Spanista &raquo; Self Care Rituals, Reflections &amp; Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

11 • 06 • 15

Friday Wellness Tip: Enjoy No Guilt Retail Therapy

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Friday Wellness Tip: Enjoy No Guilt Retail Therapy is to help us pick smarter ways to direct our emotional needs when shopping. What you want to do when you feel the desire to so some serious shopping as seasonal changes ‘inspire our desire to update’ is to layout a Self Care mission. The goal is to enjoy No Guilt Retail Therapy.

Research shows roughly 6 in 10 women indulge in retail therapy. Unfortunately too many times we shop and buy spontaneously, driven by a deep need to excite our senses, to validate our worth or to fill a void. Many women and men say after such spending they often suffer from regrets and guilt. If you are like me this time of year can cause some consternation about making budget choices too. After all, holiday gift shopping time is here, the kids have grown out of their winter clothes, holiday traveling is around the corner etc., etc.

So before you head out the door take a few moments the night before to consider how you want to feel AFTER the shopping trip.

While you ponder this here is the good news. Even Suze Orman the famous manage your financial success guru, author and coach thinks it is okay to splurge. Once in a while. That is because giving yourself permission, and the budget to enjoy life’s extras can be a major driver of financial success in the long term.

Spanista would like to build on this topic to assure you realize the joy you so well deserve. Here are suggested Self Care Rituals that have helped me:

If you have not yet done so, create a Personal Fun Money account after you have set money aside for your future financial security and paid your bills. This can be as much as you feel is right. Before you head out the door to enjoy your shopping experience, identify the dollar amount you do not want to exceed.
Purge your closet before you go. this does not have to be a day long exercise. Take a few minutes to pull out 3 items that you are not using from last seasons. Take them to Salvation Army or a consignment shop. This is about cleansing and detaching physically and emotionally while providing cyclical value with these things laying dormant that can be repurposed to help others.
If the purpose of splurging is to have something you really want – like a certain Kate Spade handbag or a Kendra Scott Jewelry ensemble do it mindfully – set out to make it an experience you will enjoy from beginning to end. Design your personal experience around it so it is positive and memorable as you can imagine. Again shopper research guides us as it shows we get more emotional benefits like lasting joy from what we do than from what we buy. So spending a few hours in Retail Therapy with a dear friend, lunching together or stopping for afternoon tea can bring us more lasting pleasure.

Friday Wellness Tip: Enjoy No Guilt Retail Therapy is about thoughtfully enjoying your hard-earned money and assuring when you get home your impulses have not overtaken your sensibility. The idea is to make Retail Therapy positive with joyful, memorable and a tangible treats that reward you in the right ways. There by delivering the emotional well-being you so deserve.

Enjoy your No Guilt Retail Therapy experience. Let me know how you feel afterward!

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

11 • 04 • 15

Kansas City Royals World Series Exciting Home Town Celebration

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Kansas City Royals World Series Exciting Home Town Celebration is something to behold. The weather spectacular on a beautiful fall day in early November. This is the first time in 30 years the Kansas City Royals have won the World Series so you can imagine the city is simply electric! The Royal Celebration is a multi day affair from breakfast for the players, the a full on parade, events, fireworks and an evening parties that will last until who knows when? Two Kansas City Star has a series of wonderful photos with their feature article. http://Throngs of fans jam Kansas City to cheer the Royals

Not matter where you are in the world if you are from Kansas City this is a time for Royal Blue Pride. In fact, last night Google maps showed the city mapped with all the fireworks going in a blue virtually covering the entire geography was covered in a masses of blue – And yes the sky was ablaze in technicolor for hours.

At the beginning of baseball season the hopes for the Royals high after coming so close last year to winning it all. But this year the Team’s chemistry was outstanding as was their level of confidence. It seemed they were operating at another level all the way through the season but it was especially apparent during the play offs. Taking the final series 4 games to one against the New York Mets – a very highly capitalized, talented and tough to beat ball club.

Watching the parade yesterday and special events all aroundPINIMAGE downtown Kansas City was not only exhilerating it was a emotional time of pride especially at the World War I Memorial which is the only steps away from Union Station where troops came and went acorss the country to fight in the pacific theatre. PINIMAGEThis created an atmopshere was that so Americana – chevy , apple pie and Baseball. You can see by these pics of my family the vast number of people who joined the festivities. Even the schools gave kids the day off to join the historic event with their parents. So cool.

Best of all it was gratifying to see these professional baseball players and their families enjoy their tribute day of glory with the fans. They have given the fans so very much enjoyment the last couple of years – exceeding expectations. They deserved every once of happiness and lime light this rare time offers.

Kansas City Royals World Series Exciting Home Town Celebration is Spanista’s way of sharing the joy of being a KC Royals Fan while saluting excellence of performance of the Ball Club. Shouting such joy from the roof tops, sharing it with your community is a priceless time of emotional wellness you can feel deep in your soul. Truly a once in a lifetime moment to enjoy.

Thank You Kansas City and to the entire The Kansas City Royals Ball Club!

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

11 • 02 • 15

Good News Monday: Green Thanksgiving Tastes Great, Feels Better

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Good News Monday: Green Thanksgiving Tastes Great, Feels Better suggests this maybe the year when we challenge long time family traditions. To explore new ways to consider new ideas take can take this fantastic holiday celebration to the next level. Spanista would love to hear your ideas on this post. If you have, well done!

