Savoring simply everyday pleasures

Over this past weekend I took a long wet blustery walk and listened to a podcast. It was a fascinating interview which I took much from but towards the end an ah ha moment literally stopped me in my tracks, to rewind several seconds and relisten. Although this was mostly an expert speaking to the dangers of sugar on our health- when he explored the "ingredients " for contentment, it really struck a chord. 

As the professor went on to explain the 4 C's in relation to health, I chose to interpret into a quality of life, and a guideline to living well, living a simple yet sophisticated life and cultivating an elegant and chic signature style and nourishing our bodies and mind with a balanced vibrant diet.

The four C's for Contentment:

Connect- In person. Talk to people, be it the teller at the checkout, a colleague, friends, family, spouses, partners. Make the time for a coffee, a walk, text to arrange meeting up rather than your only source of communication, turn off the TV, eat together at the table, have a date night, take a walk, a picnic- just interact, make eye contact, with real people. Skype, Zoom, Facetime- are no substitute.

Contribute- Contribute with purpose, give to others- without expecting a return. Give gladly with a full heart. Aspire to be a Philanthropist.

Cope- Cope has negative connotations, but we can look at it from another angle. All the good things we know we ought to be doing in order to cope and we KNOW we feel better and benefit if we do. Good quality sleep, mindfulness, exercise- all these activities tamper cortisol, the stress hormone, thus making everything more Copeable. 

Cook- Cook from scratch where possible. Know what you are putting into your bodies. Choose your ingredients, rejoice in fresh produce, be excited about creating fresh tantalizing meals that are good for you as well as utterly delicious. Satiating and satisfying and YUM.  Minimize anything you get from a packet or box. Everything in moderation. 

We know all this - We really truly do, we just need gentle reminders to put it into practice, or re put it into practice. 

Credit for Inspiration and the concept of the 4 C's for Contentment

Robert Lustig

Professor of pediatric endocrinology

 Savoring Simple Everyday Pleasures

1. Signature scent. This doesn't have to be the same scent for ever and ever, but to hone it down to a select few- 4 tops, is to create an identity with that special YOU scent. I like to wear heavier fragrances in fall and winter, then something lighter - perhaps citrusy in the warmer months. My go to brand is Chanel, I find their scents last on me and are a good match for my skins chemistry. My family would say “My Scent” is Coco Chanel, which I have worn for decades. I became rather a perfume –a -holic in my 20s so around the time of our wedding I asked my husband to pick the scent he thought was most me, and if he got a waft at any point - from me or out and about- he’d automatically think of me. Coco was it and still is. I do enjoy its variants too and have recently re discovered Mademoiselle Coco, which I find is a soft, warm fragrance  with vanilla notes, and just enough vetiver so as not to be sickly sweet. I love to spritz Chanel No5 or No19 in the summer- both light and fresh yet long lasting.  Coco Noir is a heady sensual fragrance for evening wear I occasionally enjoy along with Allure which again I rediscovered having worn it in my 20’s and 30’s- and I love Chanel Gabrielle- but sadly that along with Chanel Cristalle just don't have the staying power on my skin.  I have experimented and enjoyed many other brands over the years but the only ones I have found other than Chanel that tick the boxes are Paloma Picasso, Tom Ford and Christian Dior- Dolce Vita. 

I have a new discovery I'm looking forward to adding to my repertoire- new to me, the fragrance was created back in the 1920’s amazingly and its truly intoxicating. Upper Ten, by Lubin. Whatever it is , you’ll find your scent by experimenting, testing and going back to fragrances that speak to you- there are SOOO many on the market now and many small boutique perfumeries creating magic with top quality and environmentally sensitive ingredients. One of my absolute happy places are the old fashioned perfume and beauty halls in big independently owned department stores- I feel myself relax the moment I'm over the front entrance, gliding as opposed to walking and I am instantly elevated when surrounded by sparking glass cabinets, glistening bottles and clouds of lovely smells! Have fun discovering!

2. A quality bronzer- for year round glow.  I have several recommendations, and I tend to change mine up seasonally. I alternate between a cream bronzer and a compact powder bronze. My absolute go to is a mat bronze by Too Faced, its buildable paired with a lovely full bronzing brush - apply in a 3 and an E to hit temples, just under the cheek bone and at the jaw line. I have recently switched to Chanels Soleil tan bronze which I have taken to applying with my daughter's beauty blender. I've leaned lately towards cream based products in general over the last few months as I found my skin crying out for moisture. Even moving to cream eye colors and blush.There are lots of other quality brands of varying shades and sunkissedness, just find one that you feel suits your skin tone- perhaps a little darker for summer months but its nice to apply a little year round to feel a little uplifted healthy glow without the UV.

