Chin Deep

I remember reading an article in the “Yoga Journal” magazine that talked about knitting as meditation. Soon after that an article in the “New York Times” on the same subject caught my eye. Very intriguing. I’m sure that I’m not the only knitter that feels her whole body relax when she picks up her knitting needles and a beautiful skein of wool or cashmere blend. Unlike anything else, knitting has the power to help me unwind and re-group. The only thing that compares to the actual act of feeling the yarn pass through my fingers and the “click click” of the needles is shopping for yarn. A day in a good yarn shop is better than a day at the spa.

Recently, I ordered a fantastic little knitting kit to create a sushi wallet, and at the same time ordered one for my dear friend Jana. I can’t wait to get started! Pick up some yarn and needles and join the thousands of other people who already know the secrets and magic of this wonderful craft.

Here are some links to my favorite knitting websites where you can get some fun patterns, yarn, needles and knitting kits:

Stitch and Bitch

Knitwhits

Knitting Newscast

Knitting Website Resource

Lion Yarn Website

“Knitting is the new Yoga.” ~Charlotte from Sex and the City

Cooking the evening meal is one of my favorite things to do. I light candles, play a soothing CD, and sip a glass of wine as I cook. I like to have a fragrant bouquet of flowers of a bowl of tangy lemons on the counter to delight my senses when I pass by. In warmer months, I open our back porch door so I can hear the birds singing and the wind chimes tinkling and smell the fresh air as I create my culinary masterpieces I like to wear comfortable, flowing cotton clothes when I cook and I always go barefoot. Naked feet are a must. I also love writing the evening’s menu on a big “bistro” board that I made out of a big blackboard and display in our dining room.

Using exotic ingredients is a simple pleasure that I indulge on a regular basis. The simple act of using cheese from Provence, wine from Italy, spices from India, chocolate from Switzerland, and unfiltered extra virgin olive oil from Spain elevates plain old cooking to a divine experience. I am also a big believer in using fresh ingredients every day. Herbs and vegetables from my kitchen garden or nearby Red Wing Farmer’s Market, baguette from our village bakery, sausages, meats and seafoods from our local butcher, and freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices not only add amazing flavor, but are much better for you.

Try some or all of these ideas and turn cooking for your family into a wonderful ritual that you look forward to every day!

“There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves. ”
~Tom Wolfe

In my book “Welcome Home-Simple Tips for Turning Your House Into a Luxurious Retreat” on page 36, I have written the instructions for creating a gossamer canopy for over your bed. This Graceful Gossamer Canopy is easy and inexpensive to make and it takes about 5 minutes.

Simply hang a wreath or pretty ring style towel hanger on the wall, centered over your bed, about 3 feet above your headboard. Drape gossamer bridal netting through the wreath (or ring) so it hangs evenly over the sides of your bed and “puddles” on the floor on both sides (buy about 7 yards.)

Recently, while paging through a magazine, I noticed someone had decorated their front porch with gossamer curtain panels that were fluttering in the breeze. What a wonderful summer look! So pretty.

Scented linens are one of life’s most luxurious simple pleasures. These fragrant recipes were originally published in my book, Welcome Home. Indulge and breathe summer in slowly.

SCENTED LAUNDRY SOAP: Add 1 teaspoon lavender essential oil and 1 teaspoon lemon verbena essential oil to a 64 oz. bottle of unscented laundry detergent. Shake well before each use.

LAVENDER LINEN SPRAY: Wonderful for sheets, jammies, linens, throw rugs and yoga mats. In a 4 oz. glass spray bottle, combine 20 drops lavender essential oil, 3 Tablespoons 100 proof vodka, and top off with distilled water. Shake well. Allow to rest for two weeks. Spray on desired linens.

DRYER SACHETS: Place 1/4 cup lavender flowers in a small muslin bag and tie securely. Add to your dryer along with wet laundry. this sachet will last for about 12 loads. Open sachet and refresh with 2 drops of essential oil as needed.

“Exactness in little things is a wonderful source of cheerfulness.” -Fredrick William Faber

“From Greenland’s icy mountains, from India’s coral strand, where Afric’s sunny fountains roll down their golden sand.” -Reginald Herber (Missionary Hymn)

Ethnic Shopping is the next best thing to taking a vacation. The aromas, vibrant colors, textures and flavors of these little shops are a feast for the senses. This will change the way you look at shopping forever. Two of my favorite places to indulge in ethnic marketing are World Market and Epcot. Here are some of my favorite ethnicities to explore, and lists of goods each country specializes in. Bon Voyage!

ITALY: espresso, wine, pastas of all shapes, spicy deli meats, sauces, truffle honey, truffle oil, olive oil, hand blown glass (wine bottle stoppers, venetian glass chandeliers, drinking glasses, vases, light fixtures, flowers and even candy ornaments!), and leather goods.

FRANCE: perfume (Guerlain is one of my favorite brands of French perfume), heavenly bed linens, Provence tablecloths and napkins, lavender soaps, art, baguette, pastries, chocolate, champagne, and every kind of cheese known to man.

MEXICO: blankets, glassware, pottery, terra cotta, chimineas (outdoor, patio fireplace) pinatas, ponchos, silver, turquoise, sombreros, hot sauces and salsas, mole sauce, strings of dried hot chilies and garlic, pure vanilla, fresh tortillas, pan dulce and the ingredients for homemade tamales!

ASIA: green tea, teapot sets, hand fans, chopsticks, sake sets, paper shoes, paper lanterns, porcelain rice and soup bowls with matching spoons, rice-paper journals, stationery, take-out boxes, bamboo placemats, dim sum steamers, large paper parasols in bright candy colors, kimonos, bento boxes, silk, sake, plum wine and yummy noodles and soups.

INDIA: curry, exotic spices, basmati rice, saffron, saree material and other luxurious fabrics, floor cushions, wall hangings, handcrafted jewelry boxes, jade, jewelry, exotic bedding, marquees (colorful party tents), cotton goods, wonderful massage lotions and body care goods, gorgeous rugs and incense.

What is your favorite “ethnic” shopping pleasure? I am always looking for new simple pleasures to experience.

If you are anything like me, you LOVE going on vacation. Seeing new sights, hearing new sounds, eating interesting new foods, and absorbing the feel and textures of a new place are the things that make the vacation experience truly wonderful. Sometimes, however, the act of getting there can be daunting and expensive. Packing suitcases, finding a babysitter, boarding your dog, the hassle of airports and passports, delayed flights, and then the endless pile of laundry when you get home–Who needs it? Here is a refreshing thought. How about taking a vacation at home this year? Some people call it a “Staycation.” A home vacation can satisfy your desire for that much needed retreat that you deserve without the cost, stress, and jet lag. If this sounds appealing to you, here are some tips you can follow to enjoy your home vacation to the fullest :

• Hire a maid service to come in and clean your house from top to bottom the day before your vacation officially begins.

• Unplug your phone, and don’t give in to the temptation to check your work email.

• Eat out at a different restaurant every night. Explore new cultures through cuisine. How about an Afghani restaurant? Sit on floor pillows, and watch belly dancers while you feast on curried lamb and yogurt cake by candlelight. Other fun restaurants might include an authentic Italian trattoria (such as Buca di Beppo or Maggiano’s) where they serve everything family style and feature strolling opera singers, or an outdoor French street cafe where you can sip wine and eat baguette and brie while sporting Audrey Hepburn sunglasses and people watching.

• Pick up some brochures at your local visitors’ bureau and visit your own city as a tourist. Plan a fun activity every day. Go see a movie or a play. Attend a concert in a park or an outdoor art festival. Go to a gallery or museum. Take a long bike ride and stop somewhere beautiful for a picnic.(In Red Wing we enjoy hiking and biking on the gorgeous Cannon Valley Trail) Go to a local spa for professional massages. Have a candlelight dinner. Visit a local bookstore/espresso bar (our favorite is Barnes and Noble) and sip mochas while looking at your favorite magazines. Go to a wine tasting. Take time to reconnect with your love.

• Don’t do any home projects or anything work related. Pretend your home is a B&B. Sleep in, put your feet up, read a book or your favorite magazine.

• Look through family albums and scrapbooks together. Reminisce.

• Make sure you set aside plenty of time for relaxing. Take lots of hammock naps and bubble baths. Try some fun, new wines.

• Build a back yard campfire and roast hot dogs and s’mores for dinner one night.

