happy easter (joyeuses pâques)

image + how to courtesy of inspire co

image courtesy of swiss

image courtesy of design mom

image + how to courtesy of its overflowing

image courtesy of suigeneris consignment

image courtesy of gala darling

 image courtesy of green wedding shoes

i hope you enjoy savoring these pastel-filled doses of eye candy.

i'm busily tying a lovely pink bow around my latest e-course mindfulness: tranquility within which releases TONIGHT. gasp and woo-hoo. since announcing it in january, i've been gathering tools, deepening my own practice, and writing away. so. very. excited. oodles of tips, how-tos, podcasts, videos, and more.

in between bow tying, le beau and moi are off to panorama on the peak for our annual easter brunch tradition. wishing you and yours a beautiful easter sunday. bisous. x

tranquility du jour #267: mindfulness

Welcome to the 267th edition of Tranquility du Jour. Today's show features Elisha Goldstein on mindfulness.

Workshops + Retreats: Join moi for a tranquilologie experience. Immerse yourself in the study of tranquility with scents of lavender, lots of love, and dollops of sparkles thrown in. Below are a few options.

Ongoing

* 1:1 Mentoring 
* NEW Mindfulness E-course launches March 31
* Creative + Conscious Business E-course
* Tranquilologie: A DIY Sprinkling of Everyday Tranquility E-course+ 

(+new issue releases 1st of each month) 

* Tranquil Space Lifestyle E-course

2013
* NEW Mindfulness E-course launches March 31
* TranquiliT Sustainable Pop-Up Shop Saturday, April 6
* Art + Yoga Cabin Retreat in West Virginia April 19-21 (4 spots left)
* Art, Yoga + Shopping in Paris May 22-26 (2 spots left)
* Art, Yoga + Shopping in Paris June 5-9 (sold out)
* Tranquility Summer Camp in West Virginia August 15-18 (5 spots left)
* Yoga Lifestyle Retreat in Costa Rica August 31-September 7

Haute off the Press:
Tranquility du Jour Daybook: It's a pink planner, lifestyle organizer, and wellness guide all in one. This perfect complement to Tranquilologie is filled with checklists, inspiration, eye candy, and 52 dateless week spreads so you can start at anytime. Released mid-December. Watch our how-to video with Carol Meyers. 

Spring Seasonal Podcast: Released March 25 and filled with gems for making this spring mindful and tranquil


Spring Love Note (includes a Tranquility Mixtape)

Featured Tranquilisto:
Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is in private practice in West Los Angeles and is author of the book The Now Effect: How This Moment Can Change the Rest of Your Life and co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn. He synthesizes the pearls of traditional psychotherapy with a progressive integration of mindfulness to achieve mental and emotional healing. He contends that we have the power to transform our traumas and habitual patterns that keep us stuck in perpetual cycles of stress, anxiety, depression, or addiction and step into greater freedom and peace. He offers practical strategies to calm our anxious minds, transform negative emotions, and facilitate greater self acceptance, freedom and inner peace.

Dr. Goldstein, who comes from a family of psychologists, advocates that mental health comes from an approach that looks at all aspects of the self – physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual.

As a licensed Psychologist, he teaches mindfulness-based programs in his own practice and through InsightLA. He has spoken at the UCLA Mindfulness and Psychotherapy Conference headlining Thich Nhat Hanh, Daniel Siegel, and Jack Kornfield, The NICABM Conference, Psychotherapy Networker, FACES Conferences, UCLA Semel Institute and Anxiety Disorder Clinic, the University of Washington with Dr. Alan Marlatt, and often hosts daylong courses at UCLA Extension. He is author of the popular Mindfulness and Psychotherapy Blog on Psychcentral.com and writes for the Huffington Post, Mindful.org and Mentalhelp.net. He has designed the 12-week Mindfulness at Work™ program that is currently being conducted in many mulinational corporations and has been published in The Journal of Clinical Psychology and quoted in the New York Daily News, Reuters, NPR, UCLA Today, Examiner.com, Beliefnet.com, Body & Soul, The Week Magazine, among others.

