Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

  • Spa Style & Self Care Reflections, Rituals and Resources for Joyful Living

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  • About Spanista

    Ginny Shiverdecker, Creator of Spanista is Spa Wellness Enthusiast, Adventurer Seeker and Brand Builder.
    Ginny is……Read more

Spanista-Philosophy-Belief#4-Synchronicity-Through-Spa-Therapy.jpegPINIMAGEDear Wellness Seekers,

Thank you for checking in. Just want you to know that my blog is being upgraded this week, so I will not be posting during this time. I am looking forward to sharing the new look next week.

But this week while I am traveling in California the site will be under construction. Really appreciate the early interest and support of Spanista.

By the way California Wine Country continues to amaze and delight. Much to share when the site if functioning at another level next week.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

Spanista Founder & Self Care Advocate

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Cali-Wine-Country.Bridge.jpegPINIMAGEDear Wellness Seekers,

California Here We Come! Spanista Visits Sonoma, Napa, San Francisco. We are leaving very early this Friday morning, so I am taking a moment late tonight to greet you with the latest from Spanista. I am so excited to make this trip with my wonderful hubby. We will arrive just in time to roll into the weekend at the many Wineries. It will be lovely to see the beautiful row upon row of luscious vines flowing over the gentle hills filled with jewel colored grapes ready for harvest. And of course to experience the farm to table cuisine that thrives in the valley. It is a happy place where the senses are fully awake to the season, the earth and its gifts – I feel so very alive there.

It is truly one of the best examples of the blessings of The Rhythm of the Seasons, Spanista Style.

We have reservations at Napa Culinary Institute’s, The Conservatory on Saturday night with a full menu of wine tasting to accompany the fabulous dinner menu. I have lunched at the Institute and it is grand fun. So dinner promises something extraordinary for us wine lovers.

This visit will be extra memorable because we are meeting very dear friends from Australia there to share the experience together. My dear lady friend has NEVER been there, so it will be a treat to show her and her wonderful husband our finest providers. I have enjoyed wine country Australian style and it is fantastic because they LOVE their wine too. So now it is my turn to share our wonderful world of The Grape. Remember the movie “Bottle Shock”? If you have not seen it yet please do  – California wines have certainly come of age since the 70’s. That’s Amor!

Then off to San Francisco where we plan take the city on from a different perspective than usual – so stay tuned. Off we go…..

What do you love about California Wine Country?

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

Spanista Founder & Self Care Advocate

P.S. Friends of Spanista – I will soon be upgrading my site so watch for the post on the details. Thanks for stopping by and do return.

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Dear Wellness Seeker,

Spanista In Touch Tableau Home Spa, Sweet Salt Air Story is this Thursday’s theme. I have been enjoying this late summer fiction book and am keen to read the last few pages as I look forward to my Self Care Ritual tonight. So with it as inspiration I created my Spanista In Touch Tableau.

How is this week going  for you? September can be a time of transition on many levels as we adjust to new routines as we say good-bye to summer. For me, this week is pushing me into new emotional territory as I explore the possibilities for Spanista, taking care of some major responsibilities on the home front and preparing for our trip. I can feel the stress building.

But tonight I seek the refuge of my Self Care Ritual – In Touch Thursday. This one will be simple yet purposeful with scent and light setting the mood. It will be a relaxing spa bath experience with Sweet Salt Air. As reading is primary means of therapy tonight I gather candles with fragrance notes of Salty Ocean Air to sooth the soul yet offer a hint of Autumn. The spa bath will carry just enough light so I can read in the glow of  candle light. Three candles will shine a romantic light that flickers in dancing shadows on the high walls. This scent is carried through with crystal sea salt bath beads and potpourri that were made by an artisan and discovered In Parkville. The layering of the Sweet Salt Air will be intensified and rise with the waves of steam from the spa bath surrounding me in the feeling of being right on the California Ocean Road. Sweet indeed. I include an Intention Card – ” Devine Wisdom Guides me.” Should my mind wander it helps me stay centered on what is important.

Once I am settled in I reach for Sweet Salt Air By Barbara Delinsky. Reading light fiction allows me to rest my left brain and fully escape. The two main women characters are long time friends that hit a rough patch in their relationship. The story unfolds as they meet various challenges that keep their lives intertwined dealing with past, present and the future. I fell in love with these gals – they are creative, real and flawed in an endearing sort of way which includes the men in their lives. As you may wish to read it (by the way Amazon has it ) I will share only one lesson in the book that speaks to me right now. The wise message is: “Aim High. Shoot High”. It is such a provocative life philosophy – it will be something I explore it as I get In Touch.

Books are a rich and inspiring resource for Spanista In Touch Self Care Rituals. I am looking forward to seeing what actually happens in the end of the book. So tonight is the night.

What was your favorite summer read?

