Taking care of your body, mind, and soul.

Take a deep breath. – This is a simple meditation to begin the day with a healthy mindset. Clear your mind and focus on your breath, cultivating a steady, relaxed breath. Create a spaciousness of attention when you breathe in, then relax and breath out, allowing the pattern of your breath to match the sound and rhythm of ocean waves… Before beginning your morning, take a moment to bring mindfulness to your breath and intentions, setting a theme for the rest of your day.

Exercise. – This is a great way to “jump start” your day! Get energized, start your metabolism, and feel dramatically different the rest of the day by exercising first thing in the morning… And not only will you be doing your body a favor, research has shown that exercise also increases mental acuity, helping you feel more awake and alert through-out the day. You’ll feel GREAT! DO IT!

Watch the sunrise. – Mornings are quiet; the noise, traffic and motion of the day has yet to begin. Especially before sunrise. Watching the sunrise is such a beautiful cosmic process and a simple yet powerful way to connect with the light of the new day. At this time you can be still and enjoy the silence of the world, taking in the gorgeous colors as you greet the day… And as it begins, listen to the birds awakening the world with their alluring dawn choruses.

Open windows. – Take a moment and open your bedroom windows, your living room windows, your kitchen windows. Let the fresh air inside, welcome the daylight, allow yourself be refreshed. Open windows will unconsciously expand your senses and improve your sense of well-being. Fresh, clean, outdoor air is “alive” with a combination of both positively and negatively charged oxygen atoms. Fresh air refreshes the cells, lowers body temperature, improves lung function and kills bacteria and viruses in the air

Wild Things Photography was born from John Hyde’s appreciation of all things wild and by his inherent quest to explore the natural world.

Students often ask him what the “perfect picture” is and he replies….

“The perfect picture is one that drives you to make another.”

To visit his website, filled with stunning nature shots that will take your breathe away, click here: Wild Things Photography.

I love taking showers! And baths; the hotter the better! My tub is lined with shampoos and conditioners, body washes, salts, scrubs, scented candles, even a terry bath pillow… Fragrances, moisturizers, exfoliaters, you name it! In present times we are all obsessed with bathing and smelling as fresh as possible. And haven’t people always felt this way? I mean, since the beginning of time, the art of bathing in water has been essential to one’s good health and peace of mind… Or has it???

As early as the third century, bathing emporiums quickly became the fashion. The Greeks and Romans were the leaders in erecting many elaborate, beautifully designed  bathhouses, known as “temples of beauty,” where they could conduct business, gossip with friends, eat, drink, receive healing therapies and arrange sexual liaisons. Some public baths were so grand that they could easily contain lecture halls, art galleries, meditation rooms, and prayer stalls!

The success of these bathhouses was short lived, however, as many plagues, epidemics, and diseases were quickly beginning to spread by water, or so they thought… And soon after, the churches became increasingly outspoken about the sins and “self-indulgence” of those who spent more of their time in the various bathhouses rather than churches, working, or looking after their families. As time passed, various citizens began to believe bathing would “let the devil into you” and protest against the sins of the bathers. Dirt became a symbol of one’s spiritual purity and was also believed to be protection from germs.

How could they stand their own smell, you may be asking yourself by now?? Rather than being put off by the smell, body odor was thought to be magnetic and a turn on. Powders, perfumes, wigs, cosmetics, and layers of clothes hid the grime and body scent. If overwhelmed by a particularly potent smell, a bit of snuff to clear one’s nostrils was all that was needed.

Later in the 1800′s, as many people were becoming ill or dying, it was found that water was not the cause of the problem but part of the cure! An immediate investigation was made for how to connect the average home with water. So came the invention of plumbing! Going to the baths became fashionable again, with Epsom, mineral and sulfur baths being especially popular. Spas were the rage all over Europe and have since become increasingly popular world wide as people have adopted the same general attitudes towards water, using it to clean, socialize, and heal!

Thank goodness! It seems “Cleanliness leads to Godliness” afterall.

Click here to enjoy our luxurious and aromatic bath products!

“My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.”
- William Wordsworth

Nature is such a beautiful artist! With all the falling rains this spring, why not enjoy the rainbows? These magnificent photographs were taken by Dan Bush in Missouri.

Give thanks for Memorial Day weekend! How do you plan to commemorate the brave men and women who served in the military? Home truly is where the heart is. Here’s a lovely and original handmade print that beautifully represents their honor in protecting our homeland.

Cherry Blossoms Adrift

Pink petals passing
Scents above so high
Painted porcelain perfection
Blossoms caress the sky

Swaying silent shroud
Suitors strolling by
Pink petals passing
Lover’s gentle sigh

Pastel hues falling
Slow fluttering grace
Pink petals passing
Lining streams in lace

Pink petals passing
Smoothest transit by
Soft essence floating
In most subtle lullaby

Inducing springtime slumber
Upon a satin shore
Sailing with the current
Pink petals pass before

-Mary Fumento

When was the last time you took a hot, relaxing bath?

