A Time for Reflection

"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium"

-Norbet Platt

Journal writing is a great way to keep track of events in your life and your emotions. It is also helpful for self reflection and self awareness. Regardless of your age or gender, writing in a journal is very relaxing and can be quite fun. It is nice to periodically reread previous entries. In many senses, it is the best book ever written because it is your personal biography that chronicles your life.
I have a few suggestions to those of you who are beginning to write in your journal.
1. Write without self editing. You should write freely and honestly, without concern about who might read your journal and judge you.
2. When you write, you should go to a place where you are alone in your thoughts and you feel safe.
3. Consider your handwriting and the journal size before purchasing a journal. If you write very large you would want a larger journal, and if you handwriting is small, you should try a smaller journal. Some people prefer their journals to be lined, while others feel that the lines are confining.

Journal writing is also used as a means of therapy. Journal therapy is the act of writing down thoughts and feelings to sort through problems and come to a deeper understanding of oneself or the issues in their life. In the 1960's, Dr. Ira Progoff, a psychologist in NYC, began offering workshops and classes in the use of what he called, "The Intensive Journal Method". He found that this was a very helpful means of therapy for students and clients. By the 1980's, the practice of journal therapy had become the norm.

Finding a nice journal can be quite difficult. I have several stores that I use to purchase journals. "Graphic image", is a great place to purchase high end leather journals. You can visit their website by going to www.graphicimage.com Another great store that sells fantastic journals is, "Leather Keep Sakes". You can view their entire collection by going to www.leatherkeepsakes.com
If you are looking for a nice journal that is not too expensive, "Barnes and Nobles", typically has a large assortment of journals that are reasonably priced.

I hope everyone is enjoying their week thus far!
Love, Lili

"Presentation is Everything"

The Art of Gift wrapping

" The manner of giving is worth
more than the gift"

-Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur


There are few things I enjoy more than gift wrapping. It is so much fun for me to create a theme for the present by selecting the ideal paper and ribbon combination. Personally, I believe that the way a present is wrapped is more important than the gift itself. To receive a gift that is not wrapped or bagged nicely, is basically telling the recipient that you did not care enough to take the time to make the present special. To solve this problem, I suggest you buy your gift wrap and ribbon in advance so that you will not have to rush around and buy everything at the last minute. There are several things to consider when purchasing gift wrap and ribbon; one of the most important of these being the paper itself. The quality of the paper depends upon the thickness of it. It is much more easy to wrap a present when the gift wrap is of a good quality. It is also important because it sharpens the folds and corners of the package, allowing the package to have clean lines. Ribbon is critical to the package as well, as it is the finishing touch that literally ties the theme of the present together. There are several different types of ribbon to choose from. I prefer to use wired ribbon because it is malleable and holds the shape of the bow more. Regardless of the type of ribbon you use, remember to finish the edges of the bow to complete the look!
The origin of gift wrapping,like most things, dates back to the Victorian times. This was probably due to the expansion of the printing press, which enabled wrapping paper to be reproduced in massive quantities. I think it would be interesting to see some of the original wrapping paper from that time!
I wanted to share with you two companies I use to purchase gift wrap online. "Luxe Paperie", is a great place to buy gift wrap and stationary from. You can view their entire collection by visiting the website: www.luxepaperie.com . The store, "The Ribbon Retreat" has the most amazing assortment of ribbons in every color,shape, and size. You can visit their website by going to, www.theribbonretreat.com

Love, Lili

The Special Plate

"The bond that links your true family

is not one of blood, but of respect and

joy in each others' life"-Richard Bach

While growing up in my home my family had a tradition called, "The special plate". Whenever someone in the family had an accomplishment or it was their birthday they were allowed to eat on the plate. It was also given to friends and guests when they visited our house. The plate was so "special" because it meant that for an entire meal you were celebrated, honored, and most importantly, you received the most attention. As I got older, I became less competitive over the plate and enjoyed seeing other's use and delight in it.

The other day for some reason or another I began thinking about the "special plate". I was remembering how much my family and I had loved this tradition. This led me to think about the plate on a deeper level. What is it that made the "special plate" so special? All of a sudden the words, "positive reinforcement" flashed before me.

B.F. Skinner was a researcher who developed several major theoretical constructs of reinforcement and behaviorism; one of these being, positive reinforcement. It is defined as, "an increase in the future frequency of a behavior due to the addition of a stimulus immediately following a response." Skinner found that positive reinforcement was a better way of altering behaviors than punishment.

