Shake off Winter's Doldrums with Imbolc: Embracing the Light and Energy of the Upcoming Spring (with New Seasonal Journal Prompts)

Imbolc, also known as Brigid's Day, is the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, when we welcome the return of light and the coming of spring. It begins the evening of February 1st and concludes the evening of February 2nd. 

The observance of Imbolc, (or St. Brigid's Day for Christians) is a lovely time to mentally transition from the darkness and indolence of deep winter to an energy of renewal and light. 

Here are some ideas for incorporating the spirit of Imbolc into your everyday, for when you're ready to shake off those winter doldrums.

1. Clean and declutter your home. Imbolc is a time of renewal and new beginnings, making it the perfect time to do a deep clean and declutter of your home. This will not only help clear out the old to make way for the new, but it will also create peaceful and harmonious energy in your home, hearth, and spirit.

2. Light candles. Imbolc is a time of returning light, so lighting candles is a simple way to welcome more light into your home. Consider using white or yellow candles to symbolize the return of the sun or choose candles in colors that align with your intentions for the season.

Enjoy a traditional candle-lit, Imbolc-inspired meal, like a hearty stew made with root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and turnip, which symbolize the emergence of new growth and renewal. Serve your stew with a side of crusty bread to represent the hearth and home and finish with warm, spiced apple or pear crisp to represent the return of the sun and the coming spring. 

3. Reflect on your goals and intentions. It's still winter and winter is a time of rest and reset; however, at Imbolc, you can begin to think about what you want to create or grow in the coming months. Take some time to think about your goals and intentions for the year ahead, and envision a plan for setting them into motion.  

4. Celebrate the natural world. Imbolc marks the gradual awakening of the natural world, the first signs of spring. Take a walk, observe the changes you see, and document those changes with photos, mental notes, or journaling as a way to connect with the season and the natural world. 

5. Practice self-care. Imbolc is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, so take this opportunity to practice self-care and nourish your mind, body, and spirit; whatever that looks like for you. 

Do you journal? Here are some Imbolc-themed prompts for you to consider.  

1. Think about the themes of Imbolc, such as new beginnings and rebirth. How do you want to grow and change in the coming year? What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

2. Consider the symbolism of the goddess (and Saint) Brigid and what she represents. Brigid is the goddess of fire, poetry and healing and Saint Brigid, the patron saint of poets, midwives, newborns, and smith crafts. How can you tap into her energy of creativity, inspiration, and healing in your own life? What kind of work or projects do you want to undertake in the coming year?

3. Take stock of your relationships and connections. Who are the people in your life who support and uplift you? How can you strengthen those connections and build new ones?

4. Think about the element of fire and how it relates to Imbolc. How can you use the energy of fire to ignite your passions, creativity, and motivation? What steps can you take to bring more fire and vitality into your life?

5. Consider the idea of balance and how it relates to your own life. Are there areas of your life where you feel out of balance? How can you bring more balance and harmony into your life?

Incorporating the energy of Imbolc into your everyday life can be a meaningful and fulfilling way to celebrate a season of renewal and new beginnings. Whether you reflect on the past year, set intentions for the future, or focus on relationships and balance, there are many ways to align yourself with the natural rhythms of the world around you. 

Imbolc is a time of transition, a time to honor the goddess Brigid and her energy of creativity, inspiration and healing. It is a time to take a deep breath and let go of what no longer serves you and to welcome in new beginnings. 

By taking the time to reflect and make intentional choices, you can make the most of the Imbolc season with renewed energy and peace of mind.

We made it through another winter! Cheers to spring!

As a New Englander, most people assume that my favorite season is autumn or the much too brief season of summer, but they're wrong. Nothing is sweeter, for me, than the Spring.

I enjoy the fall, but it leads to winter and winter's lack of light, the added layers, and the biting cold batter me on every level. Through frosted car windows, icy walkways, and snowy cotton-ball covered tree branches, I try to see the beauty of winter for what it is. 

