ready to share your muse with the world? why not start a blog, write a book proposal, or write in your journal? your voice needs to be heard. this weekend i'm leading my bi-annual yoga + writing workshop at tranquil space where we'll explore the connection between your yoga practice and the art of sharing your voice. a fellow yogi/author, jeff davis, is also offering a whole week of this exploration at kripalu. take a moment to pen your thoughts and you may be pleasantly surprised with what flows onto the paper.

we have one spot left for this saturday's remake your clothing workshop. i'm so excited to play with the art of turning a beloved piece into a brand new item. if you're interested in learning more about remaking your clothing, join us on saturday or pull out an old tee and explore the may ways you can turn it into a tube top, dress, or tunic by diving into 99 ways to cut, trim & tie your t-shirt into something special.

slowly recovering from 14 hours of driving plus hosting an AMAZING group of ladies all weekend -- my green tea (+ warm memories) is helping!

each year i am blown away by the women who join moi for this adventure. from my oh-so-helpful assistant hilary to the lovely jen lee who also facilitated modules to the cooks who made yummy meals (complete with desserts) and all the women who traveled from the midwest, california, dc, and new york to be with us for the 3rd annual hip tranquil chick retreat. merci beaucoup! i wanted to share a few photos of the ladies' altar, doing yoga, listening intently to jen lee's module on finding your creative muse, + our group shot before dashing off to catch trains or planes.

returning from a retreat is always a bit discombobulating. after being in a sacred space, reveling in reflection, and focusing on one's vision, it can be tricky to return to a manic monday. the key is to stay focused on the big picture despite the drama of day-to-day life. one of the ways i like to do this is by setting my key results for the week.

what are the 3-5 main items you want to focus on this week? this helps boil down the oodles of to-dos into a few projects that will bring you great joy (and relief) to complete this week. blend it with personal and professional. to-dos don't have to be drudgery. if they are, reflect on whether the to-dos you're doing are the right fit and adjust accordingly - a whole OTHER can of worms.

wishing you a week full of key result actions coupled with a joyful bloom into spring! . . . and a *HUGE* merci beaucoup to the delightful bunch who joined me at the farmhouse this weekend.

such a treat to wake up to country air, sounds, and spaciousness. it feels good to be back to this special place. peruse little history on the farmhouse and the work that goes on at woodhull. the library itself is to die for. truly a dream to be surrounded by so many books by and about women. utterly inspiring!

the ladies will arrive this afternoon so i included a photo of hilary collaging in the living room last year. it's fun to see the place come to life with like-minded ladies from all over coming together to indulge in personal development. truly a treat!

my creaky body is craving yoga and i just received the two dharma mittra yoga DVDs before i left town, so . . . looks like i'll start the day with some deep lunges. i'm debating his teacher training and want to do some immersion in the practice to ensure my body loves it.

getting to the country provides such a welcome respite from the city life i love. it's nice to look out my window and see lots of space, hills, and trees. albert einstein wrote, "i have lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of the quiet life stimulates the creative mind." i like forward to creative infusion and space this weekend.

set up your own mini-retreat this weekend:
1. carve out 3-5 hours
2. light a candle to signify the start of your retreat
3. gather your creative tools: paintbrushes, journal, sketch pad, computer for writing, sewing machine, beads, yoga mat
4. make something: a blog post, a painting, a sketch of your ideal life, a redesigned tee (see our class at TranquiliT showroom next week), new dangly earrings, new yoga sequence
5. top it off with a long soak in the tub complete with lavnder epsom salts
6. enjoy a mixed greens salad, flute of bubbly, and chocolate mousse

yesterday i was uber-exhausted and crawled into bed around 8pm to read and rest. i began reading life entrepreneurs (a book i'm honored to be featured in) and came across a quote i wanted to share:

what then shall i do this morning? how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives . . . there is no shortage of good days. it is good lives that are hard to come by. - annie dillard

loved the quote and find it to be profound when pondering the best use of time and energy!

leaving for new york in a few hours and delighted to welcome a lovely group of ladies coming in from around the country - even a few west coasters this time! i'll be sure to post photos and you can follow updates on twitter. the weekend will be a delightful of creativity, self-care, reflection, yoga, and leadership.

wanted to share this LOVELY flower designed by kristen who participated in last night's le chic teleclass chat. if you're interested in hearing the teleclass, check out "tranquility du jour on demand." a BIG thanks to all the lovely ladies who joined in from around the globe - UK, canada, germany, west coast through east coast.

may we do our best to offer oodles of tranquility to those who cross our path. remember, it starts within!

a lovely group of ladies just graduated from the online creativity circle! congrats! i asked one of the fabulous graduates if i could share her gorgeous vision board and she graciously agreed. i hope that this helps sprinkle some inspiration your way. may your visions continue to turn into reality.

