole box of malt balls. yum! off to barnes and noble afterwards for some late night browsing. delightful conclusion to the day. now, off to don my eyepillow and gear up for a good night's sleep. 'night! zzzzzzzzzzzz

this week has been filled with teaching oodles of yoga (classes, teaching training, and workshops), a photo shoot where i had beau and pug sit in for some fun family shots, an AMAZING election night that filled dc's streets with joy, a tranquil space foundation gala recap meeting (yay for hitting lots of our 2008 benchmarks!), TranquiliT open showroom evening, fun press in washingtonian (where i outed myself as a tarjay clothing buyer . . . yikes, nothing like high fashion!), mentoring session with an amazing woman, updated my contact page (let's connect!), and passed along the latest TOC, intro and chapter one to my publisher. whew! now off to set up the booth for TranquiliT at dc's greenfestival this weekend. swing by if you're in town. tonight we've got hip hop yoga with a dj spinning and tomorrow i'm leading two hours of yummy hip openers in between greenfest festivities. join moi if you can! monday i dash off to the hills for another five days of writing. the calm after the storm! ahhhhhh. wishing you all a delightful, energized, and green weekend!

We have gotten some emails from some readers who are planning to make malas as Christmas gifts after reading our How to Mala posts 1 and 2. Today's post is a follow up to the first 2 posts that will explore how to create your own tassel for your very special piece. Sure, there are plenty of websites where you can buy pre-made tassels, but where's the fun in that?

So, let's get started!

1. Supplies for the tassel are minimal:
-string of your choice (I am using hemp in the example)
-clear nail polish or super glue
-pair of scissors
-card or cardboard







2. Wrap the string around a business card or piece of cardboard. There is no right amount to wrap -- obviously the more your wrap, the more volume your tassel will have.









3. Cut one of end the string. Don't worry too much about the evenness of the ends -- we can touch it up when the tassel is complete. Also try to keep a good grip on the side of the string that isn't cut. Trying to re-align all the individual pieces of string can be a hassle.








4. At this point, if you have the ends of the string to your mala bracelet, go ahead and tie them in the middle of the strands you just cut. You may want to knot it a few times then secure it with glue or nail polish. Cut the ends when they had dried.

If you don't have a mala that you can attach at this point, I would stop now and finish that first. It is much easier to attach the tassel to your mala in this fashion rather than at the end when the tassel is completely made.



5. Take any 2 strands from your tassel and criss-cross them over. Wrap around a few times, then secure with a couple over hand knots. There can never be enough knots in this case -- make sure that your work is secure.






6. Secure the knot with nail polish or glue. Wait until the glue dries to cut the ends. Trim the ends of your tassel to make them all even. Voila! Your very own custom tassel to attach to your special mala.









If any of you have photos that you would like to share of your DIY projects, please feel free to email them to me at christy@tranquilit.com. We would love to share your creativity on the blog!

~Christy, events designer

Labels: creativity, diy, mala, meditation

if you're free tonight from 5-8pm, swing by the "housing of TranquiliT inventory and online shipping palace" known as the showroom. the first thursday of every month we open the showroom for your shopping pleasure. we have lots of fabulous fall items along with a few of last season's favorites. if you need personalized assistance during other hours, contact jill! the address is 1724 20th street, suite 01 (near 20th and s) in washington, dc's artsy dupont circle. we'll have cheese and crackers, too, so you can grab a pre-dinner snack.

if you're wanting to get your craft on, check out all the events that christy has put together. oh, and come see us at greenfest this weekend.

i started to post early tuesday morning and am coming back to the blog early wednesday morning after a VERY historic day. oddly enough i woke up EARLY and full of excitement today about what was going to unfold. sure, i get excited about all sorts of fabulous things, but was surprised to see that this election was making such an impact - especially on my sleep which is my *absolute* favorite endeavor these days.

anyway, the excitement continued. seeing the "i voted" stickers, voting with pride, seeing students dash off to election watching parties, and then watching it unfold when i got home from the studio around 10pm. no matter what i always get saddened by concession speeches. candidates put so much of their heart and souls into campaigns of any sort - especially one such as president of the united states. obama, as anticipated, blew us all away with his speech. he is a GENIUS speaker. terribly impressed with his ability to present. wow! dc is on fire right now - honking horns and loud cheers outside despite this late hour. truly a memorable day!

last night i subbed meditation class and read a quote by pema chodren that encourages us to embrace our dark sides. a student came up afterwards and mentioned a great quote she'd read about johnny cash. apparently the quote mentioned that he was so great on stage because he brought his good side and shadow side up to perform. i like that! perfection is a myth. we're all such complex beings and it's good to remember that what we struggle with is also what makes us special. god bless being quirky and imperfect!

by the way, these random photos are from a shoot this morning by the lovely sally mannix - moi in dove donning strappy heels (of course!) and moi, pug, and beau. aren't black and whites so dramatic?

oh, for a little more drama, check out this fabulous eye mask sent by a friend. can you say totally indulgent? i love it!