As I get older, I appreciate winter more for its power to slow things down, giving me time to reflect and rejuvenate myself with new goals and experiences that seem to lend themselves to sunnier, warmer days.

The eye-squinting warm spring sunlight makes me giddy like a toddler anticipating a surprise. Fewer layers lighten my body and my spirit. The budding trees that give way to full green foliage causes me to pause and admire in the same way I would stop to admire the changing of colors in the fall. The cooing of mourning doves when I take out Gracie in the early morning light and the buzzing of bees around our budding rhododendron remind me that we're all happy to see Spring arrive, allergy sniffles and all. 

We survived another winter. It's time to step out into the light, stretch, and give thanks for another opportunity to revive and thrive. 

Happy Spring to you!

Spring Seasonal Goals 2017

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm a long time reader of Life According to Steph, and I'm excited to participate in her seasonal goals linkup. 

New season, new goals. 

Here are my seasonal goals for Spring, 2017.

1. Book summer travel and enjoy at least one long weekend away. 
2. Eat sustainable fish twice a week and try three new vegetarian recipes to add to the repertoire.
3. Read 2-3 personal development books. Any recommendations?
4. Reorganize spring/summer clothes and pack up winter clothes; donate what I don't love or didn't wear. 
5. Get in a morning walk at least three times per week and do yoga at least once a week, to complement my current weight training schedule. 

Are you a goal getter? Please share what's on your list of goals to accomplish this season. 

Fall Seasonal Goals

I'm a long time reader of Life According to Steph, and I'm excited to participate in her seasonal goals linkup. Finally! It's about time. 

Here are my seasonal goals for the Fall. 

1. Book travel and accommodations for the Women in Travel Summit (WITS'17). 
2. Plan and go on our annual fall weekend in New York. 
3. Find a new chunky sweater to wear with jeans and tall boots. 
4. Attend one seasonal festival.
5. Yoga at least three times per week. 
6. Participate in a fall 5 or 10k. 
7. Attend a theatrical event. 
8. Reorganize clothes...donate what summer clothes I didn't wear all season and purge what doesn't fit right and what I don't LOVE. 
9. Read a new personal development book. 
10. Try six new recipes: two vegetarian, two crockpot, one fish/seafood, and one baked dessert or casserole recipe.  

Are you a goal getter? Please share what's on your list of goals to accomplish this season. 

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Move over, Sangria...Try Tinto de Verano

People outside of Spain tend to believe that sangria is the drink of choice throughout Spain. It is widely available, but it's for the tourists. Spaniards are drinking gin and tonics, clara con limón (close to a Summer Shandy of beer and a lemon-flavored soda) and tinto de verano, literally, the wine of summer. 

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Tinto de Verano is sangria without the work (or the brandy). It's simply an equal mixture of red table wine and a gaseosa, some carbonated soda, like seltzer or lemon-lime soda. Serve it over ice, and you're good to go...easy and refreshing. 

¡Salud!

Sunday Inspiration #17

Happy Spring, friends!

How will your soul revive itself this spring? 

Move over PSL...there's a new pumpkin in town

I would not describe myself as being on the cutting edge of anything. So, if you have already had this, I apologize. 

Tis the season for pumpkin spice everything. 

But pumpkin spiced coffee? I just can't. 

Until now. 

Sunday was my mother-in-law's 83rd birthday. We gathered at my brother-in-law's for an impromptu get together and she partied like a teenager. 

Just kidding...she drank some tea. 

It's always fun to see and chat with my nieces and nephews. And as teenagers, they are on the cutting edge of everything. 

So, thanks to my niece, Vivian, I have found a new fall favorite. 

Behold the Iced Pumpkin Mocha.  

Per Vivian, for a medium, you should order it iced, with cream and one melted sugar. I think this may mean liquid sugar, but I'm assuming those in the know will know what that means. 