• direct download (mp3)

Bonjour! Welcome to the 149th edition of tranquility du jour: a guide to bringing tranquility to your every day.

Today’s show menu features happenings and musings on simplicity with Mary Carlomagno.

Workshops + Retreats: Join moi for our next le chic teleclass chat "Bloom into Spring" on March 23 PLUS events around the globe: a decadent retreat to Costa Rica over Memorial Day, a summer solstice staycation in DC on June 20, and another tranquility-filled week at Kripalu August 9-14, 2009. All the scoop is on my workshops page.

Featured guest: Mary Carlomagno
Like most people, Mary Carlomagno was stressed out, over scheduled, and tripping over the clutter of her days--until she decided to take control. Each month, she eliminated one distraction: alcohol, shopping, elevators, newspapers, cell phones, dining out, television, taxis, coffee, cursing, chocolate and multitasking. Her journey is chronicled in her first book, Give it Up! My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less by HarperCollins. Mary's journey changed her life and became the basis for order.

Mary has appeared on the Today Show, Fox and Friends, CBS News and Good Housekeeping TV. She has been interviewed on Martha Stewart Radio and by Leeza Gibbons and Joan Hamburg. Mary's simple and action-oriented system for organization has been featured in Real Simple, Woman's Day, Quick and Simple, For Me magazine, Newsday and the Daily News. Mary writes frequently on the subject of getting organized for magazines and newspapers including Body and Soul, the Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pink, Woman's World and Figure. She is also an expert columnist on care.com and regular contributor to Design NJ.

Mary teaches workshops and lectures to corporations, community organizations and professional groups including Media Bistro.

Mary's latest book is Secrets of Simplicity.

Signature Style: Spring has sprung at TranquiliT: peony, bluebonnet, iris, noir + a dash of tangerine.

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

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Dreams of 18 by Lal Meri from Promonet. You can learn more about their music at lalmeri.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

merci beaucoup for your support during today's spring trunk show. we raised $70 for tranquil space foundation, enjoyed mid-day mimosas, mingled with fabulous femmes, shared the amazing work of nest, and welcomed spring with a fresh, bold palette. here are a few photos from today.

wishing each of you a beautiful, bold, and balanced launch into spring! xo

bonjour and welcome to spring: what a delight! the sun is shining, birds are singing, i had 3 delightful podcast interviews with amy butler, diana rupp, and christine arylo, and spring has launched at TranquiliT. i'm in the showroom fancying it up for tomorrow's bloom into spring sale. so looking forward to our annual spring trunk show. if you're in dc, s'il vous plait come see us!

take a moment to reflect on your spring goals. it's a fresh time of the year to begin to ponder where you are, what's working, what isn't, and begin to make changes. while walking sir louis this morning i saw the sweet daffodils and purple crocuses that were pushing out of the soil. the *perfect* reminder to do the same. let's bloom! anais nin's quote, "and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful that than risk it took to bloom," is a great mantra for spring.

how can you begin to bloom? what area(s) of your life need a little extra attention? we're like little flowers coming out of winter's hibernation in search of sunlight, water, and some TLC. what small step can you take to bloom?

i plan to:
* sign up for a creative non-fiction writing class.
* replant my outdoor garden space. needs oodles of TLC.
* design the fall collection. colors were chosen: 1, 9, 10 won!
* master the speed bag. boxing is fun!
* keep my fridays free for playing my design lab (aka showroom).
* sign up for dharma mittra teacher training.
* expand my volunteer efforts: more tranquil teens programs + more animal activism.

if you'd like to join moi + other hip tranquil chicks around the globe to discuss more on blooming into spring, sign up for our le chic teleclass chat THIS monday at 9pm ET. if you can't join live, no worries, i'll send you the mp3 to listen at your leisure.

now tell me, how are you going to bloom this spring?