By starting your reflecting process now you have plenty of time to consider introducing some new directions this Thanksgiving that may become new traditions. Perhaps is is time to consider some thoughtful and healthier choices. And reaching out to creates new bonds with others. All to inspire guests to enjoy the dimensions of wellbeing your designed for them.

Time to grab a coffee, pen and notebook to lay out ideas and plans. Let’s take a step back and consider your holiday rituals for Thanksgiving Day with 3 questions:

What is the stylized theme and feeling you want to create?
What are the menu courses – the main entrees, the secondary dishes and deserts?
How can you keep great family traditions while adding more purpose?

Firstly, Festive Green Thanksgiving Preparations should consider the impact on environment. Pick a Theme – this is ours will be ‘Gratitude Bonds Our World’. Then pick a color theme as color always adds excitement. Reconsider the use of paper towels for prep in the kitchen and paper plates, napkins for guests these will go into the incinerator and landfill. Instead use washable cloth napkins and kitchen towels. Besides they project a more upscale yet relaxed feeling.

Secondly consider The Healthier Menu: While Great Grandmother’s Turkey recipe handed down are so beloved, Spanista suggests considering new approaches. Consider a fresh versus frozen free- range and organic gobblers. If you have not tried one yet thisPINIMAGE may be the year to give it a try for the health of your guests. They are easy to find today thank goodness – ask your local grocery store butcher to get what one. They are a better choice because they are less likely to carry diseases and contain synthetic additives. Heritage Turkeys are raised outdoors, free roam pastures and genetically diverse and eat the varied diet that nature intended. Visit Sustainabletable.org for more. Now our a few family members have gone vegetarian so yummy turkey alternatives are butternut ravioli and acorn squash filled dried fruit beans and onions are full of texture and flavor.

Lastly, Revive the Traditional Atmosphere with the notions of being thankful for our connectedness in the world while honoring our environment. Perhaps include a reading aPINIMAGEpassage before the feast from the Iroquois Thanksgiving Prayer, encouraging . The first Thanksgiving event staged by the British was to celebrate their survival through harsh winters. They invited the Native American Wampanoags to the feast because the tribe had taught them to plant native Indian corn, a key to recovery after their first difficult winter. The intersection of nature, extending a helping hand and brotherhood is the true essence of Thanksgiving. Visit Tinyurl.com/iroquoisThanksgiving

Good News Monday: Green Thanksgiving Tastes Great, Feels Better encourages Gratitude with a fresh point of view on our connectedness and impact on the world. Spanista wishes this Thanksgiving brings you and yours special moments of wellbeing you will treasure for many months to come.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

10 • 30 • 15

“Follow Your Dream To Happiness” Say Farmer’s Market Artisans

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

“Follow Your Dream To Happiness” Say Farmer’s Market Artisans who I discovered in the quaint river town in Parkville just outside Kansas City.

Fall reminds us that our beloved Farmer Market season will soon be over as they end right after pumpkin season, so symbolic of The Season’s of Spanista. It is a season to check in with your dreams. Where are you in realizing them? As this traditional Farmers Market features the same families for generations, you take your time strolling down the rows of beautiful yet so natural displays of ripe vegetables that were just hand-picked on the farm as you greet the growers personally. This is a social scene of a different kind. These unique and lovely farm to table presentations call for your attention so to be enjoyed at someone else’s equally loving dinner table! Here you will also find rich home-made honey, bakery shaped by experienced hands not machines and real sugary sweets to tickle every nut lovers fancy.

At the end of these rows of goodness is a stunning little site. A small yet charming caravan that clearly dates back to an earlier time by is surrounded by colorful displays of hand sewn creations. Two great gals. the owners, exude such joy I just had to share their story with you.PINIMAGE

What drew me in was the sign in the middle of the twig and fuchsia flowered wreath, “Follow Your Dreams”. The scene is one of draping artisan treasures with personal touches of loving details crafted by creative eyes that hold a certain home spun point of view on the way the world should be. I stop dead in my tracks to take it all in. My heart fills with appreciation for the devotion of two women who are dear friends, doing what brings them happiness: Thelma & Louise Creations. What fun is this? These pics tell you a lot about these ladies and their caravan of adventure! This joyful place beams rays of sunshine in the middle of the outdoor park putting a big smile on my face and smiles on everyone who comes upon it. Many others gather around in awe and appreciation for what they are experiencing.

PINIMAGE“Follow Your Dream To Happiness” Say Farmer’s Market Artisans pays tribute to two glorious women with an important message. They set an example of how everyday life can bring us happiness if we follow our dreams. My heart lifts up to celebrate ‘Thelma & Louise’ who created this “special world” of 60’s caravaning, colorful fabric, needle and thread with one of a kind treasures they created. Weather you like hand sewn creations or not, it does not matter. One can simply enjoy and appreciate the happy, simpler place and time it beacons us to relive. And marvel at the way these two friends have built a relationship they feel is priceless sharing this precious time together doing what they love on life’s journey together

Thank you ladies for sharing your gift with us.

Spanista salutes them – now this is a true blue Self Care Ritual.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny