Picture books, paper goods & pretty things.
I've been researching Qigong practices lately as I'd like to start taking some classes. My search led me to this lovely little video from a lady called Mimi Kuo-Deemer. She has several Qigong videos on YouTube but also some about her vinyasa yoga practice. This one was so nice I had to share it, perfect for a quiet Saturday.
I've recently discovered Breathe Magazine which is new to the shelves in the UK. It is just so lovely and I can't recommend it enough as a lovely antidote to magazines full of adverts. All the articles are considered, kind, interesting and warm-hearted. If you can pick up a copy, it really is a perfect treat to enjoy with a cup of tea.
A sneak peek at an illustration I am working on for up and coming craft fairs. Dancing is such a good remedy for life's up and downs. Keep dancing! A bit like 'just keep swimming' but in a pretty dress : )
I only saw Singing In The Rain for the first time about five years ago and now I watch it at least once every six months. It's just joyful and the perfect antidote to a gloomy day. I'm particularly fond of the dance routine in Moses Supposes. Click on the video below for a tap dancing treat!
Yesterday hygge was announced as one of the 'words of the year' by the Collins English Dictionary and if you walk into any bookshop in the UK at the moment you will see books on the subject piled high ready for the Christmas season. Like many others, I've noticed the word tip-toeing into our collective consciousness and I feel like hygge is exactly what we all need. A bit like how mindfulness reminds me to be in the moment, hygge reminds me that simple pleasures and a feeling of cosy contentment and security is important to our wellbeing. Hygge is all about the feeling of absolute peace and warmth which we sometimes forget in our frenetic world. It can be anything from curling up with a good book to enjoying a hot chocolate under a fluffy blanket or a cosy, wine-fuelled dinner with friends, all preferably by candlelight, although I think fairylight would do the trick.
Sometimes when you've got a long to-do list and know the day is going to be full of juggling tasks, it's nice to get a little time out before you start. So I got up a little bit early today to give myself 20 minutes to paint. I've been drawing digitally a lot lately and felt the need to see paint on a page again. I had the radio for company and a good coffee from the cafe down the road and just 20 minutes made me feel as relaxed as if it was a Sunday : )
Happy Halloween to all little pumpkins!
I've been reading a lot about the benefits of turmeric lately and have been adding little bits to my diet here and there. It's used a lot in Indian cooking and known to be anti-inflammatory and also to help with brain function and possibly depression.
I make this super simple homemade recipe when I want a quick and warming lunch.
Ingredients
400g frozen peas
1 leek
1 tsp ground turmeric
500ml vegetable stock (I use Kallo vegetable stock)
Method
Chop the leek into pieces and pop all the ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes or until the leek is tender. Remove from the heat and blitz with a hand-blender. Serve with chunks of bread or rice cakes with hummus also go surprisingly well.
Serves 2 - 3
I'll be writing a blog post about mindfulness soon as it's something I practice and think about every day. For today, I wanted to share a little ink creation of mine. Mindfulness doesn't have to be about sitting quietly with your eyes closed. I find some of my most mindful moments are when I am creating. Drawing a pattern like this is so calming. I find myself totally absorbed in the moment and as my mind stills it starts to create things that I didn't even know existed in me.
My lovely friend reminded me today of a wonderful photograph we saw at the National Portrait Gallery two years ago and I had to share it with you. It's part of Karan Kumar's Sachdev's project Yellow Chair Portraits. It's so completely joyful.