"and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom." - anais nin

my book is to the publisher and my world is returning to "normal." what a delight! although i *adore* the writing process, i was beginning to feel a bit disconnected from my real life. writing and editing for hours on end can make moi a bit crazy. ready to jump back into life, projects, designing the fall collection, setting out spring, leading next weekend's retreat in ny, and all sorts of items that have been put on hold or percolating in the background while i devoted all my energy to tranquilista: a girl's guide to fashionably enlightened entrepreneurship (possible subtitle).

my editor asked today if i had any suggestions on the cover. hip tranquil chick was such a deliberate cover and based on a photograph taken in chez moi. if you have any fabulous images, ideas, or thoughts, please pass them my way. i plan to do some soul searching tomorrow between boxing, yoga, and meetings to see what i can come up with, too. merci beaucoup in advance for any creative fodder you'd like to share.

by the way, the winning colours for the fall palette were 1, 9, and 10. i ordered the fabric last night. woo-hoo! thanks for having *SUCH* an impact on the decision.

if you're free on saturday, please swing by the showroom from noon-4 for the launch of TranquiliT's spring collection. to enhance the experience, rebecca kousky of nest will be joining us with items from artisans that compliment TranquiliT's spring palette. nest empowers women artisans to emerge from poverty through a unique combination of interest-free microloans, mentoring from established designers, and a market in which to sell their craft. by promoting self-reliance, nest helps its loan recipients to create successful small businesses that allow them to support their children and their families. she's doing amazing work!

interested in an in-between tranquility du jour podcast muse? here's a podcast interview with moi on KANDLcast where we're discussing life, businesses, and do-gooding. enjoy!

my tranquilista manuscript is due to new world library today. had an amusing conversation with pops last night (an amazing editor) who was royally confused by words and phrases such as "here's the skinny," "faux," "uber," "i heart X," and "chai" (he pronounced it "che" - i was like "no, dad, he was a revolutionary, this is a drink!" funny moment . . .

off to edit all day, teach yoga tonight, and return to my "normal" existence after holing up for the past few weeks to put the finishing touches on the manuscript.

happy, happy st. patty's day! note the LUSH shamrock. that's how i plan to celebrate at the end of my day. ooh la la.

Ooh la la, check out TranquiliT's featured in DC Modern Luxury's latest edition! Spring launches THIS week, ladies.

We're delighted to unveil the spring collection where you'll enjoy our newly added lounge wear, longer bodies in many favorites, a sleeveless version of the beloved wrap dress, and more!

Come sip bubbly and nibble on tasty treats while enjoying an intimate shopping experience in our showroom.

To enhance the experience, Rebecca Kousky of Nest will be joining us with items from artisans that compliment TranquiliT's spring palette. Nest empowers women artisans to emerge from poverty through a unique combination of interest-free microloans, mentoring from established designers, and a market in which to sell their craft. By promoting self-reliance, Nest helps its loan recipients to create successful small businesses that allow them to support their children and their families. Learn more at http://www.buildanest.com.

once i finish my tranquilista manuscript (due tuesday - woo hoo!), i want to do a bit of updating and additions. one project on the horizon is a list of FAQs. i have a sampling of questions that i planned on answering for it, but i realized that it is *you* who i'm writing these for . . . so i should ask you what questions are on your mind.

also, the 150th podcast episode (yay, thanks for listening!) is around the corner and i thought i could elaborate on some of these questions verbally, too.

so, ask away. personal, professional, spiritual, style, creativity, yoga - what would you like moi to share?

wishing you a joy-filled, fabulous weekend that sparkles in some decadent, do-gooding kind of way.

here's an insider look at my home yoga practice and why it tends to be challenging at times. that's sir louis on my mat eating promo materials for the farm sanctuary that he pulled off the refrigerator in a fury. i think he's jealous of my relationship with jd (our adopted pig) and travolta (our adopted cow).

here's a sampling of my favorite simple go-to home practice sequence:

start in down dog
inhale, down dog split with right leg
exhale right foot in between hands for a deep lunge, inhale hook thumbs and sweep arms to sky, 5 deep breaths
inhale release to lunge, exhale chaturanga, inhale up dog, exhale down dog
repeat left side
repeat 3-5 times on each side (add in prayer twist and ardha hanumanasana)
step back sun salutations
surya A 5 times
surya B 2 times add in triangle
seated forward fold
baddha konasana
wheel
headstand
savasana

i heart this ad campaign for a new fragrance called pretty. honestly, the ad could be promoting kitty litter and i would still be inspired. i found myself tearing it out of magazines to use for future collages and was sent a sample of the perfume that had this image attached. that's when it became my desktop.

