In my quest to find the very best ways to invite others to experience their senses in the very rich, intense ways I myself do, I give you this:
Velvet, cotton, angora?
Doesn’t matter.
The point is to touch it.
Feel it. Experience it.
Know the difference
Between each one
As you feel it
Beneath your fingertips.
Try a caress.
A grab.
A fistful of it.
A snuggle against the fabric.
Which one most reminds you
Of who you are?
(Wear that one!)
And revel in your sense of touch.
As the moon calls and you’re ready to go to bed, what do you do as part of your nightly ritual? Whether you’re a wash-and-go (to bed) type, or have a more lengthy, luxurious routine, you are invited to an opportunity to participate in Exuviance’s give-away- a full size Super Retinol Concentrate. Twenty-five lucky winners will win this $78 value!
Simply share your favorite nighttime beauty tips & tricks on Twitter and other social media channels. Be sure to tag @neostrataskin and using #sleeponit.
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You know the satisfaction of a refreshing gulp of water when your throat is parched, the comfort of a cascade of droplets over your head when you dip into the shower, the welcoming relief when a summer rain falls onto your sun-heated skin.
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Sitting and waiting at Friedman’s Lunch for my dining partner yesterday morning (yes, we came to a place with “lunch” in the title for breakfast!), I looked around the dining area at the quaint yet sleek, cool vibe. The dark, heavy brown curtain that hung hovering over the doorway would billow every time someone walked in. Sitting so close to it, sometimes it would caress my thigh or knee. I really liked the fabric and its velour heaviness. The way the curtain made a show of presenting each person who entered through the door was slightly captivating. The whole experience was one that caught my senses.
I had some arugula in the refrigerator and a vision of pizza in my mind. On my trip to the store, the pizza crusts were on sale, further proof of the “meant to be” serendipitous nature of my culinary idea.
First, I set to work zesting a little lemon, juicing it and mixing it with some olive oil, basil, and parsley. I let the mixture settle into the chicken breast I was about to saute (in butter).
Next, I chopped up the garlic that is so necessary for broccoli rabe. It emitted its familiar aroma. Washing the broccoli rabe, I took note of its crisp leaves, which always feels like the sound of the word “cruciferous” to me. I cooked it up, watching its green color deepen and its leaves start to wilt. I also added some red pepper flakes for a little extra oomph.
After the chicken and brocooli rabe were cooked up, I went to work dressing up the pizza crusts- one with marinara sauce, one without. Then I spooned the broccoli rabe on top. Amply sprinkled shredded cheese over it. Arugula. Raw onion slivers. Chicken. More cheese. On the sauce-free one, I added the leftover lemon juice and butter.
Baked them for 22-25 minutes and admired them once out of the oven. The onion with its crisp burnt edges, the chicken with its burst of lemony flavor. Aaaahhhhh……
There’s just something about a container of Play-Doh that brings me right back to childhood. Sure, the familiar logo and yellow canister plays a role, but the main thing that transports me is definitely the smell of that stuff. Even though it’s not the most pleasant smell, there is something very comforting about it. So much so that a former colleague of mine brought in a couple of mini canisters in to work a few years ago so that we could have the “back to childhood” experience when things got too rough at the office.
It’s been over two years since I’ve been at that job, and today I just so happened to be clearing out some old things. I came upon that mini canister. I smiled to myself as I remembered the comfort it brought me.
I cracked it open:
I did what anyone else in my position would have done:
Going in for The Sniff!
And even took the Play-Doh out of its container and gave it a squeeze:
Squeeze it!
Stress-reliever!
And marveled that it was still soft, after all those years, and enjoyed my little trip down memory lane.
I have a family friend who became a nun later in life. I remember going to her first profession and final profession of vows when I was younger, and lo and behold, this year marks her 25th year of religious life…which will be celebrated as a silver jubilee!
As with any celebration, I like to commemorate with an appropriate gift. And what does one get a nun? Surely she must have an ample assortment of religious jewelry, knick-knacks, and stationary. I started my search online with some terms that might help me find an appropriate card. I knew “Congratulations on your 25 years of religious life!” was not going to be common fodder at my local Hallmark, but the vast expanse of internet certainly had a few options from which to choose.
