#SuzanneSaturday ~ Taking a Day to Rest

Sundown to Sundown is how many celebrate a day of rest, the Sabbath.  Whether one rests on one particular day each week, or whichever day one can possibly get some down time for the practice of rest, I think we can all agree that rest is very important.

Rest looks different, feels different, and is practiced differently from person to person, community to community, across the globe.

But we all need rest.

Need some suggestions?  Here are mine:

Take some time to pamper yourself! Try out a face mask, draw a hot bath, listen to some music!

    

Go take a walk!  Enjoy the sun and the scenery where you live!  Get a little exercise and some fresh air.  Take pics as you go so you remember how much fun this was!

      

Sunshine is a great way to fight depression!  Exercise can help relieve anxiety!

Spend time with your family & friends!  Do something together you all enjoy; walk together, play a game, go bowling, play a round of mini-golf, visit a museum, or just cuddle on the couch!

     

Whatever you do today, I hope that you can take some time to rest, or at least put "Rest Time" on your calendar for this week!  We have to take care of ourselves!

Hugs,

Suzanne, the Laughing Scholar

Today is International Women's Day ~ My Thoughts + How to Plug In!

Beauty is more than skin deep, and an issue that impacts us all as human beings.  We long to be seen as the beautiful creations we are.  We ought to be treating one another in ways that celebrate each human being's unique beauty.  This world is filled with beautiful people who treat others and are treated by others in truly ugly ways, which is why we need days like International Women's Day.

My contribution to the conversation is a short piece on feminism, which I hope you will read.  Additionally, I encourage you to take part of International Women's Day today, March 8th via links at the bottom of the post!  

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As a self-proclaimed feminist, I embrace today and the message about the importance of gender equality.  I do not understand feminism to be something that is anti-men/ anti-male.  Rather, for me, feminism is the desire to see the end of oppression within human relationships.

I understand patriarchal ways in which society functions to be equally detrimental for women and men.  As a brief example, demands upon men to be the "bread-winners" holds them to standards that are, by and large, completely unreasonable in today's economy.  The expectation that men always go to work can stifle the desires of those fathers who want to be stay-at-home-dads!  

The fact that women across the board are paid less than their male counterparts is inherently problematic.  Especially in our US society where one of the ways in which a human being's worth is determined is by the size of their paycheck, our economy declares that women are less valuable than men.  This is one of many variables that create situations in which women are marginalized in our capitalist economy.  Pair the reality of women with the reality of persons of color and we end up with a situation in which those who are the most vulnerable in our society are women of color.  Even within women's struggle for equality, our struggle is not equal.  It is imperative that women continue to lift one another up, even across political, socio-economic and racial boundaries.  It is only together that we can continue the dialogue.  Action requires communication.  Both require mutual understanding and a willingness to work together toward a mutual goal.  I hope that today is a day in which the complexities of the struggle for equality are lifted to the surface just as the need for equality itself is highlighted across the world.

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I've included lots of logos and links to various ways to connect with today's celebration!  May today be beautiful for you!

Today we celebrate the role of women in our international communities while reminding ourselves and the rest of the world of the need for equality!

#MakeItHappen

#PaintItPurple

PLUS, Tune in for an Amazing Presentation by Emma Watson as part of Celebrating International Womene's Day for a HeForShe and Gender Equality Conversation Live on Facebook!

I hope that you've found a way to plug in, participate, and be inspired to #MakeItHappen; we all need to work toward a greater awareness of gender equality!

Life-Proof Wine Glasses from Ramini Brands!

I love entertaining!  My favorite moments in life are filled with good people, good food, and good wine!

So, I was very excited about the opportunity to review these silicone glasses from Ramini Brands!

The glasses arrive in this darling package accompanied with very helpful product cards!

Product Description: 

Cleaning and Usage Tips:

What I Love about Ramini Brands Silicone Glasses:

- They do not break

- They store easily

- Perfect for camping, glamping, or hanging out on the back patio

- These glasses can survive your most clumsy guest!  (your carpet on the other hand . . . )

- Dishwasher safe

- FUN!!

When Ramini Brands invited me to review their Silicone Wine Glasses, I knew that this would be the perfect moment to experiment on my weekly gaming group!  In the interest of fun and a real-life testing group, I hauled these bad boys with me last week!

I brought the glasses, and they brought the wine!

Well, if you take squishy silicone wine glasses to a gaming night with all the guys, what happens?

Well, first, the silicone glasses become the subject of experiments: when paired with espresso cups, they look like light bulbs.

After a few glasses of vino, they start being called "Wine Boobies," and examined with great curiosity . . . and a little confusion.

But, the final verdict is that these glasses are great fun!  They're impossible to break, which is perfect for camping, patio events, and having wine with that one friend who always breaks your glasses!

You can find Ramini Brands® Silicone Glasses on Amazon for $17.97 for a set of 2 glasses!

Verdict: Yay!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tomoson.com and made possible by Ramini Brands.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

And How Do You Tell Your CoWorkers How You Feel?

Have you ever had a . . . 

. . . and needed your coworkers to just leave you alone?

Well, check out these amazingly adorable and work friendly Kitty Mood Cards! 

 They facilitate inner-office communication easy, fun, and well, a little less grumpy!! 

PLUS, they come with totally precious riddles at the back!

Great for jokes at the water cooler, at lunch, or even chatting with others on the phone!

What I LOVE about Kitty Mood Cards:

- They have adorable pictures of kitty cats!

- They are really funny, but totally honest!

- Elephant Exchange at the Office?  PERFECT GIFT!

- Need some comedic relief or know someone who does? AGAIN, PERFECT!

- This is great for your desk!

- Affordable! Score this Funny Office Gifton Amazon for $10.99! (affiliate link)

Verdict: YAY!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tomoson.com and made possible by Webgage Commerce.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

Joining with 1000 Voices for Compassion: One Simple Way to Embody Compassion

I am so excited about the opportunity to join with other bloggers to write about compassion today!

For me, compassion begins as something intangible, a slippery thought that draws me beyond my normal mode of operating, and invites me to consider the creatures around me in a new, kinder, and more gentle way.

It is very important to me that those moments of compassion become embodied in some way.  Whether compassion takes the form of kind words to another, giving myself the time and space to relax in a bubble bath, or simply smiling with understanding at the father calming a crying baby in the grocery store, I want to be a living expression of compassion in the world.

Hubby and I moved from a suburb of Atlanta to a suburb of Chicago in 2008.  I had never seen homelessness in such stark, harsh reality before reaching Evanston, IL.  There were usually one or two men of various ages who waited outside my local Jewel-Osco to ask for food, money, basically anything others were willing and able to spare.  

I remember the first of many times I shared what I could spare with one particular gentleman.  I rarely carry cash on me, and so I had intended to get him something from my cash back option at the checkout line.  But, after my long trek through the store, I completely forgot.  I felt horribly.  So, I frantically dug about in my parcels, and pulled out several oranges.  His ability to ask and willingness to express genuine gratitude astonished me.  I remember him commenting on how helpful they would be fighting off sickness in the oncoming winter.

Through our years of graduate school, and early marriage, Hubby and I have been reliant on the compassion of family and friends more than once.  After surviving an apartment fire in which we lost everything, I clearly remember what it is to go to sleep in a foreign bed with nothing more to my name than the clothes on my back.  In the financially tight moments since that apartment fire, I am eternally grateful that I have never had to know the coldness of sleeping on concrete, the hunger of not knowing where my next meal is coming from, nor the harshness of untreated mental illness.

I'm writing about compassion and homelessness, because I believe that it is an invitation to move beyond our society's judgement that we ought to "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps."  I believe that it isn't even about generosity.  It is about knowing what I can spare and what I cannot spare.  John the Baptist had a simple, yet practical, teaching about love: if you have two coats give one to someone who does not have a coat.  

I still rarely carry cash.  I'm a graduate student on a tight budget, and I would definitely give away more than we could afford if I carried cash in my pocket.  However, I saw a YouTube video HowTo about Backpacks for the Homeless, and I was inspired.  So, I carry little kits with me in the car so that when someone asks, I can offer what I do have to spare!

I keep one kit in the car at a time.  After I give one away, its time to make another.  Every kit is a little different based on what extras I have on hand when its time to make a new one. 

This kit Includes:

- Lotion, Shampoo, Conditioner, Bath & Face Soaps: from a recent hotel stay.

- Washcloth: purchased as a bundled pack of 10 from Target for $3.

- Toiletries Bag: purchased from the $1 Spot at Target.

- Paper and Pen: from a recent hotel stay.

- InTouch Magazine: encouraging reading material.

- Quaker Chewy Dipps: took a few from a box I bought for Hubby's lunches.

Total Out of Pocket Cost: ~$5

I give out of my home what I can spare for someone who does not have a home.  This is one way I embody the compassion I want and need to be more present in the world around me.  I hope that this contribution to the 1000 Voices for Compassion helps to inspire you to consider how compassion is a part of your every day life!

What does compassion mean to you?  How do you embody it in your life?  When are you most in need of compassion from others or from yourself?

DIY Friday: Relax & Recharge!

So, at the end of a long week, how do you recharge, relax, and unwind?

Its so easy to forget to take care of ourselves.  Our lives are incredibly busy, and filled with stresses.  We have to learn to take time to stop and rest.  And, no, I don't mean sleep.