   
   
   

3. Soap.  Unglamorous and old fashioned some may think but I genuinely love a good, quality cake of soap.  Roger and Gallet, Savon de Marseille, Pears and Imperial Leather. All these brands- mostly very old - in fact they've all been around for many many years- Imperial Leather began manufacturing in 1921, Pears since 1807, Roger & Gallet back in 1879 and the absolute classic cube of Savon De Marseille for over 600 years!! All these soaps have a history and fragrance which evokes unique and personal memories for me- Pears and Imperial Leather have strong connections with my beloved Grandparents, and the quintessentially French varietals take me back to summers in the south of France and Easters in Paris. While some of these brands possibly don't sit as well as they could from an environmental standpoint these days, its still worth considering the lack of plastics and packaging in a traditional bar of soap- often wrapped in paper even- by comparison to the plastic bottles that adorn many of our showers and bathtubs. Savon De Marseille has been made the same way for hundreds of years, with no synthetic colourings or scents and no additives. It has a unique clean smell reminiscent of olive groves and is possibly a little masculine - certainly nothing floral. It's rarely purchased in any packaging at all, and those big iconic cubes last several months. I keep one in the shower and one in a pretty glass footed bowl by the bath, and its even gentle enough that I frequently use it to cleanse my face too. Soap is one of those products often found at Farmers markets and health stores produced by local artisans or farms, and I always make sure to pick up a cake or two when I’m fortunate enough to be perusing market stalls with my French shopping basket and to chat to the vendor about their unique products. 

   
   
   

4. Oil. Body and face oil more specifically. A product that perhaps can be somewhat polarizing as many don't enjoy the sensation of oil directly on our skin. There are several brands on the market these days who have successfully perfected the “dry oil” - where all the benefits and nourishment are delivered to the epidermis while skin is still left feeling dry to the touch. I find the scent of many of these oils wonderfully intoxicating and cannot help but savour the luxurious moment as I apply to my face and/or body straight after a hot bath or shower. I love to use body oils mostly in the summer months, but face oil I use year round and can hear my skin sighing with blessed relief when I apply it by patting it in once or twice a week before bed. The two brands I use most are Clarins, Blue Orchind Treatment Oil and NUXE Huile Prodigieuse- both french Bien Sur!   And again, these generally are packaged in glass bottles- recyclable, and also tend to last longer than a typical body lotion or moisturizer that's slathered on from its plastic tub or pump bottle. 

   
   
   

5. Green Juice.  Continuing with my Beauty Series with beauty from within: In the past, I would have instantly thought yuck. It actually took me several years to acquire a tentative taste for any green juice, and then to develop combinations I genuinely really love. (I made myself like olives too- forcing myself over a couple of decades to keep trying them until now I honestly do find them delicious!) Beauty from the inside out is most certainly not an empty saying. Its all very well having beautifully applied maquillage, lustrous locks and smelling devine, but without a good base layer, its only papering over the cracks. Sleep and nutrition are massively important foundations to health,  wellbeing, longevity- and yes, beauty. For clear skin, a radiant complexion, healthy teeth and bones and good energy levels- how we re charge and how we fuel and move our bodies is paramount. Hydration is key and I am a lover of high quality electrolytes and good old H20, as well as being conscious and mindful of what's on the end of my fork. For a nutrient power boost that you feel zinging though you instantly, several times a week I make a zesty green juice. Sometimes as an afternoon pick-me-up, sometimes as part of a balanced light lunch. 

My Go To recipe for green juice is as follows (All ingredients washed and fresh and all eyeballed quantities, winging it depending on the vessel you wish to drink out of but I pretty much fill my vitamix up!)

Iced water - 2 cups

Spinach/ Kale or mixture - 2 cups

Juice of one lemon- plus zest if you wish

1 Grannie smith apple- cut into quarters with core removed- skin on

1 generous thumb sized piece of fresh ginger, skin roughly removed. 

Pinch pepper or cayenne pepper if you're feeling hot. 

Blitz thoroughly until you have a bright vibrant foamy elixir, drink immediately before it settles though a metal straw. WOW 😀

6. Sleep. Quality,  restorative sleep. And yes I know, We can go through phases- sometimes extended if you are as unlucky as my dear husband, of poor sleep, disturbed sleep or just not enough. Babies, travel, hormones, worry and anxiety, poor diet and eating habits, a gazillion things can contribute to a poor nights sleep. And don't you ALWAYS feel so much hungrier after a night of rough sleep or not adequate hours? Double whammy.  Some of these factors are beyond our control, but we can put in place good habits, rituals and tools to give us the best chance. My magic number is 8 hours. Do I get that 7 nights a week? Nope. But I do try, and I do put in place systems and practices to make the most of the hours I do get. 

