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

ROUTINES PART 2

I realize the Europe trip journal has yet to be wrapped up and there is Little Parisian Home to update as well. All in good time, I am in no hurry. We are now living at Elmwood and taking it slowly.

To continue on the theme from yesterday, in addition to daily routines I'd break things down fairly obviously: weekly; twice weekly; monthly; twice monthly, bi monthly; quarterly and yearly. Going through my daily planner I can recreate my schedule fairly well and I've noted items that will be slotted into the routines: personal items such as: swimming, haircut, facial, massage and facial cupping and more overall items such as:  cleaning, dog to groomer, bill paying, car maintenance (did I really add that?!), birthdays and holidays and special days.....it could get rather painful so I'll stop there. And I'll really just implement what works for me. One of the women I mentioned in yesterday's post uses her Sundays to organize for the upcoming week: she quickly cleans out the refrigerator and makes a list, goes shopping, tidies up and then she cooks a wonderful family dinner, enjoys it with her "tribe" then gets herself ready for her upcoming 4 day work week. She also walks her dog every day before work. She has habits and is living a well lived life.


This is probably how all those lovely people who always remember birthdays do it, by the way,


I've already jotted down my top 3 monthly routines/rituals (many things are BOTH routine and ritual!!) -  these are: 70 minute facial, hour massage, facial cupping and the next time I schedule my appointments for each I'm going to set up a regular day and time going forward. Genius (low level, but) I can always tweak this and it's how I already handle my 6 - 8 weeks between haircuts.

Purchasing my children's airplane tickets home for Christmas and visits, family birthdays, vacations - lots of stuff can be organized just by acknowledging it; and perhaps I'll be more likely to take advantage of some downtime to search airfares etc if I've noted each occasion.
Rituals, coming tomorrow darling.

Organizational Update - Rituals and Routines

I am good at stuff like this: making lists.
But routines and rituals have come up (I do adore Tonya Leigh at tonyaleigh.com - she's a great coach) and I've had similar success with routine - there are so many ways I can see this. But, I have also had difficulties defining and sticking with other routines that have not "clicked".
As I've peudo studied this issue I've noticed in my life women who obviously embrace organization and routine. I know three of them both quite well and will keep them in mind as I generalize.

#1 - They always look good. Cool clothes and accessories. Bright, clean smiles. They've been the same weight for all the kazillion years I've known them. Obviously take care with: dental and medical health, grooming, meditation and movement.
#2 - Clean, clean homes.  Smooth, clean wood floors; sleek but homey rooms; Beethoven (or Bob Dylan) on the sound system; candles and flowers; food, family; nice exterior yard space; big fluffy white towels that stay white (ok, I'm getting fanciful now :) !!
#3 - Great rapport with their children. And their partners. Loyal, supportive and kind. Realistic and generous.
#4 - Lots of friends and family. They can and do, entertain fairly often. This ranges from cocktails on the deck to dinner parties.
#5 - A life apart from #'s  2,3 and 4 above. Other work: writing, business, broadcasting....jobs, in these cases, that are very different for each woman, but each makes it work for her life: one sequesters herself to write, rarely getting dressed for a few weeks while she chases her own deadline - works for her. Another naps in the early afternoon cause she works a 5 am shift at the TV station. The third works from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday thru Thurs. They like what they do and take pride in their professions.
#6 - They go places! They will meet you for lunch or dinner or drinks or theater. If you call them they
have plans and ideas on what is up. They are fun and informed - someone listens to NPR. :)  LOL or reads lots of the latest books and sees film sometimes too. Knows what is happening in downtown Cleveland right now - clubs, restaurants, what's being done for the Republican National Convention next summer etc.


So Paris on the Cuyahoga likes to hang out with these women and types like them. I can tell you they are all highly organized, ritualized and seem to be wringing life out for maximum pleasure: in other words Routines and Rituals are good things - they free you up for the lazy, or sumptuous or creative moment you would have MISSED without them.
Here are some ideas I either use or have noticed.

