Here's hoping
you're all fine and groovy in your part of the world!
We've been in
the middle of a bummer blizzard for the part three days, and I do
mean bummer... as in, business closures, road closures, accidents,
and shoveling... lots and lots and lots of shoveling. The snow is
literally over my head in some places out there!
So what does a
boho hippie chick do when she's trapped inside? Create beauty, what
else! This little springtime-themed centerpiece is the perfect
contrast to the gloom outside, and it's SO easy to make! I completed
it in a about an hour once I had all my supplies on hand!
Here's what
you'll need to recreate this beauty.
1. A clear glass
bottle (I used a clean Jones Soda bottle... I love Jones because they
are made with cane sugar instead of refined white sugar, and they
come in glass bottles instead of plastic!)
2. A sheet of
scrapbook paper or decorative paper in the pattern of your choice
(the more colorful the better in my books!)
3. Scissors
4. A ruler
5. Wire
cutters/snippers
6. Glue
7. Goo-gone or any
"sticky" remover
8. Raffia/twine/yarn/something
to tie a bow with.
9. Any other
decorations you decide to use.
Making your
centerpiece is easy! Just use your ruler to measure and cut a strip
of paper approximately the same size as the bottle's label would be.
It's okay for the edges of your paper to overlap a little; you want
at least a centimeter of overlap to allow you to glue the two ends of
the paper together. I didn't even bother to use Goo-gone to remove
the glue remnants from the label... it just helped to stick my new
"label" in place!
You can decorate
the bottle any way you want... use glass paint to change the color of
your bottle! Use the raffia/twine to tie a bow, like I did. Or, glue
sequins, buttons, or beads onto the "label" or the bottle
itself.
Then, you can
fill your bottle.... use artificial flowers like I did (this is
February, after all!), or use real ones if the season is right. You
can also fill the jar with wheat or barley stalks for a more country
look.
I just bought
some cute fake flowers at the dollar store (you could try making some
from fabric or tissue paper) and cut them apart with the wire snips
(don't use regular craft scissors as you will dull the blades). I had
to cut the stems apart because they were too thick to fit into the
mouth of the bottle and made the arrangement too crowded. I also
pulled the thick leaves off the "tulip" for the same
reason... too much foliage and not enough space!
I hope you like
this cute "hippie" centerpiece... let me know in the
comments below if you decide to make it!
Yes, I know it's
still September and no one wants to think about winter yet. But,
whatever you call it (Winter depression, winter blues, seasonal
depression, seasonal affective disorder, etc.), it affects a huge
percentage of people, including myself. And in this post, I want to
explain some things that I do to combat it.
Let me start off by
saying, this post is not intended to take the place of the opinions
of a health care professional. They may recommend light therapy,
medication (there's no shame in needing medication to keep yourself
in tip-top condition!) or something else. I'm just sharing what has
worked best for me when the autumn blahs set in.
#1. Festival lights
Who says colored
lights are just for Christmas? Not me! Colorful strings of lights
give your home a bright, cozy atmosphere, and they're so easy to put
up! Drape them over doorways, wind them around windows, or loop them
along walls. They're so pretty, and they add a splash of color that
illuminates even the most depressing space all year 'round!
#2. Indoor plants
One of the things I
crave the most in the winter is the sight, smell, and feel of green,
growing things. When the trees are bare and the ground white, turn
your gaze inwards and cultivate some houseplants. Pick something easy
to start with. Snake plant is one you see growing a lot in banks and
offices, because it can thrive 'most anywhere! Ficus' are tough,
hardy, and difficult to kill if you have less than a green thumb.
Christmas cactus is lovely because it blooms in the middle of winter!
Plus it doesn't take much watering. Spider plants are also easy to
care for, and because they propagate themselves, they're great for
sharing!
Pictured here is
Happiness, which is what I've named my Anthurium. They're also
relatively easy to grow.
As you gain
experience in the care of your houseplants, you may want to try
something a little more complicated, like succulents, orchids, or
even elephant ears!
Plants make good
companions. Name them, talk to them, play music for them... you may
find yourself getting quite attached to them!
#3. Sounds of Nature
Two years ago, I
lived a basement apartment with exactly two windows. They were both
located above my head, so I looked at blank walls all day. When I
stretched on tiptoe to look out, all I saw was a wooden deck and
people's feet walking past. To add insult to injury, the walls were
all painted grey. (What a bummer color. Who in their right
mind paints a place grey? My apologies to anyone who likes
grey but really, unless you're going for the "hospital"
look, I can't see how anyone finds it attractive.)
Needless to say,
that winter was easily the most depressing for me. That is, until I
discovered the eighth wonder of the internet world. (I'm not sure
what the other seven are... if you know, please tell me.)
I discovered...
long-play nature tracks. And, speaking honestly, they helped me
regain my sanity. I constantly surrounded myself with the sounds of
lapping waves, birdsong, softly pattering rain, thunderstorms, leaves
rustling in the wind, crickets... I could close my eyes and feel
summer.