• Visit a local tearoom and go out for an elegant afternoon tea.

“Ah, there is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” -Jane Austen

When Jeff took me to Maui to celebrate my book “Chin Deep in Bubbles” coming out in paperback, he surprised me with a beautiful stay at The Ritz Carlton in Kapalua for our 10 day island vacation. After hours and hours traveling on planes to get from Minnesota to the island of Maui, we thought we had arrived in paradise as we stepped up the walkway to our hotel.

The Ritz Carlton resort lobby was a dream. There were huge arrangements of tropical flowers, palm trees, gorgeous artwork, tapestry rugs, and marble & crystal everywhere! When we arrived at the resort we were greeted with orchid and ti leaf leis. While walking through the open-air hallways, we were serenaded by the songs of tropical birds and the heady scent of white ginger, red ginger, blue ginger, orchids and plumeria.

Our suite had warm yellow walls, beautiful Hawaiian printed curtains that covered the French doors leading to our lenai, a quaint sitting area, and a bed covered in gorgeous goose down comforters and feather bed.

When we arrived back home in Minnesota we decided to give our bedroom a Maui makeover. We started by painting the walls and ceiling “Parchment.” This color is available by Sherwin Williams and is almost an exact match of the color of our Maui suite. The type of paint we used was called “Harmony.” This paint is odor free and earth friendly.

We dressed the windows in vintage reproduction bark cloth curtains with a white background and lime green and avocado colored foliage, with raspberry, pale pink and canteloupe colored flowers. These beautiful curtains, along with the warm colored walls created a rich, new palette for our room. Our sheets and bedding are coordinated to match these citrusy colors.

Some of the embellishments that truly make the room special include:  tiki framed mirrors and lamps with pineapple bases on each of our bedside tables.

Decorating a room in the theme of a place you’ve traveled can help you re-live the vacation for months after you arrive home!

While writing my book, “Welcome Home“, I decided to include a page on easy ways to implement Feng Shui in your life every day.

Wikipedia definition:

Feng shui- (fung-shway / fung-shwee in English) is an ancient Chinese practice believed to utilize the Laws of both Heaven, (astronomy), and Earth, (geography), to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi. ^[1] The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu (traditional Chinese: 堪輿; simplified Chinese: 堪舆; pinyin: kānyú; literally: heaven and earth)^[2].

The words ‘feng shui’ literally translates as “wind-water”in English, which is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty:^[3]

Most of today’s feng shui schools teach that it is the practice of arranging objects, (such as the internal placement of furniture in an environment,) to achieve harmony with one’s environment. It is also used for choosing a place to live, for plotting a burial site, and still others use it for agricultural planning. Proponents claim that feng shui has an effect on health, wealth and personal relationships.

Here are the simple tips I came up with:

• Play calming music and nature sounds to encourage a more soothing environment.
• Fresh flowers will lift your spirits.
• Add the five elements to every room: water, fire, wood, metal and earth.
• All televisions and electronic equipment should be housed in a cabinet with doors when not in use.
• Only display positive, life affirming artwork in your home.
• Don’t allow any clutter under the beds in your home.
• Add candles to provide warmth, light and enchantment to any space.
• Plants, windchimes, fishbowls with goldfish, miniature rock gardens, and indoor fountains delight and calm the senses.
• Clear all counter tops and tables as much as possible.

“Aromatherapy in Every Room” as seen on page 43 in my book “Chin Deep in Bubbles,” and on ivillage.com

One of my favorite simple pleasures is taken from this page. Linen Spray.

Picture yourself taking freshly washed sheets from your washer. Instead of mindlessly throwing them in your dryer (like we all have to do in Minnesota during the cold winter months) you hang them on a clothesline in your back yard so they can soak up the fresh spring air and sunlight. Mmmmmmm….. This will not only cut down on your energy costs, it’s good for our planet. It’s also an inexpensive way to lift your spirits. Freshly laundered linens that are allowed to dry in the sunlight smell great. When you add the scent of lavender, you may think you’ve been transported to Provence.

Lavender Linen Spray:

Add 10-15 drops pure lavender essential oil to 12 oz. purified water in a spray bottle. Use liberally as a linen spray all over your house….bed linens, slipcovers, table cloths, curtains…

Be Well,

Melissa