Morning Routine:
24 oz lemon or vinegar water (room temp)
make coffee and put in thermos, while it brews: floss, brush and put on a facial treatment: either a lotion or tanner or mask.
Now I wait at least 45 minutes before I drink or eat (notice coffee is in thermos, only water now!!) while I : sweep kitchen floor and/or deck; pick up the house; walk Scout in the park (almost everyday for 25 minutes).
Return from park and indulge in cafe au lait with 2 large slices of toast and butter/jam or cheese/tomato. Read the NYT's Sunday which we keep all week, or whatever is in my read bag. The local news: paper, magazines etc are good to breakfast with as well.
Write. This one is, perhaps, going to benefit this blog. It is today!!
Then a mixture of playing keyboards, meditate (20 minutes), stretch, swim (half hour, once a week)
- I also must work for a few hours in the afternoon (this involves driving and/or computer so I take care to stretch and have started using a standing desk to alternate with my regular spot).
I have been a happy follower of the above routine for about 5 months. My writing (this blog included - do you want more of it??) and my keyboard playing have greatly benefited. Scout looks trim. So I endorse routine and intend to continue to implement it into my life.
That said.
Late Afternoon:
I am, honestly, working on this one. the Evening Routine is almost NEVER done in my house, so I am hitting it head on by starting in the late afternoon. Brilliant I know.
Here's the obstacle to an Evening Routine: I have a gig 2 - 3 nights a week.
www.the-poptarts.com
It's always been the hurdle to a routine as sometimes half the week it's gotta be different. So.
Here's what I've got for now.
Meditate and/or nap. I have a great 20 minute youtube meditation I use, sometimes I do a facial mask.
Set up water in vaporizer - I run one every night - good for voice and skin. Stretch. Tea time: Depends on if I know I'll eat at the gig, but I will have tea or coffee and a snack. If there is a gig I'll clean up my desk, check my calendar for the next day, do a bit of work perhaps and gather my clothes for the night. I experimented with wiping off my makeup in the car on the way home from gigs - I like the disposable cloths and use them often when traveling. I may go back to it, I will shower, hang up my stuff, eat something (try to keep it small)!!, watch Netflix or.....
On nights that I don't gig:
Follow the above but
Read, organize, keyboards, happy hour, prepare dinner at home, write, soak in the tub instead of
working.
Routines and Rituals do intrigue me and there is more to explore:  beyond the daily routines listed above I'd like to do weekly, semi monthly, monthly, bi monthly, quarterly, yearly: I know the women I admire do have lots of organizational skills.    And the Rituals deserve their own post.
Bisous,
La

SATURDAY APRIL 18TH BARCELONA - WARM AND SEVENTY DEGREES

Once again we breakfast at Pans and Company, Jake says the hot chocolate is the best!! Today we spend wandering La Ribera, narrow streets of unique Barcelonian architecture: churches, apartment buildings, shops, markets. We stopped at the Mercat de Santa Caterina for brunch - another gorgeous food market with places to eat. The waitress rubs our toast with halved tomatoes which approximates the tomato jam I've come to love at Pans. This must be a Spanish/European thing and I like it! Interesting and unusual people stop for a bite, some for a drink(!) and we happily munch and watch. People watching is fun! I believe we spent the rest of this day walking and exploring La Ribera but I can't remember and Jake's notes stop here so.....I will have to check with my travel companions and recreate the dates; we left Barcelona for Belgium around this time, perhaps Sunday morning.
Barcelona I hope to see you again.

EUROPEAN BREAKFAST Part 1

I really like breakfast. To begin with the food you get: coffee, toast - the basics -  love them. The occasional egg, super crispy bacon or order of hash browns - yumz. I will eat this at any time of the day or night but it just wows me that this is not only acceptable, but encouraged, daily. What a world!
In Europe my love affair with petite dejeuner, as with all things, gets more intense, elegant and refined. 
 At Pans (in Barcelona) which is a very unassuming looking chain McDonaldesque in appearance, we ate this meal, pictured,  To the left is the toast (you can see just a sliver in the white paper wrap. Mid photo is the small jar of strawberry jam, above that are 2 packets of olive oil and on the right is the tomato jam, salt and pepper. Along with a cafe con leche these 2 slices of toast made a satisfying reward for leaving bed and a crunchy bridge toward lunchtime. A drizzle of olive oil on a pinched off corner of toast with a small spoon of rough cut tomato jam smoothed o top, munch, sip, repeat.....sitting in the cool morning sun...lovely.  The toast a good sturdy white bread, toasted warm and crispy. The olive oil and tomato jam fresh and perfectly delicious. We had extraordinary breakfasts in Belgium so they'll get their own post. xo

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015 - BARCELONA SUNNY AND 70 degrees

