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Holiday Gift Guide: Take Good Care Kit for the Caregiver

We’re sharing my favorite Restorative Holiday Gift Guide for the Caregiver / Over-doer / Nurturer (aka keeper of all moving parts) in your life — and my bet is, like me, that person is you!

As a healing garden designer and serenity stylist consultant, I help my people create and style beautiful outdoor living and garden spaces that reflect the needs of their heart and soothe their senses making way for greatness and good self-care. During the winter season, nature invites us to do this differently than would we, say, in the dog days of summer.

Now, my recovering chronic overdoer/overgiver side may be showing here, yet, like you, I’m in hot pursuit of serenity and taking good care inside and out, in simple, easy, nature-infused ways – all the days of my life.  I must. We must. We have a lot of people depending on us – and the most important of these people is us. Reality check: if the wheels fall off for us, the wheels fall off for all.

To take good care is restorative to our nature. Taking Good Care of our energies, exchanges, and precious selves restores our good nature. And honestly, decreases that wee bit of crunchiness we caregivers can feel…

Because I imagine you love a simple, restorative, nurturing indulgence here and there too AND because there are even more moving parts this time of year, I’m sharing my top favorite Restorative Holiday Gifts for the Caregiver / Overdoer / Top Dog Nurturer in the Family.

I’m a big believer in “some to give and some to keep” particularly for the “keeper of all moving parts” person.

A nature-inspired, first-aid self-care gift kit is a one-stop restorative recharging station for the Caregiver / Overdoer during winter. @AnnieRedBird

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  1. Lollia Breathe Bubble Bath The light Peony-Grapefruit-Green scent of “Breathe” No. 19 Bubble Bath renews the senses while the Olive, Avo & Vit E oils help restore the skin. And the packaging is reusable! Oprah’s right: fav thing!
  2. UGG Honorary Yosemite Slips Foot-love collab between comfy UGGs & warm Pendleton Wools to celebrate the 100 year US National Park System anniversary. These slips will serve your tired peds well, keeping you cozy while imagining a soul stroll in our precious wild, wide open spaces.
  3. Perfectea Maker & Steeper For your daily tea ritual, Teavana makes things easy: loose tea in + hot water pour over = steep = set atop fav mug & Viola!
  4. Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea All time favorite loose tea! Peach, pineapple, calming chamomile & verbena. It’s like sipping a tranquility garden! #Teavanalife
  5. Cuddl Duds Softwear Layering must for the comings & goings without the Hulk bulk. The Keeper of All Moving Parts needs to be cuddled & warm!

So, go on with your Keeper-of-All-Moving self, feel good about checking out, recharging, bathing in quiet and softness inspired by nature. You so deserve the peace, comfort, nurturing.

 

#RedBirdBehindtheScenes: My go-to supply list for your Holiday Containers!

I’ve got my Go-To Supply List For Your Holiday Containers for you as mentioned over at the Red Bird Holiday Seasonal Sparkle [Containers + Decor]. These are my tried and true go-to’s that I keep *in* hand for this time of year when making #livingholidaygreetingcards. Though your results may vary, you can’t go wrong with any of these supplies:

  1. Twist-ems Twisty ties – I honestly feel like MacGyver with this supply. The fur-baby interns best watch out… they may have a winter bouquet twisty-tied to ’em! The easy cutter included makes this an on-the-go, ICOE, all-in-one tool – clip off just a smidgen or lasso the whole darn garland together.
  2. Tacky Glue – So many creations, so little time. This is *the* glue I’ve used since I was little. Perfect for working with sedums year-round.
  3. Garden Staples – Used all year, these fabric anchors are to container design as bobby pins were to my momma’s beehive hair-do. These staples hold everything pinned into place in the soil of your container. You know, taking care of the fly-aways.
  4. Holiday Greens – When not sourcing from our own gardens and farm, I shop VERY Pacific-NW local for the best greens, garlands, trees, cones at the seasonal retail store, The Holly Shop. (Bonus: they rent out part of the workspace to the AMAZING non-profit The Bloom Project – which ALWAYS feels good to be near!)
  5. Floral Wire – Great for bundling greens for your container centerpiece or stringing baubles and balls together before stapling into the soil.
  6. Latching Storage Box – KISS – All supplies stored in one safe place. Love these made in USA bins. Be sure to “size up” your bin as needed so that you have room to stow the baubles, bows, balls you want to repurpose next year.
  7. Wilt Stop – This is so handy for extending the life of your greens!  Spray directly to your holiday garlands, greens, tree to decrease drying out. (Keep on hand for transplanting in spring too!)
  8. Glue Dots – I’m definitely a dot-n-go gal. This handy dispenser helps make for quick(er) work. Choose from permanent (better for outdoors most times) or removable.
  9. Secret Sauce – not shown here. These are your special touches of found nature objects (dried seed pods or Allium blooms, let’s say) and baubles, balls, bows, bedazzling that make your seasonal decor yours! Have fun making your #livingholidaygreetingcard.