In addition to his books, he has created popular CDs and MP3 albums including Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety and Depression, Mindful Solutions for Addiction and Relapse Prevention, Mindful Solutions for Success and Stress Reduction at Work, and Mindful Solutions for Adults with ADD/ADHD.

Savvy Sources:

Huffington Post articles

Twitter

Facebook

Elisha's website

Youtube channel

Books 

Online book club choice: The Now Effect

Tranquility du Jour iPhone and Android app

Tranquility du Jour FAQs: Start here
Latest Tranquility du Jour Museletter

Signature Style: TranquiliT is a line of layers in rayon made from organic bamboo and designed by moi. We sew locally and plant 150 trees monthly while also donating a portion of proceeds to Tranquil Space Foundation, Farm Sanctuary, and Nest. In addition, we offer vintage and reclaimed goodies because it doesn't get more eco than reusing! Save the date: Saturday, April 6 Sustainable Pop-up Shop.

Stay Au Courant:
Connect on Facebook.
Follow moi on Twitter for daily sprinkles of tranquility.
Watch Tranquility du JourTV.
Browse Hip Tranquil Chick and Tranquilista.

Join the Tranquility du Jour museletter.
Pin along with moi on Pinterest.
Peruse my Etsy shoppe.
Read about my passion for pigs.
Follow moi on Instagram @tranquilitydujour.
Write a review on iTunes - it helps others find our show.
Submit questions for our bimonthly "Ask Tranquility du Jour" podcasts.
Read along with this season's online book club choice. 

 Techy stuff:

- 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 411.

- Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast. You'll automatically get the latest edition as soon as it's available!

spring online book club pick

i hope you enjoyed your winter pick, the power of habits. as we prepare to bloom this spring, i'm over the moon to announce my spring pick, the now effect. oh, and the cover matches my new easter mani (win-win!). 

in all seriousness, elisha presented an amazing workshop at the psychotherapy conference i attended last week and is the co-author of the workbook i've been using for the mindfulness-based stress reduction class. 

oh, and a cherry on top, i just interviewed him for the mindfulness e-course launching sunday and it was such an insightful discussion that i'll also be releasing it via sunday's bi-monthly podcast. yep, it's that good!

here's more skinny on our featured author:

huffington post articles

twitter

facebook

elisha's website

youtube channel

as victor frankl stated, "between stimulus and response, there is a space. in that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. in our response lies our growth and freedom." that's what this book is all about. ommmm.

ready to dive into the text? i am! i picked it up last week at the conference and once the mindfulness e-course launches (my energy focus at this moment), i can't wait to consume this book. join moi, won't you? may we truly treasure this moment. happy spring reading. bisous. x

mani + book love

reminder: to participate in our online book club, simply click the book image on the far right of the blog to share your thoughts, challenges, and insights regarding our chosen read. thank you for reading along. 

week in review

chez moi looking oh-so-fancy in air bnb shoot

week in review

taught 2 yoga classes

rode bike 12 miles

1 gym jaunt

completed final 2.5 hours mindfulness-based stress reduction class

daylong with tara brach

penned tranquility du jour spring love note

released 1-hour spring seasonal podcast

16 hours of internship

penned tranquilosophy piece on connections

 shared introversion cartoon and video

shared things i love

wrote mindful monday

podcast interviews for mindfulness e-course

hours of mindfulness e-course writing

organized chez moi to have photos taken for air bnb (see above)

savored two delightful ballets at the kennedy center
penned muse for tranquil space museletter

shared spring cleaning love

hosted minfulness chat at tranquil space open house
washed heaps of yoga mats after open house (on hands + knees, cinderella style)
placed order for book printing of tranquilologie (hardcover releasing late summer!)

shipped care packages to pals

got a deep tissue massage to work out upper back kink (ouch!)