The iced pumpkin mocha is a game changer. 

While other coffee shops may offer the same, I can only vouch for Dunkin' Donuts. And thanks, by the way, to Dunks, for the free coffee after a Patriots win. Maybe your local Dunks has a similar promotion for your home team. 

It makes for a very happy Monday morning. 

This fall, I will be running on Dunkin's iced pumpkin mocha; no pumpkin spice latte for me. 

Thanks anyway, Starbucks. 

20 Lovely Things to Try this Fall

These days, it seems like September is the new January. This idea may stem from the fresh start that comes with the new school year. Perhaps it's the cooler temperatures that bring closure to the long, sunny days of summer as people ready themselves for new projects, beloved traditions, and the upcoming holiday season. 

If you like to set seasonal goals or if you are looking to create new traditions, here are a few ideas you can add to your list. 

1. Make some hot spiced or mulled cider, or try an apple sangria. 
2. Sign up for a fall road race to run or walk, or organize a team with your friends and do a charity walk.
3. Dig out your crockpot and experiment with some new recipes. 
4. Go to an agricultural or fall county fair. You can search for one near you here. 
5. Go apple picking and pumpkin picking. Apple crisp and roasted pumpkin seeds for all.
6. Host a chili cook-off or a pumpkin decorating party capped by a cozy fall fire. 
7. Organize a fall food drive or a winter coat drive. 
8. Try a share in a fall or winter CSA. 
9. Go on a full moon hike or go for a walk in the woods. 
10. Plan for a weekend away in case you hit the winter blues. 
11. Host a football party or a football widows' party. 
12. Take a seasonal cooking class. 
13. Visit a small town bed and breakfast and wander its town's main streets and back roads.
14. Read a classic book you never read in high school or college. 
15. Try a ghost tour or haunted attraction. Check Groupon or Goldstar for deals.
16. Plant bulbs now for a pretty spring landscape. 
17. Learn how to roast vegetables. 
18. Host a Friendsgiving bash. 
19. Learn how to knit. 
20. Start a gratitude practice.

Fall can be as much of a time of renewal as the New Year. How do you mark the transition from summer to fall? Share your favorite fall traditions. 

Ice Castles at Loon Mountain...a Winter Wonderland Date Night

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of winter. I think snow is beautiful in pictures, but the multiple layers of warm clothing, the treacherous driving and walking, and the perpetual snow clean-up has me pining for more temperate places to call home. 

Nevertheless, I try to find something fun to do in the long New England winter, and this fit the bill. Ice Castles, at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire's White Mountains, was the setting for a very fun weekend away with friends. 

Between the picturesque main street  and the onset of another snowy evening, Mother Nature helped to set the scene for a New England winter wonderland. 

Dinner and laughs first. 

Ice Castles are a collection of ice caves, sculptures, archways and tunnels made of snow and ice. Colored lights are embedded within each piece and flicker on and off, set to music, such as songs popular from movies, like Frozen. 

The idea for Ice Castles was born from the mind of a dad who built an ice rink in his back yard, after moving his family from sunny California to snowy Utah. The rink evolved to include a slide, cave and tower that his children called the Ice Castle. Ice Castles have two New England locations at Loon and Stratton Mountains, as well as one in Minnesota and one in Utah.  

The displays are built by fusing icicles together. There is no internal sub structure within the ice. They create a lattice and spray it with water to solidify, thicken, and grow each piece. 

My throne...

Wait...are we taking a selfie or is someone else taking it? Who knows?

For this weekend anyway, winter wasn't so bad. We shared plenty of laughs, good drinks and good food. And we took in the sites of the White Mountains' version of a winter wonderland. 

The view from our hotel room.

We made our fair share of memories with great friends...memories that will last long after the ice of these castles melts away. 

Have you been to Ice Castles, or something similar? If you live in a place where you experience a cold, snowy winter, how do you pass the time?