After a strenuous day, a nice, long soak in a hot bath is just what I need.  Adding bath salts will enhance your bathing experience greatly.

Bath salts help ease away tension and improve the way you feel.  This is because bathing in salts offers so many healing benefits… They open your pores, purifying the skin and cleansing away toxins, as well as aid in the healing of dry skin, making your skin softer and smoother.  And that’s not all ladies and gents!  Salts can also improve serious skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, increase circulation and reduce tenderness.  Soaking in these “medicinal” salts has been recommended for people with back pain, arthritis, muscle tension or spasms, and minor work and sports injuries.  They’re also great for easing stiff, sore muscles and aching feet and legs!

Salts made with essential oils offer the added benefit of aromatherapy.  Available in a variety of fragrances, pleasant, soothing scents have been shown to induce calmness and promote relaxation.  Scented bath salts combine these qualities along with other healing properties.  The ability to relax and unwind at the end of the day is also the best way to insure sound, restful sleep at night, and bath salts are definitely helpful. To view our luxurious collection of bath salts, scrubs, and essential oils, click here.

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Last week I had a cold, so I took a detoxifying bath and was able to rest more comfortably and shorten the length of time I was down and out…

Here’s my how to for a detox bath: You can use this recipe anytime you’re starting to feel run down or have over-indulged!

1.  Give yourself 40 minutes to soak.  The first 20 minutes are said to help remove toxins and the next 20 minutes are for your skin to absorb the minerals.
2. Fill the tub with comfortably hot water and add 2 cups of Epsom salts.  (Available at your drugstore and very inexpensive.)
3.  Add 1 to 2 cups of baking soda.  This is to help soften the water and help the body absorb the magnesium.
4.  To further the effects, I like to add ground ginger. The ginger will naturally heat the body, turning your skin slightly red for a few minutes.  So, depending upon your sensitivity, you can add 1 Tbsp. to 1/3 cup to the water.  Most people sweat profusely with the added ginger…  I immediately wrap myself in a blanket after getting out of the tub, and will continue to detoxify through perspiration for another couple of hours.

Gold Hill is a steep cobbled street in rural Shaftesbury, England. This charming cottage laden landmark is one of the oldest and highest unspoiled towns in England.

Project Location: San Diego, CA

Designer: Barbara Palazuelos

Project Type: Kitchen Remodel

About three years ago I was approached by a former employer to help his wife pick out some paint colors for their house kitchen. As it turns out, she wanted to completely remodel the room – and it was painfully obvious why.

(click above image to view larger)

Like most people living in one of the older areas of San Diego, their home was straight out of the 70′s. The kitchen floor was an off-white linoleum with a mustard brown diamond pattern (I too had never heard of mustard brown). As you can see, the very tall backsplash was a matching mustard yellow. The tile countertops could potentially look attractive in a kitchen, but they neither looked attractive here, nor functioned well for a family with twin toddlers. White countertops with all white grout had to go! While the cabinets were in decent condition, they were incredibly old, at weird heights and depths, and kept the already small and dark kitchen looking smaller and darker.

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My clients ultimately wanted a brighter, lighter, timeless yet up-to-date kitchen. I drew up a few sketches depicting various kitchen scenes, ranging from all glass cabinets with stainless steel countertops, to white cabinets with colorfully tiled counters. The design we ultimately decided upon for their kitchen was an opened up space with beautiful blonde cabinets, a few glass cabinet doors, dark countertops to hide stains, espresso brown flooring made with bamboo and cork to break up the work areas, and of course, some new appliances.

While my clients did not specify any preference in “green” design, I took it upon myself to incorporate as much environmentally friendly material into their remodel as possible. For starters, the flooring is a combination of bamboo and cork – both of which are renewable and fast growing resources. The countertops are fabricated by PaperStone, a company specializing in 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard products. As for the cabinetry, my clients and I chose an Ikea kitchen, not only for looks but also because of the minimalized packaging and sustainably harvested woods.

The differences in the old and new kitchens are striking! The family can now interact from anywhere within the house without having to crisscross from one side to the other. They also have more counter space for cooking the fabulous Italian meals they’re so fond of. Plates, linens, and baby necessities are now hidden neatly behind cupboard doors and self-closing drawers. And the overall feel is much more radiant than before!

Overall, this remodel was an amazing transformation that everyone involved was proud to be a part of, and the ambiance of their kitchen was remarkably improved upon.

Designer Contact Information:

Barbara Palazuelos, Allied Member ASID
Jo Lee Design
208.309.3302
JoLeeDesign@yahoo.com

Ashley Nelly is a blogger well worth adding to your bookmark list! Her Product Snob blog is an “incredible finds and honest reviews” hub to answer all your questions about home trends, fashion, beauty, weddings, and more… And with a career in advertising and marketing, why not indulge in all the advice we can get from her?