A Woman's Haven: December 2009

SIMPLE ABUNDANCE- A Daybook of COMFORT and JOY

A Year of Transformation

One of my most FAVORITE books is Simple Abundance

by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

In it Sarah outlines each day starting January 1st with tools to excavate your

"authentic self".

To find the woman you were meant to BE.

" Let us each grasp a new idea this year. Let us grasp the awareness of what it is that makes us truly happy. Let us consider our personal preferences and learn how to recognize, then embrace, moments of happiness that are uniquely our own."

SIMPLE ABUNDANCE

enables you to encounter everyday epiphanies, find the Sacred in the ordinary, the Mystical in the mundane, and to fully enter into the sacrament of the present Moment.

The Principles of Simple Abundance

The Six Graces

Gratitude
At the heart of Simple Abundance is an authentic awakening, one that resonates within your soul: all you have is all you need to be genuinely happy. All you need is the awareness of how much you really have and then give thanks.

Simplicity
The simpler we make our lives, the more abundant they become. There is no scarcity except in our souls.

Order
Lasting change does not happen overnight. Lasting change happens in infinitesimal increments: a day, an hour, a minute, a heartbeat at a time.

Harmony
Harmony is the inner cadence of contentment you feel when the melody of life is in tune.

Beauty
Creating a beautiful life is your highest calling. It is in the ordinary and overlooked details of the every day that beauty is revealed, sustained and nurtured.

Joy
Your happiness is not a frivolous expendable luxury. Joy is your soul’s purpose.

Information taken from her website and book.

Above is my book...it is full of things underlined, marked, and highlighted. I truly believe that anyone who read this book would love it and benefit from it.

For more on Sarah's book visit her website HERE.

If anyone is willing to have a book discussion about this book I would LOVE to hear from you.

What path will you take in 2010?

Now that Christmas is

over

I sit here thinking

what do I want for

myself in 2010.

What projects do I want to commit to?

Projects in the

house

and

projects of the self.

I have been

collecting clippings for

my treasure map/vision board

which I will begin

working on in the next week.

At the top of my list

are to get

myself back into shape

and to just live in the moment.

I would classify myself

as a worrier and

I often forget to

BE PRESENT

in my own life.

What are your projects for 2010?

What path will you take?

Winding Down With The Family

After a busy week,

today

we are finally

relaxing

at home

watching

all of the new movies

we received as gifts.

Above are a few pictures

from

Christmas morning.

In the middle

is a letter poem

my 14 year old daughter

made for me.

Holiday House- Chandelier crystals

One of the things that

I love about the holiday season

is that I can get out

the chandelier crystals

that I have collected

for use in my holiday decor.

Happy Solstice

Wishing

everyone

a chance

to take some

time

to themselves

for

reflection .

View from my patio door.

Blessings to you all!

Nature is Magical

I couldn't

resist

taking photos

of all of the icicles

hanging from the house

yesterday. All

sparkly

and

iridescent!

Visit Mosaic Monday HERE

Holiday House-Vintage Christmas

A sled.

I used this

as a kid

and found it

out behind the barn

at my grandma's farm.

I thought it would

look perfect

on my front porch.

It is all

rusty,

faded,

and worn.

A Santa.

I found

at a local thrift shoppe

for $5.

My favorite

find this year.

A ceramic tree.

I nicely

asked my mother

if I could steal this.

A rusty, rusty metal sled.

Doesn't it look

glamourous

with all the

shiny

items around it?

Cookie Cutters

used as

kitchen decor.

Attached to garland,

overflowing from a large bowl,

or hanging from a tree

Holiday House- Craft Room

Favorite

Room

Favorite

Tree.

Holiday House-Upstairs

MY CHILDREN ARE

14 AND 11 YEARS OLD,

SO I DON'T

GET ALOT OF ARTWORK

BROUGHT HOME FROM SCHOOL

TO OFTEN ANYMORE.

I CHERISH

ALL OF THEIR ITEMS

THAT THEY HAVE

MADE FROM

YEARS PAST.

Girl's Nite In

Last night I finally

hosted my own

Naked Ladies Party

(see previous post for description).

A handful of my girlfriends

brought clothing, accessories, and shoes

that they wanted to get rid of

and we swapped for each others items.

I meant to take pictures

of us all of having fun,

but we got so engrossed

in food and conversation

that I forgot to get out the camera.

Luckily

before everyone arrived

I was able to get some pictures

of the

HOUSE

in all of it's

glamour.

Candles

and

Christmas decor

everywhere.

I especially loved the

GLOW of

the front

walkway and staircase.

Here are my

Easy Peasy Snowmen

(see previous post)

all lit up on the staircase.

Handmade Gift-Button Charm Bracelet

Do you remember

my previous post

Bitty Baubles Boo?

Well here is

a product of

some of those

various findings...

A button charm bracelet.

I had a

ton of fun

making it.

I am sure there will be more to come.

This one is a gift

for one of

my favorite friends.