Monday Motivation- September 28th, 2020

 

Good Afternoon, 

Let's face it, 2020 has been a real bummer of a year for almost everyone. It's been tough on a global and personal level for everyone I know. It's been a challenge whether you are suffering the loss of a loved one, ill with COVID, dealing with an unstable work situation, or any other of the myriad of problems 2020 has dropped in our laps. 

That's all the bad stuff. Even in bad times, there is still hope. 

The silver lining is that these are the times, these trying times when we don't want to take another step, that make us stronger. That will shape us into our future selves. We don't have to let ourselves be defined by hard times, we can approach them like a fire that refines us into a better version of ourselves. 

I've really been digging in with self-help books to pull through this year. Here are a few fantastic and encouraging reads I've discovered: 

I, UNICORN: Use Quarantine to Get Enlightened NOW by Natasha Ewendt (I was fortunate enough to get to talk to this super cool author! :) Check out her Facebook page!  )

Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown

You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times by Max Lucado

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life beyond Your Wildest Dreams by Gabrielle Bernstein

I hope that these books give you the much-needed inspiration and motivation you need to push through this last quarter of the year! 

Stay Strong! 

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Adventures in Journaling I

Good Morning!

Welcome to the first part of my new series, Adventures in Journaling.

One of my favorite hobbies is journaling. Journaling has provided a great way for me to keep track of my life's events, given me a place to vent or celebrate, and allowed me to take time to reflect on my day-to-day routines. My first journal entry was jotted down in a composition book when I was twelve years old. My grandfather's dog, Toby, had just been put to sleep, and I was so overwhelmed with sadness and didn't know how to release it, so I just took a notebook and poured my feelings onto the page. 

Little did I know this was to become a lifelong journey for me. Soon, journaling became a daily habit for me. Whether I was excited about a new idea, depressed about a sad development, or just recording the events of another boring day, journaling became a safe haven for me, a place to record my thoughts and feelings without judgment. 

With all the changes in the world, I hope that by doing a series on journaling--including types of journals, the benefits of journaling, and where to begin-- I can encourage others to take up the journaling habit and reap the benefits as well.  Each month, I will also post a list of journal prompts to help you out on the days when you draw a blank on what to write (trust me, it happens a lot :) ). Journaling has been a therapeutic hobby for me. I hope that as you begin your own journaling adventure, it will help you as it has helped me. 

Everyone approaches journaling differently, and indeed, journals are as unique as the journalers themselves. What works for me may not work for you. Your journal may serve a different purpose altogether, but if there's one thing I've learned, everyone can obtain some benefit from journaling. There are many different styles and types of journals that I will discuss in this series. 

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means a small portion of the proceeds go to support Pines and Peaches, at no additional cost to you. Read my disclosure policy here. 

Journaling doesn't require anything fancy, although there are some absolutely elegant and beautiful notebooks out there. You can start with a mechanical pencil and a composition book like I did all those years ago. Now I have upgraded to a refillable journal, available at Amazon or your local bookstore, and use Zebra Sarasa pens (purple whenever possible!). 

There are guided journals, ones that are pre-filled with prompts to get you started, and journals geared towards various topics (fitness, travel, mindfulness, etc.) The best type to start with is whatever you feel most drawn to, remember, if you don't use it, then it is not the right journal adventure for you. 

For the rest of this year, I will be covering different types of journals and journaling techniques, in addition to a monthly list of journal prompts (stay tuned for the first prompts list coming soon). 

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you have anything journal related you'd like me to cover or address, feel free to leave a comment. :) 

Thank Y'all for reading! Be sure to enter your email address to get all the latest updates from Pines and Peaches. 

Monday Motivation- December 2nd, 2019

Happy Monday!

I love this quote so much. We can be so busy planning life that we forget to slow down and go with the flow. Don't forget to enjoy the ride this week. Sometimes, the journey is the destination. 

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10 Self-Care Ideas to Beat Stress

Stress. Unless you are completely debt-free and surrounded by happy, shiny people, chances are you are battling stress. It's such a part of our modern life. But it doesn't have to be! 

As I mentioned in this week's Monday Motivation, I am focusing on ways to overcome stress this month! This week, I am going to give you ten ways to beat the stress using self-care. These are my ten favorite ways to wind down after a particularly stressful day. 