Despite the chill, it's always a treat to get outside and bask in nature. Below are some ideas to ensure you get outside and connect with all that is blossoming around you.
Take a hike and observe the fall foliage.
Visit Botanical Gardens or your local Arboretum.
Hit an ice skating rink and observe how balanced (or imbalanced) you are.
Pack a picnic and read in your local park.
Substitute a mid-afternoon coffee break with a walk around the block sipping pure spring water.
Don some snowshoes, skies, or a snowboard and hit a fluff-filled trail.
Take your yoga practice or exercise regime out onto your balcony, deck, nearby trail, or rooftop.
Pull out your binoculars for bird or butterfly watching.
Cut your own firewood and release some pent-up energy.

Omwork (homework with a yogic twist): Reflect on ways in which you, too, can begin to slow down in conjunction with nature.

Labels: nature tranquility omwork

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Bonjour! Welcome to the 139th edition of Tranquility Du Jour: a guide to bringing tranquility to your every day, formerly known as Hip Tranquil Chick. See blog for the reasoning behind the rename - same show and passion for ALL things hip and tranquil!

Today’s show menu features happenings and musing with Cami Walker.

Workshops + Retreats: Join me for events in DC (including a workshop at the TranquiliT showroom on growing your craft to business, Denver in January, Montreal in March. Plus we've got a day focused on creating 2009 at our 2nd annual new year's gala, weekend of tranquility and creativity at our 3rd Annual Hip Tranquil Chick retreat in a lovely farmhouse not far from NYC March 27-29, 2009, a retreat to Costa Rica over Memorial Day, and another week at Kripalu next August 9-14, 2009. All the scoop is at my workshops page.

Featured eco-luxe TranquiliT: our new eco blog. Come by the showroom on Thursday between 5-8pm for our monthly open house!

Featured guest: Cami Walker

Cami Walker, 29Gifts.org founder, is a writer, artist and healer who lives in Hollywood, California. She worked in advertising for 'the big boys' for a long time, helping companies who already have millions of dollars make millions more. After 15 years of focusing on making money for these giants, she found herself feeling empty, unfulfilled and struggling with a serious health condition (Multiple Sclerosis) that required she stop living her over-driven lifestyle. Now Cami's focus is on helping build companies and community projects that are spiritually-centered and wildly profitable on all levels. She created the 29-Day Giving Challenge to encourage friends, family, clients and hopefully many strangers to give back to our communities--and as a way to help herself heal.


Chic Community: Mingle on our forums, Facebook, Twitter, and youtube.com/hiptranquilchick.

Savvy sources: See above bio.

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Girlz Around My Way by PS24. You can learn more about their music at myspace.com/PS24music. Check out the video for the song too:



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Labels: podcasts

here are some fun photos from the greater dc cares event that happened before i left town last week. moi and the director getting hypnotized; beau, baby b, and moi; and moi with director pre-hypnotizing. fun, fun event. support their efforts at greaterdccares.org.

back from a week full of very little stimuli beyond the occasional passing train that shook the old farmhouse. it feels oddly exhausting (yet equally comforting) to be back home. i'm hopeful this is a minor state of readjusting to my pace. funny how "patterned" our systems are, eh? when you switch it up a little, they go into rebellion. my poor system is going to go into total shock as i'm home for a week and then back to write some more the following week. ahhhh. should be back to "normal" in december! ha!

while away i discovered the MOST amazing tea that you will hear my rave about for weeks to come: sweet rose by tulsi tea. OMG! truly one of the most amazing teas i've ever found. indulge. then, indulge some more! if you don't know about zico coconut water yet, i encourage you to do some indulging there, too. tastes like sugar water but is uber-good for you. what more could you want?

just received a link to from the lovely kelly watson who interviewed me recently regarding living your brand. hope you enjoy!

post-yoga today, i'll be heading to busboys and poets to see the lovely PS24 perform. if you're local, come join us! the band is a delight and we'll be doing a live music/yoga class together in february.

may you celebrate your system shifts from exhaustion to energy, your authentic voice (brand) development, and savor some yummy tea - preferably rose! happy all saints day.