I found that these
long-play videos, playing in the background while I was reading,
writing, cleaning, or just relaxing, made me less stressed and more
hopeful. It was company for me on those long, dark, quiet nights. I
also find that listening to nature sounds all night helps me get a
more restful sleep.
I plan on sharing
some of my favorite relaxing and sleep tracks with you all, so keep
your eyes open for those! And here's one of my favorites for you all.
It was recorded in Thailand, and features 8 solid hours of a hot
spring; water splashing, tricking, and bubbling, exotic birds
calling... and you may even hear someone whistling or humming as they
pass by! There are different "locations" to enjoy, with a
variety of scenes and sounds, so it never gets boring! I personally
wouldn't recommend this one for sleep, as it can get quite "watery"
and loud at points, but it's perfect for playing during the day.
#4. Cooking
This one may come
as a surprise, but cooking can be very therapeutic. It's healthier
than staying curled up in bed and eating noodle soup and potato
chips, which is probably what you'll end up doing a lot of when the
winter blues kick in. Cooking requires you to get up, get dressed,
and go out shopping for ingredients. Pick some fresh veggies and
fruits, because eating healthy will help boost your mood!
Experiment with
different ingredients, and don't forget to splurge on a little treat
for yourself! Then come home, get into your pajamas if that makes you
feel more comfortable, and play around. Don't worry if you screw up,
just remember to be mindful and don't forget the stove on or lose
track of what you're doing. And when you sit down to a hot, hearty
bowl of soup or some chicken and dumplings, you'll feel really groovy
that you got something accomplished!
#5. Get outside!
This might be the
last thing you feel like doing, but really, a breathe of fresh
air will do you a world of good. If you're limited in your ability to
go out, just stand outside your door for a few minutes, or even open
the window for a blast of clean air. It will get your cheeks glowing
and make the warmth indoors even cozier and more inviting! Obviously,
don't feel you have to go out in a blizzard... but on those calm,
not-too-cold nights when snow is drifting down in clumps, go out.
Stand under a streetlight and watch the snowflakes whirl around like
butterflies. Catch them on your tongue. Let them fall onto your
mittens, and admire their pretty shapes. Blow a handful of them into
the air. Make a snowball, or, if the snow isn't sticky enough, just
scrunch it in your hands and listen to the sounds it makes. Make a
trail of footprints. Get a stick and write your name in the snow.
Make a snowperson. Make a snow angel. Just lie down in it and relax.
Enjoy it like a child; after all, we are all just children of the
same world!
What are your
thoughts? How do you fight off the winter blahs? Feel free to comment
below!
There are a few
things in this world, that we humans cannot live without. Oxygen is
one. Water is another. Love and close human contact.... definitely.
But there is one other thing that this boho girl can't live
without...
Color.
Ever since I was a
child, I sensed that colors have deep emotional meanings. Certain
colors made me feel certain ways. I change the desktop background on
my computer, not according to what pictures I like, but according to
what their color schemes are. Greens make me feel sleepy and safe
(how I feel in nature). Blues make me feel awake and refreshed.
Orange makes me feel happy and over-excited. Dark reds make me feel
exotic, but bright reds get exhausting after a while. Yellow in any
shade makes me angry, irritated, and annoyed. Purples make me feel
calm and thoughtful. I don't like a lot of black, but touches of it
make me feel strong and confident. White can be calming in
conjunction with other colors, but by itself, it makes me feel numb.
And grey makes me feel hopeless, defeated, and dead on the inside. I
hate grey.
For years, I think
I baffled my parents. Everything was "not colorful enough."
Forget themes and matching shades... I want a rainbow of bright
colors surrounding me all the time. If I walk into a room that's
filled with vibrant colors, I immediately take a deep breath, as if
to absorb the energy. Colors make me come alive in a way
that's hard to describe.
Which is why, when
I first discovered bohemian style, and found out that there were
other people exactly like me, I almost cried. I had always liked
Victorian style decorating, but detested the dark colors and austere
fixtures that seemed too stiff, formal, and stuffy. But when I
started looking at pictures like the one below... I laughed out loud
and realized that I'd just found a piece of my soul.
And that is how this
blog got started. I've been blogging for quite a while actually...
about my personal life, my church involvement, and mostly my
sponsored children. But this blog is a place for my hippie soul to
call home. A place for peace-loving, colorful, snowflake children to
laugh, and think deeply, and embrace themselves. I plan to share
items out of my boho closet, some natural beauty tips, travel stories
and adventures, lots of good music, spirituality, good vibes and
positivity, and, of course, color... maybe even some D.I.Y. projects.
I also plan to
write about my journey to embracing myself as an INFJ HSP empathic
boho hippie anti-conformist with anxiety, depression, and other
things that simply make me, me.
So for those of you
just joining me on this journey, welcome. For those of you who are
new readers, welcome. For those of you already familiar with my
writings, welcome. For the hippies, the bohemians, the wanderers, the
lonely, the beautiful, the seeking, the flower children, the
colorful, the beatniks, the free spirits, the artists, the freaks,
the loners, the oddballs, and the visionaries.... welcome. Welcome
to your tribe, your village, your own personal Woodstock.
Welcome home. And
let the peaceful revolution begin.