goodbye fête for longtime tranquil space employee

recorded lots of meditation podcasts for mindfulness e-course

savored heaps of hot baths and gouter (addicted to these tonics)
overdue mani/pedi

weekend wish list

 launch mindfulness e-course (created with LOTS of love)

savor connections at saturday's teacher retreat

release inspiring podcast
record videos for tranquility du jour

write heaps

shake my bum at hip hop yoga class

easter brunch with le beau

et toi? what's on your weekend wish list?

bisous.

tranquilosophy: connections

i define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship. - brené brown

i love this image pulled together for today's tranquil space museletter. it embodies many favorite things such as celebration with my tranquil space family, yoga outside, art journaling, pink blossoms, handmade TranquiliT garland, and le pug. what would you pull together in a collage as a source of connection inspiration?

we are surrounded by such special connections with other beings and our environment. how can these relationships become true connections as defined above by brené brown? how many true connections do you really have?

may we find a sense of deep connection within and beyond during this new season. take the time to reflect within via your journal, host a tiny tea party, pen a love note, and truly listen when your beloved is speaking (even if it's about a silly game with a ball).

creating connections has the power to change ourselves and the world. bisous. x

wednesday well-being: introversion

le beau sent me this comic by grant snider last night. love it!

where do you fall on the introvert/extrovert scale? while it took me years to figure out why i was so "different," i now embrace it with glee. i mean, after all, it helps me feel more literary (emily dickinson) and amazing (abraham lincoln)!

enjoy this ted talk by susan cain on the power of introverts. we rock! or so i like to believe. bisous. x

things i love tuesday

image courtesy of confetti + glitter

 1. lilacs in blue mason jars

 image courtesy of hostess with the mostess blog

2. sweet easter brunch

image courtesy of kara's party ideas

 3. pretty pink cupcakes

 image + how to courtesy of ruby girl

4. peter pan collars

image + how to courtesy of bossacaffez

5. pink grapefruit marmalade

bloOM into spring podcast TONIGHT (+ more)

image courtesy of she finds

dearest readers,

a few exciting things are happening today in the land o' tranquility:

1. i'm interviewing the lovely gina sager for the mindfulness: tranquility within e-course releasing on sunday.

2. a fresh bloOM into spring seasonal podcast is releasing tonight filled with tips on coming into your own mindfully, beautifully and tranquilly.

3. the spring tranquility du jour love note is hitting in boxes this afternoon. filled with upcoming happenings, yoga and art how-tos, a do-gooding story, new savvy sources, and, of course, signature style. have you signed up for your complimentary copy?

i look forward to connecting via these online means. merci beaucoup for being such a joyful part of my creative expression. you are beautiful. bisous. x

mindful monday

image courtesy of iyampam

bonjour mindful monday. last night le beau and i headed to the ballet to see cinderella. the tutus, orchestra, and toe shoes never cease to amaze me. also, over the weekend, i was blessed with two lovely days of mindfulness study with elisha goldstein and tara brach at the psychotherapy symposium. thanks to them, my 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course and year of mindfulness study program, i'm filled with amazing material and joy to share in the soon-to-be-released "mindfulness: tranquility within" e-course.

according to jon kabat-zinn, mindfulness means "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally." as you move into this brand new week and our first full spring one, i encourage you to regularly check in and ask, "am i being mind full or mindful?" notice without labeling as good or bad, take a few deep breaths, observe what's transpiring in your body, and say bonjour to this very moment.

bisous. x

spring cleaning love

i've started the spring cleaning journey. et toi? not only physically, but energetically. how do i want to bloom?

chez moi is torn apart as i began the process after all day at the psychotherapy networker conference before heading to tranquil space for a late night au revoir event. hope i can get it back together soon!

