Today's Luxury, Doing What you Love......

My favorite place to sit and relax.....

It has been quite awhile since I've posted. I've missed writing this blog, but work and life got in the way; that is my inspiration for today's post, doing what you love. So many times we get caught up in the day to day grind that we forget to sit back, relax, take a breath and do what we love. I had forgotten how much I like to write about home, interiors and what I find to be everyday luxuries, until I recently took the time to revisit some of my posts; I have neglected to even take notice of the simple luxuries in my everyday life!!

So today I'm going back to the start, I am going to get back to doing and noticing the things that I love to do; taking the time to list at least 5 a day.

Today's list includes:
1-Sitting in my favorite spot (pictured above) having my morning coffee (and hopefully a glass of wine tonight!!)
2-Meditating on the positive things I hope to bring into my life. I've read a lot of good books on this subject that have helped and I will post about at a later date.
3-Wearing my new pair of boots.
4-Talking to my daughter after her day at school; it is always so refreshing to hear a 6 year old's perspective!!!
5-Thinking of new subjects I can post about!!

Simply listing things that you love, want to do or are thankful for is such an easy and uplifting thing to do. It can help you through a trying time or make a good time even better. I suggest you take a few minutes today to make a list, I promise it's one of the simplest and best luxuries there is!!

Let's raise a glass to .... Wine!!!

I really love to have a glass of wine. To me, it is a relaxing, somewhat indulgent event. I place a nice glass of wine on my list of "life's little luxuries". To me it is important how I have this experience. Not just any wine will do. Not just any glass will do. I like to have it in a relaxing environment, while I'm cooking, with a nice dinner or with friends. Slurping a quick glass at the kitchen counter does not cut it for me!! I like to savor the experience, making it almost a celebration!! Sounds high maintenance? No, I know what is important to me in the enjoyment of the glass of wine and I'll get it myself, thank you!! I think that's pretty low maintenance self service!! Isn't that what the idea of luxury is all about? Finding something you really enjoy and having it the way you enjoy it!!

In line with The Luxurious Life, I have become a "keen observer" of wine, over the years, so I know what I like to drink. I am not a wine expert, by any means, I just know what I like and expand upon that. I am a White Wine drinker. I have several varieties I really enjoy, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Vouvray, Viognier, Muscadet are some of my favorites. I do not enjoy Chardonnay, most of them are too oakey for me. I have composed this list over years of trying different wines, going to wine tastings, attending wine dinners, talking to Sommeliers at restaurants and the experts at wine shops. Since I have an understanding of what I like, I can get suggestions of other wines or brands that will fit my wine criteria.

To me, the glass is also an important part of the experience. Drinking wine out of a paper cup or one that is too heavy takes the luxury out of it for me. I like a very thin crystal glass with a larger bowl. Reidel's Sauvignon Blanc glass is my favorite. The thin crystal allows you to view the wine, the larger bowl allows you to swirl the wine freely and I like the way the delicately thin stemmed crystal balances in my hand!! Sounds like a party to me!! I also have some glasses that have a little curve and shape to them, seem very feminine and indulgent.

Today's little luxury is to explore something you really enjoy and find out how you can expand on the experience. If you like to drink wine, find some new varieties and try a new wine glass!! Invite some friends over to bring a bottle of their favorite type and have a wine tasting. Be a keen observer of what you enjoy so you can add something new to enhance the experience!! Knowing what you like and how you like it is the best luxury!!

A Little Bit of Thanksgiving in the Springtime......

Today is a dreary spring day. It is cold outside, it is probably going to rain, I have a ton of laundry to do, I have a lot of things to figure out for work.... the list goes on and on. I decided I am going to sit back, with a cup of my new favorite blend of coffee, Starbucks Komodo Dragon, rich and bold with splash of Horizon's vanilla milk in it (yum!!), and take a few minutes to think about things I have to be thankful for today. A little bit of Thanksgiving in the springtime to help me recharge!!!

Even in the most stressful of times we all have a lot to be thankful for. In our everyday hectic lives, with kids having to be carted from one place to the next, work, laundry, dishes to be done, feeling there is no time for ourselves; I think we loose track of the bigger picture, I know I do!! Taking the luxury of a few minutes, in the midst of all that needs to be done, to have a relaxing cup of tea or coffee and think of the things that you are happy about or are thankful for, is like a refresher for the soul!!

The picture above is from Thanksgiving Day a few years ago. A few minutes, after the picture was taken, the table was full of food, family and wine!! We had 30 for dinner that year (there are other tables set beyond this one!!). It was a fun day. I had a lot of fun setting the tables, arranging the flowers and helping prepare the food. I like the simplicity of the table setting, I used drinking glasses for the vases, kept the flower arrangements very natural and free form, surrounded votive candles with little yellow pumpkins and used my Great Aunt's dishes, topped with a simple linen napkin (ironing 30 napkins was not so simple!!) I used wooden trays, on the buffet, to hold drink mixes and the red wine (the white wine was being properly chilled!!). I like to keep Thanksgiving tables simple and elegant because the day really is about food, family and friends!! I let the company shine!!

Taking a few minutes to think back to that day of fun, food, family and friends (not to forget the wine!!), has made me feel much better to take on all that this day has to offer. Today, take some time to give yourself the luxury of being thankful. It can be as simple as remembering a special event, as I did. A little bit of Thanksgiving in the springtime can go a long way!!!!