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means a small portion of the proceeds go to support Pines and Peaches, at no additional cost to you. 

1. Spend time in nature 
I love love love to spend time outside. Sitting on the porch while reading, going for a walk, or visiting a park are great ways to get some nature time in. Methods such as grounding (walking barefoot) and forest bathing have become more popular as we learn the impact of outdoor time as a stress-reliever. 
For more info on this, check out Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li. 

This book talks about the Japanese practice of forest bathing and has tons of gorgeous forest pictures from across the globe. 

2. Read a book 
Books are my friends. Nothing in the world de-stresses me like chilling with a good book.  If you are feeling stressed, settle down with a cup of coffee or hot tea, and escape into the world of fiction! Bonus points if you are reading an inspiring book, stay tuned for more ;)

3. Take a hot bath
Whether you've had a long stressful day on your feet or sitting at a desk staring at a computer, a hot bubble bath is a perfect way to relieve tension. I love to use essential oil or a scented bath bomb to add some aromatherapy! My favorite scent is lavender or rose. Check out some of my favorites here: 


If you are battling allergies or a cold, use sinus bombs or a minty essential oil, like those found here:


4. Do yoga 
I've been doing yoga off and on since my college days when I first started dealing with overwhelming stress and the burn-out that comes with it. There is definitely a huge difference in the way I feel when I practice regularly! Yoga not only makes you more flexible and relieves tension, but it also helps calm your mind enabling you to handle stress in a more healthy way. Tara Stiles is one of my absolute favorite instructors. Check out her YouTube channel here: 

Tara Stiles Yoga YouTube Channel

She also has several wonderful books, here are my favorites: 

Seriously, she is my Yoga hero. Check her out! :) 

5. Meditate
Meditation typically goes hand in hand with yoga, yet it took me much longer to pick up. Honestly, it is super hard when you first try it! I'm a naturally hyper person, so it's really hard for me to sit still and quiet my mind. Once you start, it really does help so much. The key is to start off slow, remember, five minutes is better than no minutes! One book that really helped me understand the importance of meditation is Buddha's Brain by Rick Hanson. This book delves into the neuroscience behind meditation and positive thinking. Check it out here: 

6. Light a candle or a diffuser
I adore aromatherapy! I have diffusers in almost every room (safer than candles when you have seven cats!). The Galaxy Oil Diffuser is so beautiful and has several timer and color options: 

As I've already said, lavender and rose are my favorites, but here are some great starter kits: 



7. De-Clutter
This one may not seem like much fun, but it is worth it! A cluttered home or workspace creates stress. When we are surrounded by chaos externally, we feel chaotic internally. When I feel overwhelmed, I put a movie or some music on, and start cleaning! Organizing is a big key to getting and staying clutter-free. Here are a few great items that help me stay organized: 

Of course, you can't talk about de-cluttering without mentioning Marie Kondo's wonderful book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This book really is life-changing. Except for that part where you only keep thirty books...I haven't been able to bring myself to that yet. The folding section of this book blew my mind, and changed the way I store my clothes! If you haven't read it already, check it out here: 

8. Listen to music.
Music is the universal stress-buster! Sad songs say so much, but so do happy ones. Personally, I'm a huge fan of 60s and 70s music, so most of my music library comes from that time, but no matter what your favorite genre or era is, find some uplifting tunes and listen your blues away! Stay tuned for my Stress Less Playlist post, coming later this month. :) 

9. Be creative. 
One thing that really gets me down is not getting to express my creativity. Long hours at work and an overbooked schedule can get in the way of our self-expression. If you find yourself stressed, try taking a painting class, or experimenting with a new craft. Recently, I started an Etsy shop to sell some of my crafts (mostly jewelry, but I'm hoping to branch out a bit in the future). Check out my shop GypsyTreasureDesign here: 

Gypsy Treasure Design Shop on Etsy

10. Indulge in a favorite hobby. 
Adopt a new hobby, or enjoy a favorite. Don't think of it as time wasted, look at this time as investing in yourself. Hobby time is a great way to recharge your batteries so you feel more refreshed and ready to take on the world! In addition to reading, I also enjoy video games, Taekwondo (counts as exercise too!), and crossword puzzles. If you don't have a favorite, experiment around until you find something you enjoy that helps you de-stress! 

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