The "special plate" was special because it rewarded and celebrated my families life's and their accomplishments, which conditioned us to work hard in order to receive it again in the future.

Regardless of your age or family size, the "special plate" is a wonderful tradition that will become a beloved ritual that truly brings joy to you and all those around you!

The "Special plate"as we call it, is actually called "You are special today" by the company, Waechtersbach. These plate's are made in Germany and are available in a cherry red color. The best part of all is that they are dishwasher safe (we both know how much I love dish washing)!

I did some research on the plate to find the best price for it. The plate is typically $37 retail however, I found it for $28.86 at the website http://www.thechurchmousemall.com/.

I hope you have a great week and remember,"you are special today"!

Love, Lili

The Meaning of Cleaning

"Thank God for dirty dishes, they have a tale to tell. While other's may go hungry, we're eating very well."

- author unknown

I honestly do not mind cleaning. Let's not get it wrong though, I do not enjoy it but there are some chores that I do not mind as much as others. The task of washing dishes is one household chore that I absolutely detest. I think it is the idea of touching other people's food that disgusts me most or it could be the fact that it is extremely boring! My disdain for cleaning reached it's maximum when I moved to New York City. All of my apartments did not have a dishwasher so I was forced to hand wash every single dish and it became daunting. One day, I decided to try out a new dish soap because I liked the color of the bottle (I usually do not recommend that).

The first time I tried Myers soap, I literally used 1/3 of the bottle because it smelled so good! It did not make me enjoy washing dishes but it did make the process more bearable. From that point on, I began using Mrs. Myers cleaning products for all my household cleaners. I have tried every scent and they are all wonderful! I actually have a purpose to this post if you are wondering ,which is to use creativity to make things you dislike a little more tolerable. In my particular situation it was as simple as getting a new dish soap!

Mrs. Myer's household cleaners are aroma therapeutic environmentally friendly products that are safe to use around children and animals. They are more expensive than most cleaning products, but you can always come up with a way to rationalize this purchase (i.e. aesthetics, fragrance, the earth, etc...)

To find a store near you that sells Mrs. Meyers, visit their website: www.mrs.meyers.com

Have a productive day and "please do not feed the dust bunnies".

Love, Lili

Tea Time

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea"
-Henry James, "The Portrait of a Lady"

High tea, which is also known as, "afternoon tea" is the custom of drinking tea between 3pm to 5pm. This ritual originated in England by Catherine of Braganze, who married Charles II in 1661, and brought the practice of "afternoon tea" with her from Portugal.

A few months ago, I read an article about the effects of caffeine, specifically coffee after 3pm. The study indicated that having coffee after 3 in the afternoon affects your ability to fall asleep. I was devastated to learn this, because I rely on coffee in the afternoon to maintain my energy level. I began to think of alternatives and instantly thought of tea! American's used to drink tea prior to drinking coffee, so I was wondering why and when we stopped? Did we resent the British so much that after the "Boston tea party" we decided to rid ourselves of tea?
For the past few weeks, I have attempted to have "high tea" daily and I have to say that I honestly feel better emotionally and physically. It has become a comforting ritual that I hope will become a trend again!
Take time for yourself and enjoy a nice spot of tea!
Love, Lili

"Little Women"

"Touched to the heart, Mrs. March could only stretch out her arms, as if to gather children and grandchildren to herself, and say, with face and voice full of motherly love, gratitude, and humility--"Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this." - Louisa May Alcott, "Little Women", ch. 47

Lousia May Alcott''s book, "Little Women" has always had a special place in my heart because it reminds me of my mother and my sister. I read the book when I was a very young girl ,and I guess you could say I have been obsessed with everything relating to "Little Women" since. When the movie came out in 1994, I first watched it with my "Little Women" and I still love it to this day. The soundtrack to this movie by composer, Thomas Newman is fantastic as well!

Recently, I did some research and found out that the Alcott's home where Lousia wrote,"Little Women" is located in Concord, Massachusetts, which is about 30 minutes away from Boston. So, today with the help of my loving and supportive boyfriend, I was able to visit the house! The drive to Concord was beautiful. Everywhere I looked I saw historical farm houses comfortably resting in green fields and surrounded by wild flowers.

When we finally arrived at the Alcott's home, it was just as I had imagined it to be! A perfect location for Lousia to write. It was so exciting to see the desk that her father, Amos had built for her. It was the actual desk that she used when she wrote, "Little Women".

