Sunset Bliss - Week #3

This weeks moment of bliss is coming to you absolutely free of charge. You can also have it every day should you wish - This weeks moment of bliss is the sunset. I am a very lucky girl, I have the chance to travel all over the country and sometimes all over the world. I have been able to see the sunset's in many places and countries. There are beach sunsets where I have walked hand in hand with my love. There are mountain sunsets when the air turns cool and crisp and if you are lucky you have water there too. There are city sunsets as viewed from outside of a hotel window, or from my back deck that overlooks the city lights.

The key to sunsets is taking a moment to stop and watch. Is there really something so important that it can't wait for the moments of pure bliss that come from seeing the sunset slowly, dramatically with certainty - It puts that moment in perspective - Just how small I am, and just how awesome the Universe is. Sunset's in Alaska, sunsets in Mexico, sunsets over the ocean when you are sailing across the sea. Sunset's with the one(s) you love. Sunset's with your children.

About 3 years ago, James and I made the decision to turn off the electronics when we were in the car with the exception of the radio. At first it was difficult. Jackson was at that age when if we were driving for more then 20 minutes, he would get bored, and whine, and do his best to drive James crazy. But despite the fact that it was very difficult, and met with some resistance we suffered through about 2 weeks and when the kids would complain - we would tell them to look out the window and imagine. Our argument was when we were kids we didn't have ipods, gameboys, dvd players, etc. When we drove we had to look out the window and imagine. We thought if it was good enough for us - it should be good enough for our kids. We simply did not want them to have to be entertained all the time. And the most wonderful thing happened........they did look out the window - and they did start using their imaginations - and it was manifested in an interesting way - they started noticing the beautiful world around them, including the sunsets.

As many of you know - we have some some 2 year old colts in Idaho that my wonderful in-laws allow us to keep on the farm. So as much as we can we make the 3 hour drive up to Idaho and visit our horses and work with them. This last summer I enjoyed the most wonderful moment with Jackson. It was time to bring in the horses and give them their nightly feeding. Jackson had been working hard with Grandpa and James all day, and was down at the corrals with them finishing the farm chores. I was waiting for them to finish, and Jackson said "Hey mom, do you want to want to climb up to the top of the straw bails with me" I said yes - and we made our way up to sit down at the top of the hay. There, as we watched, the sun starting setting in the west - and we quietly watched it as it made it's way slowly over the far off ridge. Jackson reached over and grabbed my hand and after a few minutes I looked over and watched his face. With tears streaming down his face he said to me softly - "Mom, that was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen" I nodded in agreement - and we sat there for a few more minutes before it was time to come in for supper.

Go watch a sunset today......

Week #2 - Bedroom Bliss

I know that this title inspires all sorts of lurid thoughts. Well, take your mind out of the gutter - This week, we will not be dealing with 10 ways to make love to your man, or 5 positions that are sure to satisfy or any other Cosmo titles that scream out at you in the line at the grocery store. This week we are going to talk about your actual bed.

Most of us, if we are lucky, spend approximately 1/3 of our lives in bed. You know that prescribed 8 hours of sleep you are supposed to get every night. I know - most of you have children, and you think that 8 hours a night is simply something that you enjoyed in high school - you are wondering "why is it, that we thought having a baby was a good idea?" they (I am not sure who they are) don't tell you before you have the baby that you will Never Sleep Again - Even when they grow up and move out of the house - you still have that thing called "Mom Radar" and for some reason it can go off at any given time - if somewhere in the house or across town - your baby is having trouble, or feels like they are going to throw up. You magically wake up in a super human way - and know, one of them needs you, somewhere.

Anyway - I digress. With all that said, your sleep. what little you will get over the next 20 years, becomes even more important and precious. It is this that makes what I am about to tell you an extremely valuable piece of advise. The Thread Count of your Sheets Matters!!!!!! I would imagine that most of you are sleeping on thread count in the neighborhood of around 210 - 250. Some of you, may even be on 180 sheets (this, I believe, is a sin) You need to love yourself enough to stop this practice immediately!