With that part complete, I continued searching on the site to take a look at the gift items. I was intrigued by the Abbey scented soaps, made by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. There were so many different scent varieties- it was truly remarkable! I wish I could smell them all through the screen (though the descriptions helped a bit, as did my imagination). These handcrafted items are not only made with natural ingredients but also a dose of holy water, and each batch is prayed over. Interesting!
As the story goes, what started out as something they made out of necessity became a source of value and joy that the nuns rediscovered in the present day. They use modern techniques to make the soap but with the same careful attention to detail that they use in all their handcrafted items. A motto is included on each product listing: “The work of our hands- made for your hands and body.”
I delved a little deeper to find other everyday products that are handmade by those in a religious calling. There are several that I became interested in- lip balm, body scrubs, jellies, chocolate truffles, and Mystic Monk coffee! I just think there is something to be said about products made by human hands with intention, and using that work as a form of prayer or meditation. Whether I am religious or not or believe in the same tenets as the artisan does, does not really matter to me. I find products made in this way to have a unique appeal- almost a mysticism about them- and that they are just as affordable as those that are mass-produced. I can see these hand-forged items becoming affordable luxuries on my shopping list, as I not only engage my senses as I use them, but reflect on the way that conscious intention yields results different than those generated by workers who are mindlessly and dispassionately completing their tasks.
Getting back to my family friend’s gift, I ended up purchasing some of the fancy, carefully handcrafted essential oil infused soaps, a “Woman of God” pen and bookmark, and a few other items to create a gift basket. I carefully decided upon a mix of mainly “consumable” items so as not to take up too much space, create clutter, or be one more Jesus mug to add to the collection. I am thrilled that I was able to find some items that touch upon a religious motif or history but are still “layperson items”. I hope she finds them as unique as I have!
Throughout the summer, the bushes lining the parking lot at our local gym (which is on the grounds of a nature trail) had been bursting with raspberries. It did not seem like many were taking advantage of this luxe freebie, but we managed to snag several handfuls of delicious berries. It made going to the gym far more fun.
I even started to bring a container to put them in so I could take them home.
Bonus- look really closely and see if you can find the heart-shaped one!
It was definitely a highlight of the summer. I loved the feeling of the waxy contours against my fingertips as I picked the berries, the instances when a little too strong of a touch released some of the juices, the little burst of flavor upon eating them.
I’ve found myself missing the days of those bright juicy berries once they were gone. I now have a reason to actually look forward to summer. I should probably start collecting a few recipes so I’m all ready once the raspberries pop up again for the season.
Autumn is my favorite time of year, and I love getting an early glimpse of crisp breezes, colorful leaves, and everything else that comes with the season. I love the opportunity to open the windows and let the breeze in…and to pull out the knee-high boots! Today is the first time I’ve worn them since summer kicked in full-force, so I decided to mark the occasion with a post and a pic:
What signals the “official” changes of the seasons for you? Is it a calendar date, a “feeling” in the air, something else? How do you engage your senses during each season? If you are so inclined, please share in the comments!
Yesterday while at work, I heard this slight “shattery” noise, quickly followed by the sound of small objects bouncing on a hard surface. In the next second or two, I felt something touch my forearm, leg, finger.
Turns out the elastic of my crystal bracelet finally gave way and broke, taking all of the sparkly crystal beads and silver trinkets with it. I was able to collect most of the fallen pieces, but what I was struck by was the effect on my senses. I can practically still hear the sounds, feel the beads falling, taste my wondering of the “symbolism” of the bracelet breaking.
Though I’ve never worn it as an amulet, it did bring to mind the traditional understanding of a Turkish evil eye (called “Nazar Boncugu” as per Merveonur– thank you!)- that when it breaks, any “evil” or “bad luck” has been reverted from you. The noise and sensation of the beads dropping all around me certainly caught my attention!
There was a time that I actually had an evil eye amulet (from Turkey) break a couple of years ago. I’m not so certain about it having done its job of protecting me from harm. After carefully vacuuming up and throwing away all the pieces, at least one little glass shard escaped me and got into my foot! Imagine the symbolism of an evil eye amulet bit getting stuck within the individual it was supposed to protect. Eeek!!
Luckily, I take things like that with a grain of salt. My approach is that it is fun to ruminate about, but not to put much stock into. In any case, this non-amulet bracelet that just broke alerted my senses to the sounds and sights around me, and that is exactly what I seek in each and every day– a little more sensory awareness and enjoyment of my surroundings.
Vivacious Victoria and The Sensory Life 