somehow this image is so very magical. i'm not usually so drawn to images, especially random marketing campaigns, but i feel like elizabeth arden really captured something touching with this ad. maybe it's every little girl's dream (think dress up) or the fairy tale nature of it all? the antiquey couch, oodles of fresh flowers, tulle skirt, and gorgeous floral wallpaper beckon moi to day dream and stay awhile.

dearest fans of TranquiliT, i need to choose the 2-3 colors for fall's TranquiliT palette and would HEART your input.
yes, i know spring hasn't even sprung yet (coming march 20!), but i have to start designing and ordering fabric for fall in the next few weeks. please note the numbers next to the 10 color options and let moi know your top three. YOU get to choose fall's palette. merci beaucoup in advance for your input. xoxo

dearest fans of TranquiliT, more voting beckons you. i need to choose the 2-3 colors for fall's TranquiliT palette and would HEART your input. yes, i know spring hasn't even sprung yet (coming march 20!), but i have to start designing and ordering fabric for fall in the next few weeks. please note the numbers next to the 10 color options and let moi know your top three. YOU get to choose fall's palette. merci beaucoup in advance for your input. xoxo

dearest readers,

if you have a moment to support tranquil space as dc's BEST yoga studio, please click here. we're entering our 10th year of serving up tranquility to washingtonians and began as a tiny seedling in my 4th floor walk up in 1999. here's the skinny on our humble beginnings and philosophy. merci beaucoup for your support!

here's a quote from one of my favorite entrepreneurs, anita roddick (founder of the body shop):

“if you do things well, do them better. be daring, be first, be different, be just.”

i have received this link from so many people that i had to pass it along. it's the lovely elizabeth gilbert, author of eat, pray, love.

in addition, if you'd like a BIG smile to come to your face, click this link to watch a *darling* piglet walk on the beach and get acclimated to its new home. cutest thing EVER (next to sir louis, of course)!

i have 8 days left to finish my tranquilista manuscript for new world library. any unscheduled moments have been consumed with the need to write so oodles of creative projects are on hold. i can't wait to share the fall palette colors with you and get your feedback on the colors you want! lots of website updates, videos (to update our youtube page), and retreat prep (3rd annual hip tranquil chick retreat end of the month) is awaiting my attention. all *uber* exciting and fun projects on the horizon. merci beaucoup for your patience.

i was blessed with two bookstore dates this weekend (TOTAL treat), a shopping spree at LUSH (my holiday + v-day gifts redeemed), yummy italian dinner with beau, a great group in leesburg for my workshop/booksigning/trunk show soiree, a challenging ashtanga yoga practice, an amazing teaching circle with my teacher training mentees who are truly shining, a lovely turnout for yoga + kirtan co-led with musician wynne paris, and a fun teacher training potluck. full weekend and i feel blessed. now, gotta hunker down and write.

may this week offer you a chance to indulge your creative spirit by trying something new, starting your day with a fresh ritual, or simply sipping a new tea. xo

• direct download (mp3)

Bonjour! Welcome to the 148th edition of tranquility du jour: a guide to bringing tranquility to your every day. Click here to vote Tranquil Space as DC's BEST yoga studio. Merci beaucoup for your support!

Today’s show menu features happenings and musings on event planning with Jackie Leventhal.

Workshops + Retreats: Join moi for our next le chic teleclass chat Bloom into Spring on March 23 PLUS events around the globe: a luxurious weekend of tranquility and creativity at our 3rd Annual Hip Tranquil Chick retreat in a lovely farmhouse not far from NYC March 27-29, a decadent retreat to Costa Rica over Memorial Day, a summer solstice staycation in DC on June 20, and another tranquility-filled week at Kripalu August 9-14, 2009. All the scoop is on my workshops page.

Featured guest: Jackie Leventhal
Jackie Leventhal coordinates cultural events at Sixth & I, a historic synagogue and cultural center in downtown DC. She hosts events for touring authors, politicians, notable personalities and actors, as well as innovators and intellectuals making an impact at the forefront of the cultural landscape. Jackie has coordinated events for Nobel Laureates Toni Morrison and Elie Wiesel, photographer Annie Leibovitz, Pulitzer Prize winning authors Jhumpa Lahiri and Geraldine Brooks, comedian Lewis Black, Speaker Pelosi, and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, among others. From scheduling an event to a post-event thank-you note, Jackie is a self-taught event coordinator, reliant on a massive checklist, instinct, a supportive team, and the hope that she can get a photo with the subject of the event.