For more #RedBirdBehindtheScenes in real-time, Follow along. I’m always creating something for our thriving outside, healing inside.  Be sure to share your creations too!

3 Cures to Fix What’s Ailing Your Healing Outdoor Haven ~ Part 3 with Tip Sheet!

If you are not feeling the healing benefits of your outdoor haven, it’s because your space isn’t growing your happiness inside; it’s not growing your peace, health, inspiration like it can.

Feeling disappointed with the energy and vibe of your garden space? Your space may need to be soul-styled.

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To replenish your scene, reap the benefits and boost your mind, body, spirit, try my Cure #3 for what’s ailing your healing outdoor haven.

(This is Part 3 of a 3-part series – to clean, connect & find comfort in nature that awaits you, should you clear the channel. Cure 1 is here and Cure 2 is here. Cliff-notes version? Click here for Your 3 Cures Tip Sheet!)

Cure 3: Comfort opens a sacred channel

Spring_WaterBowl Floating Flowers

This is a Cure to Nurture Your Inspiration

When uncomfortable, we often close up. Just as when an outfit doesn’t fit right – too tight, not warm enough, can’t sit comfortably – when an environment doesn’t feel right to us, we can’t wait to get out of it.  Likewise, when an outfit speaks to our essence and helps us shine, we go back to it, again and again, as our favorite go-to ensemble. It’s an exterior expression of our interior essence.

You’ve got untapped potential right outside your door waiting to be your go-to sacred space where you can be comfortable to commune and receive. A sanctuary for the soul’s conveyance nourishes a sacred union that helps us to let go of the build-up of the day’s stresses and the wounds of grief. It helps us focus and hear what our sweet souls are trying to say. When we soulfully style our outdoor spaces, they become more personal and play a meaningful role in our lives. This cure is apt to draw you outside and help you go inward, opening a sacred channel to nurture inspiration.

[bctt tweet=”An outdoor space where your soul is comforted, opens doors to aligning w/ your interior world. “]

Action-taking Tips:

  • Reserve your soul a special spot. Instead of tackling an entire landscape, pick a small nook (aka “pocket garden”) where you can escape and make it your own.
  • Take small style bites. You’ve done some cleaning and clearing. You’ve spa’d up your scene to soothe your senses. Now get comfortable by selecting personal self-love-reminding elements to enliven and furnish your space. I call these #feelgoodfurnishings. For instance, a recycled this (chair?) or a recovered that (bench?). How about that chair if it had a couple of pillows? Perhaps drape a washable blanket over the back for chilly days? Strike up candles to set the mood. Create an exterior shrine with found treasures. 
  • Pad for privacy. Plant up containers with taller plants and move them into place to mark your space and offer a surround-sound buffer. Go for a cocooned or “womb” shape to your special space.

By soul-styling your space, you’ll find this cure has a ripple effect. It helps your body feel more comfortable; your mind more available to clarity and your soul open and more easily inspired to recharge. This cure for comfort opens a sacred channel of your soul and the What-Is beyond.

Our garden and outdoor spaces bloom with positivity, pollinate hope & nurture a beautiful world inside.

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Hey Annie, how do I know when the cures are working?

When your garden living space:

  • soothes your senses and you get that ahhh feeling upon stepping into your #serenegreenscene
  • delights your soul and supports the rekindling your spirit
  • elevates your state of mind
  • is a place of relocation for daily living rituals (napping, yogaing, reading, phoning, working, meditating, eating, cooking, conversing…) because in here (hello precious spirit) finds safety, satisfaction and yearns for more out there.

Then, my Red Bird friend, you are on the garden path to having your very own Restorative Garden – your Sanctuary.

Start by making these cures to create positive change in the everyday nature that surrounds you.

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Drop me a comment and tell me how you got a boost of sanity, perhaps some salve for your senses or some much-needed comfort for your soul. I’m listening… 

You hoo… I have something special for you… 

Get your 1-page Tip Sheet of my 3 Cures to Fix What’s Ailing Your Healing Outdoor Haven.

Click for 3 Cures Tip Sheet!

Need help in transforming your yard space from ugh to AHH! My Sanctuary Garden Design Consultation may just be the help you need!

Are you a style-keen, nature-loving, holistically-inclined “soilsoulsister” (or brother) who wants to tune out stress & dis-ease & tune into your mind.body.spirit connection, thanks to your own slice of everyday, personal paradise? Plant-tas-tic! Sign up for news, resources, good shares and we’ll get on with your thriving outside & healing inside.

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