A good nighttime routine- try not to eat too late, no screens at least 40 minutes before bed, reading, having a ritual and bedtime that provides cues and signals to your body and brain that its time to wind down for the day. Getting organized for the following day (outfit ready, lunches packed, lists made, Breakfast easily accessible, a tidy kitchen)  before taking a hot bath or  shower, sipping a peppermint tea, some light stretching, dim lighting, reading, and endeavoring to slip into bed at a time that allows you to bank the sleep you need for the most part. For me this is 9pm as I rise at 5am. But usually it's closer to 10 before I nod off. Unrestrictive and comfortable sleepwear- that you feel lovely in, no baggy bad tee shirts here thank you very much. I prefer a simple slip in summer and a night shirt in winter- not a Pyjama girl. Supportive, high quality pillows. We are all very particular about our pillow - I've been known to take my perfect feather pillow on overseas holidays even! And High quality, fresh and clean bed linens made of natural fibers to allow your skin to breath and for the ultimate comfortable nights sleep. I vary between 100% Egyptian cotton with a high thread count, and our gorgeous Belgian linen sheets- I feel like a princess, especially when they are freshly off the line that day. Bliss.  Set yourself up with the best tools and equipment- that fit within-your budget to have the best chance of obtaining the slumber you need to wake up refreshed and revitalized ready for a brand new day. High quality bed linens will last years and are investment pieces- you don't need to purchase several sets all at once, build your repertoire over time, and enjoy the luxurious process. 

7. Exercise, get out doors. 

This last item on the list may seem unrelated to beauty, but much as with sleep, fresh air and moving your body is essential to good health and vitality. Getting outside each and every day- regardless of the weather (Case in point today as I squelched home after a huge downpour while still a considerable distance from home) . I have always loved hiking, taking walks, and generally getting outdoors when possible. Even in my teens, I was a member of the school rambling club, where we’d spend weekends hiking through the mountains and valleys of Wales, parts of Exmoor and Dartmoor and the Brecon beacons. During the first lockdown here, my daily schedule shifted considerably- and inevitably, as most of us experienced. So after rising super early each day to accomplish my work, and then be around to be home school mum and head cook and bottle washer, I began religiously taking long afternoon walks- to the extent I literally wore out a good 2 pairs of sneakers over the 3 month lockdown. While in many ways life has resumed much of its normality, my afternoon walking tradition hasn't wavered even slightly. In fact  I feel out of sorts and rather cheated if I cant manage an hour outside before evening duties commence- dinner, transporting children, folding laundry etc. Sometimes just my footsteps and the birdsong or the patter of rain keep me company, sometimes my eldest daughter joins me, sometimes a friend - with or without a welcomed Pup, sometimes a podcast, but each and every day.  Vitamin D and Movement- exercise, all contribute to a feeling of wellbeing, lowered cortisol (Stress) general fitness, and a glow of freshness and elevated mood. It lifts me, lifts my mood, gives me thinking space, room to develop ideas and ponder new thoughts and makes me genuinely happy and contented.  There is little more beautiful on any of us than a genuine smile.

 Savoring simple everyday pleasures 

Time, something we all use every single day- probably even refer to it most days at some point, and something most of us could use just a little more of. 

Time is a precious commodity. I was pondering this on one of my walks earlier this week; for so many of us each day is scheduled with have to's, and even if those have to's are things we enjoy or that fulfil us- a job we love, our children, our exercise regimen, ensuring we call it a night at a reasonable time to try and clock those precious hours of sleep we individually require. Whatever the make up or combination of those 24 hours, most of us would gladly enjoy a few extra, in order to fit in things we'd like to do, mean to do or aspire to do. 

“Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”– Bil Keane

Its a very real challenge to prioritize this commodity of time. We all get frustrated with 'wasted time', or feel rewarded with 'time well spent' because one thing is for certain- 

We cannot replace time that has past or purchase more of it.

This thought started me down a, not unpleasant, rabbit hole of thinking about how to spend our time more intentionally and wisely. 

What tasks in my life can be outsourced? The cleaning, the cooking, admin, perhaps errands or chores that can be doubled up on, or an entirely different structure to my days to allow space- time- to incorporate more of what I wish to be spending my time on?

The perfect example of this is my writing: I so deeply want to feel unrushed and when I sit down at my laptop, rejoice in the delicious abundance of hours ahead of me- but rarely, if ever, is this the case. I snatch 20 minutes here, an hour there, in order to partake and engage in one of my greatest desires and wishes. To write, unhurried, unhindered and uninterrupted.  Usually several days go by at a time where there simply aren't enough hours in the day.