Sunday Inspiration

We are bracing for the snowpocolypse (or snowmaggedon, depending on your source) around here this week. 

Source

And so, I am forcing myself to be mindful of the potential for good things that winter can bring. 

If you are not a fan of winter, how do you cope with the long, cold, snowy months that winter brings?

Top 10 New England Winter Date Night Ideas

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and Old Man Winter knocking at our door, it's the perfect time for hearty New Englanders to start thinking about romantic ways to keep warm long after the snowflakes fly. 

If you live here in the Northeast, or anywhere that "does winter" you understand that cabin fever can be overwhelming. But with a little creativity, a little activity, and a daily dose of vitamin D, winter can be bearable...and even enjoyable.

If you live in Massachusetts, this list is for you. 

But, even if you don't, use this list as a springboard for your own winter fun. 

1. Ice skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond. Lace up, hold hands and skate for the gold in the heart of Boston Common. Afterwards, cuddle up with a hot chocolate or a cognac. 

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2. Feeling adventurous? Try dog sledding! Based out of Central Mass, New England Outfitters will give you and your partner-in-crime the experience of a lifetime, mushing behind a team of dogs that run for the pure joy of it. Or if dog sledding sounds too intense, how about a romantic sleigh ride?  

3. Channel your inner Julia Child and Jacques Pépin. Culinary Underground, on Route 9 in Southborough, offers special Couples Classes, like American Steakhouse, Cocktail Party and Feast of the Seven Fishes, designed to help you and your honey cook up some romance in the kitchen and out. Your local Sur La Table also offers date night cooking classes. 

4. Cursed Blessed with wanderlust? Learn a new language at the Boston Language Institute, where you can pick up that high school French again and plan a romantic Parisian getaway. Or brush up on your Italian . . .Tuscany awaits. If Boston is too far of a commute, check out free online language learning options. 

5. Get close and dance the night away. The Salsa Loft offers classes in salsa, bachata, merengue and cha cha, as well as monthly socials and weekly Latin nights at some of the hottest venues in central Mass, like Bocado's Tapas Bar.

6. Run away. At least for a while. Check out New England's hottest hotels and bed and breakfasts and plan a romantic weekend getaway for two. Or see if you can score a deal on an online bidding site, like Priceline.

Thank you, Boston Park Plaza!

7. Get outside and play. If you haven't gone snow tubing, you're in for a treat. At places like Ski Nashoba, you will be pulled up a giant hill by a rope tow and fly down the slopes with a giant inner tube. This brings out the kid in us all. 

And if you're skiers, New England has plenty of resorts to ski and stay.

8. Pancakes . . .what's not to love? And if you're from New England, only the real maple syrup will do. When brunch calls, check out Parker's Maple Barn for the most amazing pancakes on the planet. There is always a pancake of the month and if you or your love is more of a meat and potatoes kind of eater, they even have maple glazed ribs. 

9. Planning a warm tropical escape? Want to swim with the fishes? Just kidding. Nothing says romance like buddy breathing. Learn to scuba dive. Do your pool work locally and then do your check-out dives in the Caribbean. Central Mass Scuba does it all . . .certification and check-out dives both locally and in the tropics. 

10. Stay in and do whatever your hearts desire. Create the perfect staycation night at your own casa de amor. Build a romantic playlist, assemble a charcuterie like this one below, make a homemade pizza, open a bottle of wine. Relax...enjoy...love.

What are some of your favorite winter date night ideas?

Transitions...Winter's Call to Slow Down

I bought an ice scraper today. 

We haven't had any measurable snow. 

Yet. 

But the recent snowmaggedon in upstate New York has me thinking that Old Man Winter is on his way. And I want to be prepared.

As I see the leaves that need raking and the storm windows that need lowering, I can't help but think about nature's gradual reminder for us to slow down.