came across these great resources on glitter guide that i thought you, too, may appreciate. print and get going. it's spring, ladies! happy saturday. bisous. x

week in review

 fabric bunting made from TranquiliT scraps by fab seamstress hanging at dupont studio

my sweet pink ride

 le pug with handmade fabric garland made by mama wilson

 solo date night at teaism with book, tea + veggie stir fry

 collage made in workshop

 my third grade take on cherry blossoms

 my passion for pink in watercolor form

le pug + his le teddy looking handsome

sparkly pig ring (courtesy of kirsten)

week in review

taught 2 yoga classes

took 3 yoga classes

1 gym jaunt

took 1 barre fusion class (ouch! think i'm broken)

commuted 14 miles on sweet pink ride (see pic above)

director's meeting

16 hours internship

art therapy workshop at psychotherapy syposium

mindfulness + technology workshop at psychotherapy symposium

heaps of new resources to paris retreaters

3-hour mindfulness workshop

dinner + krishna das concert with girlfriend

tranquil space foundation generosity meeting

le pug to vet for annual check up

teaism with girlfriend

solo date night at teaism

meditation class

consumed lots of green juice

recorded vintage clothing video for museum 

released podcast with le beau on advice to our 25-year-old selves

penned pieces for mindfulness: tranquility within e-course

wrote tranquilosophy: bloom into being

shared resources + spring retreat promo (3 spots left!)

 released things i love: signs of spring

penned mindful monday

wine + apps with girlfriend

penned + mailed a pile of merci beaucoups

researched perfect paris apartment for upcoming trip

received snail mail sweetest goody bag from kirsten

project + travel planning with le beau

love to tranquility project e-course ladies

 purchased more ballet tickets

reread lots of a writer's paris

purchased 5 keys to mindful communication for internship project

weekend wish list

au revoir celebration for 5-year team member

learn heaps in daylong tara brach workshop at psychotherapy symposium

learn about coaching within therapy at psychotherapy symposium

yoga with amy weintraub at pyschotherapy symposium

savor cinderella ballet at kennedy center with le beau

art journaling

writing

et toi? what's on your weekend wish list?

bisous. x

 

tranquilosophy: bloom into being

image courtesy of fouettes and jettes

spring has sprung. i'm ready! et toi? blooming trees, peonies, open windows, yoga on the deck, planting impatiens, and chirping birds. these are just a few of the many things j'adore about this time of the year.

when i contemplate how i want to be this spring (lord knows i already have my long to-do list), i'm reminded of this great article i can across via npr. i love this line, "the bottom line seems to be that we know too much, understand too little and we are way too scared of what we might be missing." does this resonate? 

this reminds me of another insightful article from the new york times, the busy trap. the author writes, "busyness serves as a kind of existential reassurance, a hedge against emptiness; obviously your life cannot possibly be silly or trivial or meaningless if you are so busy, completely booked, in demand every hour of the day." hmmmm.

as we move into this season focused on blooming, i encourage you to take time to reflect on how you want to bloom. for moi, i'm hoping for deeper listening, full-bodied experiences, and more being. and the great news is i feel it slowly happening deep inside. it's a good feeling.

today begins a 4-day psychotherapy conference i'm attending here in dc. my first all-day workshop is on art therapy. truly, i couldn't be more excited and i'll be sure to share my takeaways.

wishing you a beautiful day filled with dreams of blooming into being. bisous. x

wednesday well-being: retreat

 reflection time

 s'more time (with le pug on watch)

 cozy fire time

 sweet libation time

 creative time

ready to bloom this spring? we have 4 spots left for next month's art + yoga retreat in west virginia april 19-21. the experience is created to nurture all your senses (yummy homemade veggie meals, candles, mindful movement, beauty, music) while offering a respite from daily life.  

join moi and a beautiful small group of like-hearted ladies for an escape into the woods to consciously create, reflect, and be. 

here's a great article from daily om on going on retreat, one from zen habits on meditation, art journaling tips, and yoga love. 

take time this spring to nurture your soul, create goals for the season, and dream. either with us, on your own, or with a few dear girlfriends. you're worth it!

bisous. x

 legs up the tree time

 kale chip + cuddle time

 art journal time

yoga on the deck

things i love: signs of spring

 

image courtesy of life unfolds blog

 1. cherry blossoms

  image + how to courtesy of keiko lynn

 2. head scarves

 image courtesy of alla fiorentina

3. bikes with baskets full of flowers

image courtesy of playing with scarves

 4. neck scarves + pops of color

 image + recipe courtesy of see you in the morning

5. internal spring cleaning