After touring the museum, my boyfriend and I decided to walk around the neighborhood and to our shock and excitement we came across both Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson's houses! I also learned that Henry David Thoreau lived in Concord too, but we were unable to see his house. Ironically, the Alcott family was very close to these writers, which would make sense because they were neighbors and shared common interests. I wish I could of been a fly on the wall during their discussion times! Can you imagine?

Have a wonderful week!

Love, Lili

The Alcott home is located at 399 Lexington Rd. in historical Concord, Massachusetts.

Bringing Glad Tidings

"Letter Writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company." -Lord Byron

When did everyone stop corresponding through the mail? I never received the memo. I have to be honest and admit that I rely on emailing and texting as much as the other person, but there is something very upsetting and impersonal about our means of communication. A hand written note is much more meaningful to receive than a text message or a phone call. I think the main reason for this is that writing a card requires more energy, thought, and money.

I actually prefer to communicate to friends and family members through cards (when time allows)! One of my favorite things to do on my lunch break is go to local card stores and search for the perfect card for the perfect person. I try to select cards that I know the other person would like, even if I do not like it myself.

So, the next time you want to call or text someone to wish them a happy birthday or thank them for something, think about sending them a handwritten letter instead. I know they will be thrilled to receive something other than bills in the mail ,and the United States Postal Service will appreciate it as well!

Caspari stationary has been around since the dark ages, but they are still tried and true in my book. They have timeless cards that are great for all genders and ages! Caspari stationary can be found at most stationary stores throughout the country.

Love, Lili

Gardening Tools

P.S.

I wanted you guys to see this amazing garden set by Ceilia Birtwell and I forgot to add the image to the blog!

Burying Your Troubles

"You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt"

-author unknown

I believe that gardening is both a therapeutic and mediative occupation. There is something special about planting new flowers and removing weeds from your garden. It actually reminds me off everyday life in that you get rid of bad energy (i.e. people) and your replace it with something exciting and new. Unfortunately, I live in a city and have no where to garden so my alternative is to purchase flowers instead. The best place to buy fresh flowers if you live in a city other than NYC, is to purchase them at Whole Foods. They have such a large assortment of flowers to choose from and they are always freshly cut.

One day, I hope to have a garden and when I do it will be filled with hundreds of hydrangea shrubs. The hydrangea plant is a deciduous shrub, which means they do not bloom in the winter. They typically start blooming from early spring through early fall with colors ranging from white, blue, and pink. Hydrangea's are a fascinating plant because you can actually change the color of the flowers by adding and subtracting aluminum to the soil. To change a plant from blue to pink, you subtract aluminum from the soil and surrounding area. To change a hydrangea from pink to blue entails adding the aluminum to the soil.

I found this really great set of gardening tools by Ceilia Birtwell and you can purchase them by going to the online store, "The Picket Fence" http://www.picketfenceshadyside.com/.

Enjoy the weekend!

Love, Lili

A Relaxing Read

"Let books be your dining table, and you shall be full of delights. Let them be your mattress, And you shall sleep restful nights"- author unknown

Reading a good book before you go to bed is a great way to unwind after a hectic day. I began reading books at a young age because I was not allowed to watch t.v. very often. It was then that I learned that reading a wonderful book could transport me to another place and time. As I have grown older, reading has become a time of relaxation and comfort!

Luckily for me, my mother belongs to a fabulous book club that recommends the best books. Recently, she told me to read the book, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" . When she first told me the name of the book I was somewhat hesitant to purchase it, but once I did I fell in love with the characters!
"The Elegance of the Hedgehog", is an international best seller by the french novelist and professor of philosophy, Muriel Barbery. The main characters within the book provide a double narrative of a concierge, Ren'ee Michel and a quirky young girl named Paloma Josse who develop a relationship through their common intellectual intrests. I really enjoyed reading this book and I hope you do too!

Love, Lili

Joyful Light

I have always had a love for candles. It might be the soft light and crackling sound from the wick that allures me or the actual aroma but every time I light a candle I am instantly filled with joy. A candle is such a simple way to make your home your own personal sanctuary.

One of my favorite candles is the "Capri Blue" in the scent volcano. It has a subtle floral scent that anyone would enjoy! This candle is hand poured and comes in a variety of sizes and shapes.

I buy these candles at one of my favorite stores "Anthropologie". The prices of these candles range from $28.00 which is the largest jar to $12 for the travel tin. To view this entire collection online please visit their site at www.anthropologie.com

Love, Lili