 How can we re think this? How can I rejuggle my thoughts, priorities and commitments to allow this space - this time, to flourish and nurture my creativity and to follow my dream? 

With my magic wand, the extra hours created would mean I could start each day at dawn with lemon water and quiet meditation (Something I very rarely get or make time to do)

They would be used to enjoy a long walk (one day with a pup of my very own) early every single morning, including those where I might run or workout too, because I wouldn't be rushed. 

I'd have time to pause everyday in the afternoon to have a quiet 20 minutes with a pot of tea and a book- curled up by a crackling fire, sitting in a sunny nook, in a breezy shady spot to escape the heat, or cozied up on the sofa with the rain pouring. 

I'd enjoy reading a few books per week, not a month. I'd read a boarder variety of subjects and topics- including more non fiction. 

Id learn a new language- with a good grasp of French and a smattering of Spanish I've always fancied trying my hand at Italian...

I'd have time each week for two or three gentle, restorative, yet strengthening and challenging yoga sessions. 

I wouldn't need to blast round for a power hour of cleaning as I'd have time to do a thorough job, once. 

The revelations that came to me during these ponderings were -

1. Its very apparent that in order to recharge and be the best version of myself (and to show up as that person for my family and friends each day,) I deeply desire- indeed require, alone time. Time with my thoughts, time in nature, and time to feed my mind and curiosities. Space. 

And

2. I need to reevaluate my options sans magic want to try and make these 24 hours, or more precisely 168 hours of my weeks, work better for me- towards my goals, my needs, dreams and desires- and the remaining roughly 290,000 hours I potentially have left on this Earth...... 

If that doesn't spur you into action to look at how you spend your time - I'm not sure what will. 

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”– J. R. R. Tolkien

 Savoring simple everyday pleasures

Do you have a particular day of the week you especially look forward to with eager anticipation? One that you know will be just as you hoped and that will fill your cup, recharge and inspire you, and propel you forward to the next week?

My week is very much in 3 parts, all of which I enjoy and I am grateful for their differences. But today, Friday, each week, is treasured even more and I am so grateful for it. 

Three of my days are taken up with my job of several years, two of the days are weekend days and are about family, friends and re setting, and 2 days are for me to manage and structure as I please. 

I try to get errands and jobs and have to tasks seen to on one of those ME days, but on Friday; Friday is my tonic. My refresher, My day to revitalize. 

Of course - some weeks this day can get full of have to's, or things change, or I am out most of the day for some reason. But when I can, my perfect Friday encompasses some of my favorite things which I know I need- from my experience of burn out-  in order to be the best person I can be for the rest of the week. 

What does your perfect day look like? It doesn't have to be anything grand or expensive- A day that refreshes your soul and fills you with positive energy and a sense of peace and calm perhaps? 

To give you an idea- here is what my ideal day looks like:

*Wake early, before the family, feeling refreshed from a good sleep.

*Quietly make my way to the kitchen where I make a cup of tea or coffee, (I'm currently enjoying New York Breakfast black tea or I'll have a double espresso- but first, a tall glass of water)  greet the cats and feed them their breakfast, then sit (Outside in the warmer months) with my hot drink, and my notepad, either planning my day, making some notes, or just simply enjoying the tranquility of a slumbering house hold in the early morning. 

*Gently wake the household for work and school and prepare their breakfasts and lunches to give them more time, pop some laundry on and keep my kitchen ordered.

*When the hustle and bustle have all gone out of the front door or garage a delicious peace descends on the house- and its still only 7.30am! Its at this time while its still early I like to have a run on the treadmill or a long walk on one of my regular local loops for an hour or so. The reward of a hot shower, choosing my clothes (Something stylish, feminine and that will inspire me to carry myself well, apply decorum to everything I do and also a joy for me to wear) and getting ready for the day with simple fresh hair and makeup and a much anticipated coffee is such a savored treat.

*I am all too aware how fast these precious hours can drift if I am not mindful of them, so I like to be efficient while also relaxed during my day. Nothing like a good to do list all ticked off by late afternoon to give me a satisfied glow! I tend to any Financial Friday/ Desk day tasks or anything I've put off or didn't get to yesterday. After hanging any laundry outside if its fine, it is with glee that I then sit at my writing desk, the window open above, and with no other sounds than the birds and the wind in the leaves, the rain or the cicadas, WRITE. It may be this blog, it may be for a post, it may be in my pretty notepad I keep on hand for ideas, or it may be working on my laptop on one of my books. The Simple luxury of time and quiet to be able to focus and allow my thoughts to blossom is sheer bliss. 