Jackie graduated from the University of Florida in 2005 with a BA in Sociology. She also earned a Certificate in Writing from Georgetown University. Her freelance credits include Breakup Girl, Brazen Careerist, and Employee Evolution. She also does editing and PR work for a freelance writer/author.

In her free time, Jackie seeks serenity on a hot pink yoga mat, believing that indeed, color does matter. Jackie would like to visit 30 countries by the time she's 30 (17 visited so far), but doesn't think she has that much vacation time.

Eager to volunteer, Jackie taught English to non-native speakers and created a book club and curriculum based on Tuesdays With Morrie. She currently serves as the Volunteer Coordinator of Tranquil Space Foundation and is the editor of the Foundation's quarterly newsletter. She loves muffins (the descendant of a baker) and loathes the winter (once a Floridian, always a Floridian).

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

Au Revoir: To close out the show, we’re playing Tansmission You by Ladder from Promonet. You can learn more about their music here.

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

i was sent this table of cupcakes link. i presume fellow cupcake lovers out there will appreciate this, too. now off to get my yoga on! xo

inspired by where women create, i invited local photographer sally mannix into chez moi, the TranquiliT showroom, and my office at tranquil space for a sneak peek into where i muse. to peruse the full album, click here.

i'm minorly obsessed with getting a potbelly pig. beau says no so i think a piglet for his birthday may be in order! can you stand how cute these little boogers are? hopefully you're on team kimberly with this one, not team beau!

check out my top 10 suggested yoga books at tibesti.com.

taking the time to sit still, be with your breath, and train the "monkey mind" to focus is no easy feat. saturday was a treat meditating with sharon salzberg. i jotted down quite a few gems that i wanted to share to help inspire a seated practice or at least a few minutes of being. here they are:

* meditation gives you the tools to look at your experiences with clarity.
* meditation is skills training and embodies 3 things:
- concentration: steadfast attention
- mindfulness: quality of awareness that can recognize experience without holding on or pushing away. aware in the moment without adding any judgment.
- lovingkindness/compassion: realizing power of states. how we interpret certain things.
* set up: tall spine. alert, yet relaxed.
* the work is to bring our systems into balance.
* an "oozy" practice is when you lose sight of the breath and go off into daydreaming
* magic moment: when you catch yourself losing focus and in this moment practice compassion and refocus.
* how we relate to what is going on is the vehicle for transformation.
* if you can have compassion for yourself without judgment, you can have it for others.
* anger is like a forest fire - burns up its own support
* through practicing, you can catch yourself sooner and will have greater compassion for self
* always look at your motivation
* equanimity is spaciousness through understanding

i hope these words of wisdom that i took away from my day with sharon salzberg will serve as inspiration.

one final dose of tranquility: try this yoga pose at your desk. interlace your hands behind your back, lift them up, and sway from side to side. release any tension in the shoulders and neck. take 10 deep breaths. relax, close your eyes and take 10 more deep breaths. voila, open your eyes and return to your computer refreshed!

i was recently interviewed on my mentoring services by us news. i wanted to share the article as i think it shows the power of taking small steps to make changes. your world is your oyster. truly!

here are some photos taken over the past few days of my beloved 10-year-old kitty bonnard and my dahlin' canine sir louis.

i adore these flowers beau picked up for moi and have them proudly displayed on our kitchen table. i had to capture bonnard posing by them. note the interesting resting pose on his damask meditation cushion and bolster. this cat is TOO much! sir louis is missing some hair on his chin due to excessive interest in his bones. looks like the bone won. these little beasts are too much!

the snow is pouring outside and i'm sitting in front of the fire after a fun day at the showroom. we had a lovely turnout of ladies supporting local eco-fashion AND we raised $200 for tranquil space foundation! yay! thanks to all of you who joined us. now we've got more room for spring. save the date for our unveiling of spring at the showroom: saturday, march 21 noon-4! check out this video of my proclaiming "fun" multiple times and showing the lovely peg mulqueen some TranquiliT.

i spent yesterday at an all-day meditation event with sharon salzberg. a beloved meditation teacher full of insights. i'll be sure to share the notes i took later this week.

off to outline the week in my beloved planner pad with colored, sparkle pens!