My daughter and husband know coffee is a must and they've planned a day of serious Spanish sightseeing so first up as we exit the Grand Hotel is Pans and Company, right across the street and next to the metro entrance. HIGHLY recommended for a inexpensive but incredibly elegant, breakfast. This place looks like a McDonalds, but that's all. Most of our mornings in Barcelona I had the same thing: coffee - creamy with steamed milk and toast - rustic pane, toasted, with olive oil, tomato jam and fruit jam - these 3 in small individual "to go" packets/jars. Unbelievably delicious. With a few swirls of olive oil and a spoon of tomato it was "breakfast bruschetta".  I plan a breakfast post on all our memorable European breakfasts - it'll be part of my breakdown/takeaways from Europe - so I'll save more and the photos on that for later.
After this divine nudge into the day we metro to Park Guell and spend a few hours walking up and down some severe landscape - hilly in spots there!! - dotted in dreamlike structures produced by Gaudi, a famous architect: buildings, benches, walls and stairs. Mosaic, colorful, mirrored, exhausting to walk and view (in my opinion it's very physical all around!). We need to escape and head underground to metro stop La Rambla. My favorite place to stroll is this wide pedestrian walkway, at one end my favorite European church,Santa Maria Del Mar, at the other my favorite European clothing chain, Zara. The Mercat de la Boqueria is in the middle - which is my favorite market. You must not miss this gorgeous food market where every item is displayed like a precious jewel. Every item. The fruit displays are intensely gorgeous, but that's too easy. How about art made from numerous grains arranged for sale in patchwork square boxes that make a pattern like dusty farmlands seen from an airplane. Amazing.  La Rambla is a win win for me!!  In between you walk and look. Or stop for a drink and look. Or smoke and look. We have an adventure in a British sports pub along the way: the adorable and friendly crew sing along with Bruno Mars Uptown Funk and we chat with some Irish folks.  Later, laden with Zara bags we return to our hotel. After we've rested up a bit (drinking and shopping = exhaustion), it's tapas at the Basque place around the corner and to bed. Digging Barcelona.

BARCELONA!!

Jake, Clementine and I slip out of Cynthia's condo at 5:30 am into a heavy fog. Waiting for us is Tonya, a British expat who will taxi us to the airport. She's a chatty cabbie and gets us capably thru the mist, the rest of leaving Rome is just as uncomplicated. Vueling airlines is based out of Barcelona and we had a pleasant, if short, flight with them. Before this trip I was only familiar with Ryanair - both of my older children traveled extensively in Europe on Ryanair while spending semesters abroad  - but Europe is full of small airlines so the cost and the convenience often can't be beat.
Our hotel is very nice - we really love our room which has a deep, large tub, great shower and eco constraints on the lights and electricity in the room: nothing works until you "park" your door keycard in your room's receptacle. This way all the lights etc are out whenever you leave. The immediate neighborhood, Santa Estacio, isn't really very picturesque. It's more industrial/commercial with the train/bus/metro station across the intersection, but that said, it's convenient to how you'll be getting where you're going. We did enjoy a Basque style resto around the corner, lunch once for me and Clementine; tapas one night for us all, but mostly we took the metro away from Estacio and walked. Lots of walking everywhere, the whole time, the entire trip.
After a picnic of baguette and cheese on a park bench waiting for our room to be ready we shower and nap. C and I go for Basque food, a late lunch. We relax in our room until evening and head to the Sagrada Familia, which is all scaffolded up and on to see 2 of Gaudi's most famous residences, apartment buildings that look like jazzed up Disney, done in colorful mosaic tiles, nary a straight line on the exterior. Fun house houses. Gaudi and Dali share some crazy Spanish aesthetic, I do believe.
Gaudi's stuff is all over Barcelona. We will go to his park, Guell, tomorrow by the way!
More to eat!! Tapas at the street end of a bar surrounded overhead by hanging ham, like in any good
european bar. More walking. Sleep is most welcome after this long day and the beds are good.

ROMA DAY 6: WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL

Last day in Italy and I'm working. Jake and the kids are gone to the Coliseum and Cynthia to work. So I do laundry and use my ipad to connect to my home laptop and work, alone, in the apartment. Outside the long windows  - where I'm hanging our clothes to dry - below on the piazza, there is a demonstration going on. I can't tell for what but everyone seems very happy, there are blue balloons floating about and occasionally, a group singalong. They will disperse promptly at 4 leaving a few sad balloons behind. 

We've booked Veuling Air to Barcelona in the morning. Time to 'arrivederci baby' our hosts Cynthia and Will with dinner (I have melon and ham, again) and superb lemoncello, she pesters the waiter/lemoncello maker into a bottle for herself although it's only for in house, after dinner as a general rule. My love affair with lemoncello while in Rome is one of it's great memories. Will and Cynthia the other 2 big ones. It's easy to say that I found Rome delightful and I, for some odd reason, wasn't sure I was going to love it there. But I do.