Hey!

Hello, just a quick check in to clear my head a bit and see if I can verbalize my latest musings quickly. Bottom line is I'm taking a break from everything but (what I can see as) essentials right now. In other words my blog and some other writing that I've recently re - begun are going back on hold.

 I know I'll still write for myself, but right now the (admittedly self induced) pressure is off on that front and actually it feels pretty good. I'd like to focus on editing myself a bit: it's nice to believe I'm a Renaissance woman all "oh I can do everything I fancy" and perhaps to a certain extent I can -but the more I do the less I enjoy it and probably don't always do my best and what's the toll of that?  Also for me it's begun to feel a bit like the discipline trap: "I am free and don't need routines (ie discipline) -- both of these mindsets I have been known to buy into. I need to clarify and have routines.

So the Renaissance Woman and the Discipline Trap have a an anti motto : "You can do anything but you can't do everything" (don't know who said it first). So clarity, editing/curating, discipline all will bring a self directed pleasure. I'm beginning to see that a certain amount of selfishness is key as well.
Not to say I won't be back - and if so I certainly hope it's not 5 years again!
Cheers,
La

The celebration of a Routine

Just a quick note to share the results of my most recent goal/routine. I've dabbled in playing keyboards for years but got serious in June and signed up for lessons (again). Tomorrow night I am playing keyboards, live, with my husband's band at a local club. This is a thrilling thing for me and a positive reinforcement of the power of intent and follow through.
Best,
La

Little Parisian House - Your Neighborhood

We moved last week - ugh to the physical act of that - and I've started a series on it - "Little Parisian House on the Prairie" (there is one prior post and yes, it sounded like a good title at the time, LOL). Every move I make now that we  are back at our beloved Elmwood gets filtered: does it contribute to a simple, luxurious, deliberate, european inspired lifestyle?  Yesterday I ran some errands and pondered how different my daily routine is now that I am living in the same town yet a mere 2.5 miles away from where I was living last week. This neighborhood is more residential yet I am closer to one of my favorite haunts, the library. From this location I can ride my bicycle to the bank, library, post office and grocer easily. I have a wonderful park across the street with woods and trails upon which to walk Scout. We have a private backyard deck and I spend large portions of my day working from there which is so luxurious to me.
I realize that not everyone has the ability to move. Believe me I feel that living in Paris would be the ultimate reinforcement to live a beautiful life everyday yet I won't be moving there (real) soon as much as I desire it. I guess my point here is to really think about your daily routines and what life you want to be living if and when you get a chance to move. Location does influence your life. It's possible to create a beautiful existence just about anywhere (it's all in your mind, remember) but the reinforcement that come from environment is really powerful and I've experienced that first hand this week.
bisous
La

European Breakfast Part Deux

As mentioned in Part 1 on breakfast on the continent - I love this meal. I don't necessarily eat a lot, but I just love the components.  Also, this is where I get to start ruminating on the differences between the European and American lifestyles which is the intent of recounting our 3 weeks spent in Europe this past April. I am intent on recreating this lifestyle for us as much as possible here in the CLE. I've been on this journey for years and have collected a lot of information, hence Paris on the Cuyahoga which is my way of helping to define this lifestyle, embrace it and spread the word about it.
In Leuven, Belgium our daughter Clementine (who'd been living there since Sept 2014) chose a bio (organic) resto for breakfast.  It was thrilling for me to note the similarities between this meal and how we eat it at home. First, there is one long, pine table set with trays of jellies, jams, spreads like nutella, sugar, salt and pepper. Altho there are a few other small tables most of the clientele sat around the big table and soon there was room for us too. Cafe au lait - perfection in a ceramic bowl. Soft boiled eggs served in egg cups. The omnipresent european spoon - small  with a long, fine handle. Assorted breads: toasted, seeded, hearty, fine. We dined and I observed the (mostly) women eating with us: well dressed - simple but looking pulled together; conversing and leisurely consuming their meals; pulling off small bits of bread, buttering it carefully before popping into their mouths. Enjoying and socializing.
For our final breakfast we ate at our hotel and breakfast was included. This was the most fantastic hotel breakfast I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Tables set with linen and good silverware. The lavish display featured all varieties of cheese and pate - these in individual containers. Big baskets of bread: croissants, hearty bread, seeded rolls, rustic white bread. REAL scrambled eggs. Bacon, potatoes, yogurts and fruit. In heaven!  I chose 2 cheeses and toasted bread and cappucino. Jake and Clementine had eggs and potatoes and bacon. All wonderful, I wished for the strength to go for some pate but couldn't muster the appetite.

Europe makes it easy to live this way. Here we need to tweak what we've got to get what we want. I start every day with cafe au lait, I'll share my easy method for making it another time if you'd like it?
Then usually some toast. I take my time and pull off bits of toast, butter it one bite at a time. Enjoy it.
If I'm alone I read: the paper, a book - whatever.  Of course I do breakfast after the early routine I've developed, described in another post, of water and walking.  Then I write this blog.

Bon appetite!

Wrap up on Routines and Rituals

In order to continue to create a life that feels good and rings authentic I believe that one must constantly check in with oneself and take charge of necessary change. Intention is where it starts. Intentions are the fuel, they inform where we want to go in life. Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? Where do you want to be?
 Routines and Rituals are the engines, the discipline made into daily/weekly/monthly routines that will take us where we want to be!

"Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power"  Descartes

Your thoughts create the world you live in. Think thoughts that take you where you want to go.
You have the power - it's right there in your mind.
Love,
La

RITUALS

Something can be both a ritual and a routine, the main difference is that a ritual is always pleasurable while a routine can often be the opposite. Part of the genius in learning to live a great life is somehow making the "musts", the drudgery, the routines dang it!! - into pleasures. Of some sort.  But the rituals are rewards, pleasure, food for our minds and souls.
Some common rituals: keeping fresh flowers in your home, playing music, burning candles, mealtimes with family/companions. Some others I like and have mentioned: monthly massage, monthly facial, monthly facial cupping, tea time, swimming (it's my hydro therapy and a whole lot more!), napping. I, obviously, like grooming but I also see my body massage as necessary to my work (dancing) and the facial stuff is also somewhat preventative.

Some routines I'd like to make into rituals: housecleaning being one. Ugh. I have no luck with cleaning ladies (shut up about my standards) so it's not delegateable (new word?).So I try to get into the mindset and play great music etc.....and I do it. And I love the result, there is nothing like a clean house -  so I guess that's enough!

I think it's necessary to get some routines in place as boring as it initially sounds. The free time, increased productivity, the flow - will all be worth it. I have found, truly, that the morning routine I began about 7 months ago has become both routine and ritual: it really works for me.

And small pleasures - rituals - are daily companions so don't take them lightly. Appreciate them.
xxoo