In nature, many animals use winter as a time of hibernation. The days grow short and the nights grow long. The cold, snow, and ice provide opportunities for hunkering down, and for slowing the pulse of our hectic lives, for just a bit. 

Winter allows us time to slow down, to spiritually rejuvenate, to be wrapped around the warmth of family and friends, to quiet our souls, and to reflect.

Sadly, this transition to a slower pace may be lost in the "busyness" of the fall and winter holidays, of ski seasons, hockey games and basketball tournaments. There is shopping to do, cookies to bake, presents to wrap and parties to plan and attend.

We are busy. That is a fact. 

Instead of cultivating a lifestyle of constant movement and pressure to perform on one level or another, can't we take our cue from nature's hibernators and slow down, take the time to breathe, look around, and do the things that bring us comfort and joy?

That is my challenge this winter, even if I capture only one hour per week. 

Life passes so quickly. 

I want to savor every moment that I can; not squander it in the glorification of busy.

Winter is for cuddling and conversation with my husband, for comfort food, over-sized sweaters and tall boots; for favorite movies, for walks in the snow, thick socks, hot soup, and red wine. It's for baking, and books, and blankets, and whatever else makes you smile.

In waiting for the first flakes to fly, I promise myself to slow down, to breathe consciously, to act with intent, and to use winter's slow down to make quiet, loving memories that last long after the snow melts away. When spring calls us out of hibernation, I will be ready to greet the new season with a sense of rebirth and a rejuvenated soul.

Do you find time to slow down during the winter? How do you slow your pace and stay in the moment?

Winter Nesting Survival Guide

A scene from last winter, from a walk in our neighborhood.

We woke up yesterday morning to the first snow of the season. I was thankful that it was not enough to have to clean off my car, but I couldn't help but think about what would inevitably come my way.

The cold is here to stay, I think. And so begins my season of nesting.

Winter is a time when I happily nest. While I am not as bad as this guy...

...there are things that make my winter a bit more bearable (loving husband and a strong vitamin D supplement aside).

With winter on our doorstep, here are my nesting must-haves. 

1. Something hot to drink. Whether it's vanilla chai, hot cocoa or a hot cup of joe, wrapping my cold hands around a warm mug makes me smile. 

2. A warm blanket. No doubt, the perfect remedy for when the house has a chill or for when I am ready to snuggle in with a good book or favorite movie.

3. My Roku. After the end of daylight savings time, it begins to get dark here around 4:30. And at this time any time of the year, my Roku gets a workout. I am a sucker for Christmas-themed movies, like The Holiday or Love Actually, and then there is something special about Bing Crosby (tabloid stories aside). 

4. Steaming hot soup. Whether it's a Rachel Ray clam "chowda" recipe or this vegetable soup, a steaming pot of soup on the stove is the perfect meal for any cold winter night. 

5. Thick socks and warm boots or slippers. Cold feet? Cold everything. 

6. Oversized wool sweaters that are big enough to layer as many long sleeves and thermals as you want underneath.

7. Wifi. When I don't have to, or don't want to go out, wifi provides streaming music, movies, television, my favorite blogs, and social media feeds. Am I plugged in? Yes. Can I unplug? Faster than you can say, "nap."

8. Baking. Whether it's cookies or pizza or or these, the best popover recipe ever, baking not only sends an amazing aroma through the house, it can also quell the most ravenous carb cravings. 

9. Reading material. Books, magazines and my favorite blogs. The makings of a perfect day.

10. Someplace to go. For those of us in the Northeast, winter can seem like a never-ending season. The remedy to cabin fever can be as simple as a weekend getaway or a vacation to someplace warm and tropical. 

Or it can be tickets to a holiday concert or a sleigh ride at a nearby country farm. 

Winter can have its own magic, even if your idea of magic is a frosty beverage, sipped poolside...at least, indoor poolside. 

Cheers!

If winter is not your favorite season, there are still plenty of ways to make it work out in your favor. 

Are you a winter nester? What are your favorites?