Now thread count is the number of threads per square inch of fabric. The higher the number, the softer, and better quality of sheet. If you have never enjoyed a high thread count sheet - you are in for a real treat. It can change the very nature of your sleep. I know that all of us love clean sheets right out of the dryer, that wonderful smell, the clean feeling well triple that feeling when dealing with the right type of sheets. I suggest at least a 400 Thread count, although at my house we tend to gravitate to 500-600. Now here is my tip for buying high thread count sheets without the price tag of $80.00-120.00

T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross are your best bets. They will have 380-650 sheets that will range from $19.00 - $39.00 - Look for brands such as Calvin Klein with a sateen finish. They are heavenly. They will bring you instant bedroom bliss when you slide into your new sheets that feel lovely, and re-affirm that you deserve a wonderful sleep, a comfortable sleep, a blissful sleep. Beware of people on ebay selling anything from 800-1200/these sheets are a scam, and are simply using a trick of threads to make the claim that they are in that range. If you don't find anything you like at the above stores, head to Macy's or Dillards or even a Linens and Things and find what you want - make sure you make a note of all the pertinent information, and then go back to ebay and see if you can procure them at a reasonable price....under $50.00

Your bed should be a sanctuary from the problems of the day, from the worries of your life, so make sure you have the right sheets to support your chance to renew. You will be surprised the difference they will make on your outlook to everything in your life.

Now that you will be refreshed - maybe you can work on those lurid details I spoke of before - Good Luck!

Week #1 - Facials that inspire Bliss on a Budget

I have to admit I am high maintenance and vain. Very vain in fact. I absolutely hate the prospect of getting old - not the age part, the looking old part. Anyone who knows me knows that I live in fear of looking or acting old. I go to great lengths to be age appropriate beautiful. It costs money to be age appropriate beautiful without turning into Joan Rivers or the woman you see on reality TV.

The odd part is when I was growing up - I was a tomboy - I spent every waking moment up a tree or in a ditch or building a fort. I hated wearing shoes. I had the blackest, dirtiest feet on the planet. I remember walking in the house one day and tracking black foot prints over the newly clean floor. My father was so angry - and he took me right upstairs to the bathroom and got out a steal wool (you remember those things - they would clean really dirty pots and pans - baked on items) and scrubbed and scrubbed my feet until he could see the real color of my skin coming through - and then he said "isn't that better?" - I didn't think it was better - I thought it was a waste of time - and within 2 minutes I was back outside sans shoes.

Well as you can imagine there is no room for sunscreen in the life of a tomboy - So although I have been blessed with extremely great skin (my fathers) I still have sun damage, and wrinkles, and age spots. And about 7 years ago I began having facials. Facials are wonderful - they make you feel beautiful and like you "have it going on" they relax you - and during and after - you think to yourself - now why don't I get these once a week?

Facials at a regular salon are about $75-125 dollars and last about 50 minutes. So for the first few years of getting facials I went to very high end salons (Stein Erickson's/Finnish Touch) and had lovely 100.00 facials. But then I made the most wonderful discovery in the world!

Beauty Schools - I know you are saying to yourself - Beauty Schools? - We all have that experience emerging from the beauty school after 4 hours looking like a poodle with that perm our friend/family/neighbor talked us into - or the color that was a bad idea - or the cut that didn't go quite right. But a facial is a whole other proposition. A facial is people massaging your skin, cleaning it, moisturising and masking it, steaming it - and because they are students that want to be a thorough as possible and make you as happy as possible.

So instead of being an 50 minute facial, it will be a 75-90 minute facial - and the products are the best available - and the icing on top of the cake is the cost - Only $35.00

I know it sounds too good to be true - but since I switched to facials at schools I can't go back to a regular salon. The facials are better and longer, and the price is right. So just to get the folks in Salt Lake Started - here is who I would recommend:

The Paul Mitchell School - They are currently having 20% off from now until Nov 5th and the regular price is $35.00 They can be reached at 801.266.4693 or if your can't get in there

The Cameo College of Essential Beauty - They have an adult day spa in the basement that has lovely lighting and does not allow children there regular price is $35.00 and they can be reached at 801.747.5700

Good Luck and Enjoy the Bliss

Bliss on a Budget - Things that Matter About:

Hello Everyone that may choose to read my blog. I was laying down getting a facial today and it suddenly occured to me that I live a wonderful big life - and that I am not rich, and I am not famous and most of what I do - others could do as well. So I am planning to write a blog, at least once a week that will tell you the thing I did that week that brought me bliss - and for the most part that thing will be under $50.00 - This will allow anyone who wants to participate in the weekly bliss item to do so, without breaking the bank.

As soon as that idea took off in my head - I was also flooded with other ideas - Things that I think Matter - and I think everyone should think they Matter - and if we all treated the things that Mattered, like things, that do in fact, Matter - maybe the world will be a slightly more lovely place to live. So feel free to participate, suggest, etc. I will give you my wisdom - what little I have and we will see how this goes!! Bon Appetite, Bon Voyage - Bon well whatever is appropriate here.