*A nutritious breakfast - a smoothie, steel cut oats, protein pancakes, and a bright fresh salad for lunch are moments I savor that punctuate the late morning then mid afternoon. 

*Perhaps getting ahead and preparing dinner, folding any laundry which is already dry, spending an hour on some housework or organization task

*When I feel I have accomplished what I had hoped and ticked off sufficient tasks on my list, an afternoon walk - often with an educational or inspirational podcast, before heading back home to make a pot of tea and snuggle in with a book for a little while before the front door is flung open, school bags thrown down, shoes kicked off, blazers discarded and the pastry attacked! 

Doesn't that sound utterly sumptuous! ?

 Savoring simple everyday pleasures

If you're familiar with my posts and writings, you wont be surprised for me to mention the simple pleasure and joy that hanging clean linen on the line gives me. Watching it billow in the sun, knowing its warmth will dry it in a way that cannot be achieved inside. Enjoying the weekly task- the rhythm and predictability and ritual of it-  and relishing the sumptuous feeling of sinking into fresh sheets at night, is something I genuinely look forward to over a weekend. 

I pondered this morning as I hung out French linen out in the still chilly early air with my wooden dolly pegs, about the generations of women (and yes I say women as it traditionally was) who've seen to this task over the centuries, using pegs just like my wooden old fashioned ones, and seizing a sunny breezy day as the perfect opportunity to dry them. OfCourse, I am grateful that mine are laundered at the touch of a button - not lugging water from a well, or hand scrubbing, or using a mangle or any of the other back breaking labor intensive tasks that befell my ancestors.  Still, it got me to thinking of these rituals and repetitive regular tasks and traditions that transition from one generation to the next. 

As our eldest left home this morning for a Saturday job, jumping in her car to travel there, I was struck anew with how fast these years go and these generations grow, flourish and become their own. My husband wondered aloud if she might fill her car back up with gas on her way home and we reminisced about his parents taking him to fill his first car, and that his grandfather did the same for his parents when they visited as young adults too. They grow and develop and change almost beyond recognition from those sweet little utterly dependent bundles that came into this world, but even as they reach their own milestones of independence, we are still there to help, guide, nurture and support- even with a tank of gas- or a listening ear, a warm home, a bubbling lasagna, or fresh linen- and unconditional love.

 I sometimes wonder what habits and rituals I partake in and enjoy- or just tick off- that my girls will continue, and perhaps reflect on how I did it, or tell their children how it was "back when".  These thoughts and musings really encourage me to take a little step back, at the same time reminding me to really be present. 

I find it comforting to feel the expanse of history that surrounds me - honoring the past but remaining present. I was reminded of how patient our parents and grandparents were recently- their lives we such that you HAD to wait for things, there was no touch of a button, flick of a switch, instant gratification. Photographs (Of which I take many every single day) were quite an event, or a moment to savor or capture- and then wait a week or so to see if you did! Shops were open much fewer hours and clearly there was no alternative- and if you wanted something you had to SAVE.  You had a pair of winter shoes- ONE. You may have had a good coat- ONE- or "Sunday best " that was definitely a thing in my childhood. Things were used until they wore out beyond repair. 

My father's favorite cheese is Cantal. Its a French cheese of several varietals, and his preferred one is that aged to 36 months- thirty-six months for the Fromager (Cheese maker) to patiently wait, ensuring the surrounding conditions are optimal for that batch, applying the techniques and traditions that have been employed for centuries. Mostly unchanged. Then, as its quite right and proper, that cheese is then truly savored, each morsel enjoyed and appreciated for the quality and the craftsmanship involved. Doesn't it taste sooooo much better for it? 

Perhaps we'd be wise to regularly take stock of what we not only take for granted but barely acknowledge- how easy and simple we have so many things now by comparison- but in the same sentiment, not to loose sight of what these "things"- be it cheese, a washing machine, or a family tradition- went through and evolved or survived in order to be part of your life, your everydays today. 

Chablis, a premium wine producer, lost 15-20% of their wine harvest at its early growth stages this spring to violent hailstorms this past week. Those poor Vinters will have to recoup what they can and press on with the season, knowing the outcome wont be ideal, but with hope and faith that the future years will be successful. They will continue with the traditional methods and time tested systems to over come as best they can. Employing patience and trust. 

By allowing a little space between our busy days and a point to reflect upon, we are allowing ourselves to truly feel the moments of opportunity as they present themselves, then consciously being in a position to choose when those moments are there to seize them.