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

Spansita Founder & Self Care Advocate

Spanista In Touch Tableau Home Spa, Sea Salt StoryPINIMAGE

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Laughter Heals Hearts, Thank You Joan Rivers From Spanista is my humble tribute to a woman who addressed life on her own terms by helping us see the truth through a humorous lens. This morning I want to call out that in the Wall Street Journal Leisure & Arts Section there is a featured piece titled, “An Appreciation, Joan Rivers (1933-2014)  Nothing but the Truth” written by Raymond Siller who was longtime head writer for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”. It is worth a moment to read as it no only helps one understand her talented contribution to the world it also gives us insight into her heart and the level of pain from her past she tapped into and transformed into something with a positive effect.

Yes, I loved Joan Rivers.

While I loved her for her cutting take on pop culture which kept her fresh and relevant, there was more I came to admire. Joan demonstrated a savvy strength that I was in awe of growing up which only increased in adult hood.  Strong women especially comedians stand out as super heroes to me. In my career in marketing, I had the pleasure of working with some of the top comedians and watching them close up for extended periods like Rosie O’Donnell, Penny Marshall and Catherine O’Hara, who I was impressed with the most.

They are complex characters that are drawn toward the desire to please others through the unique emotional trigger – LAUGHTER.  Such courage it takes to choose this path for life. They give us their gift and sometimes at a personal expense. Joan embraced her gifts and blessed us with her brand of humor. She new laughter could heal herself and others if we said the truth.

We were built with internal healing mechanisms and LAUGHTER is one blessings we do not stimulate often enough today. There are many medical cases now that reveal it is a powerful antidote to pain and promotes certain forms of healing. It is free for us to enjoy.

Lastly, Joan showed us it is OK to take care of yourself physically – to put yourself first so you can put your best foot forward to feel and be beautiful. This form of Self Care is simply the right thing to do for ourselves. Spanista agrees and thanks Joan for paving the way .

“Dear Joan, Spanista owes a bit of its heart and soul to you – you helped prove by your life well lived that Laughter Heals Hearts.  Hope to see you perform one day on the other side. Can only imagine what your take will be on heaven.”

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

Spanista Founder & Self Care Advocate

P.S. You may also enjoy this on her official Good Bye Event in the WSJournal- “Funeral sends Joan Rivers off in the glitzy style she desired.”

 

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Missouri River Weekend Reflection Walk In Parkville with Spanista is a peaceful experience that brings about an acute nostalgic feeling – a look back in time. Parkville is just north of  Kansas City’s downtown is marked as a key stopping point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A tiny village that carries the spirit of the old west even today. In fact infamous Jesse James was born and raised near by. It is an easy 10 minute drive from our home and a Saturday morning destination. An additional attraction is a pretty public park that runs along the river with a long path for active types like to enjoy. The view is a raw river’s edge and full of energy from the force of the flowing current heading toward the Mississippi. On the weekends, I enjoy getting up early with coffee tumbler in hand to drive my Audi All Road to enjoy a Spanista Reflection Walk and visit the Parkville Farmers MarketMissouri-River-Walk.jpegPINIMAGEMissouri-River-Farmers-Market.jpegPINIMAGEMissouri-River-Parkville.jpegPINIMAGE.

This Saturday morning was this first to shows signs of Autumn approaching. The steamy 90 degree heat we had been experiencing moved out with a wave of storms in the night to bring a much cooler. So I grab a light weight Nike athletic coverup to break the cool breeze and head out the door. As I drive I turn up the jazz – the blues so reminiscent of its origins at 18th and Vine, the historic Jazz District in Kansas City. Upon arriving I could see that the Villages popularity was going strong as the Farmers Market was full with shoppers. This makes my me smile. I have deep feelings for carrying our history forward – I am a modern woman with a heart for simple pleasures and vintage treasures of tradition. These little towns are part of our culture and need to be supported to survive so the next generations can know their roots grow deep. Thank goodness others feel like me as new home developments grow around it offering these independent shop keepers the TLC they deserve.

It was a glorious morning to be outdoors. The freshness of the air, watching little kids play in the park with dogs romping everywhere and seeing the rows of colorful Farmers and Artisan delights made me feel grateful to be int this moment. I head down the walking path with todays Reflection Intention top of mind and this quote which is in our heart room:

“Possibilities: Every positive thought propels you in the right direction.”

Recognizing the importance of nurturing the creative gifts I have been given, I feel happy to have this time to consider where they will take me next. Spanista came into public view 30 days ago so now I am taking time to reflect on what has unfolded since taking that first leap of faith to share it with the world. As I look down the path I see the roaring river – a natural symbol of moving forward with true purpose. As I turn the corner on the path, I feel the earth rumble as a mighty freight train comes roaring toward me – another symbol of travel, strength and endurance. The message from the spiritual universe is clear – keep moving forward.

I have been fortunate to hear many positive words of encouragement from you on Spanista. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Spanista will grow and thrive only with an engaged community of support. I welcome your comments and thoughts. I want Spanista to be meaningful and add value to your life. Soon I will share thoughts about what is next.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

Spanista Founder & Self Care Advocate

 

 

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