I mean rest.

I took this off the coast of Kawaii in 2010; its the point that is farthest away from any mainland in the entire world.  So, it felt very much like escaping the entire world!

We need time to tune out the rest of the world, and retreat into a time and space that belongs only to us . . . even if its only for a little while.  Its in those moments when we can rest, recharge, and take the opportunity to just breathe.

In appreciation of the calming effects of the ocean, and the health benefits of sea salt, I will share my tips for relaxation that are filled with connections to the Dead Sea!

My DIY Relax & Recharge Friday Night Recipe:

1. Favorite AudioBook: I'm currently listening to Bossy Pants by Tina Fey.  (Audio, because Paper + Me + Water = Trouble). Nothing better for the tired woman than listening to Tina Fey!

2. Bath Salts: You can use plain Epsom Salts.  I used 100% Dead Sea Bath Salts from Adovia (I felt so fancy!).  Salts help soften skin, exfoliate, and relax tired muscles!

3. Essential Oils: I used several drops of Peppermint and Sweet Orange Essential Oils.  Peppermint Oil is supposed to help relax tight muscles, boost energy, and improve mental focus.  Sweet Orange Oil is supposed to alleviate depression & anxiety, relieve inflammation and muscle spasms.  I just wanted to try something new and thought they smelled good!

4. Pampering Moment: Apply a facial mask, shave your legs, play in the bubbles, anything!  I decided to apply a Dead Sea Mud Mask from InstaNaturals.

5. Set the Mood: Before drawing my nice hot bath, I made sure that my bedroom was tidied up, my new robe was laid out for when I was finished, and I lit a candle.  Its the little things that help you feel like its your moment to escape!

What is your favorite way to relax and recharge at the end of a long week?  What other DIY tips would you like to read?

Celebrating Curves! A Day for Self-Love

So, today I came across two wonderful articles on Bustle.com that I really want to share with all of my lovely readers!  As I continue to work on an update to my Foray into Fashion Posts (Part #1 and Part #2), these beautiful moments are certainly inspiring for me!

First, is an article entitled, " 7 'Fat Girls Can't Wear That' Rules Totally and Completely Disproven" by the amazing Marie Southard Ospina:

Next, is an announcement regarding a new line at Target:

and Marie Southard Ospina's perspective!

I really hope you all enjoy these articles today!  And smile, you're beautiful regardless of how curvy or non-curvy your body is! :-)

Today's Rant: Anxiety Sucks

Anxiety Sucks.

Apparently, that's one of those things that we all deal with.  And I am made to understand that it is a particularly prevalent condition among graduate students.

(There's something very wrong. I just know that something awful is going to happen!)

And I really hate the anxiety dance.

It starts with feeling utterly overwhelmed.

So, I hide, because it somehow makes sense.  Anxiety can follow me anywhere, but if you can't find me, you can't make me do anything while I'm busy not losing my mind!

Then the anxiety starts to subside just enough for me to realize everything I've been avoiding.

That's when the second wave hits.

(I'll just stay here.  Anything else is just too much.  I'm sure things will be better if I stay here.)

This is the paralyzing wave.  I feel frozen; unable to actually start dealing with anything I've avoided, because starting to do anything draws attention to what I haven't been doing.

That's when I hit an impasse.

(Everything is perfect when I'm in bed. I'm going to just stay here.)

The problem with anxiety is that it doesn't always matter that I know its irrational.  It often doesn't matter that I know that it is unbalanced thinking.  I even know that the choices that seem easiest when I am most anxious are oftentimes the exact opposite of what I should be doing to alleviate and reduce my anxiety!  But I can't just think my way out of anxiety every time it strikes.

Anxiety and depression are bosom-buddies.  They love their quality time together; they sit in a pathetic pile of pajamas, surrounded by books that go unread, and clothes that go unwashed.  They obsessively list all the ways the apartment is going to hell, the ever-growing list of tasks that need to be done will eventually destroy the world, and then they repeat all of the most manipulative guilt-inducing speeches they've ever heard.  When they grow weary of talking they turn on Project Runway and ponder society's obsession with cheekbones and thigh gaps.

My worst problem with this dynamic duo is figuring out how to move past my impasses and kick these nasty sisters out of my home.

This is especially important with my doctoral program.  These nasty twins of anxiety and depression often tell me stories about how my advisor is against me, mad at me, etc.  

For example, over two months ago, my advisor saw me at a meeting and told me to check in with her.

But, of course, I didn't.

Because reasons.

So, when I got an email from her, checking in with me, last week, I felt some serious anxiety.

Because, well, according to those mean girls, its like this:

(except that instead of summer it was winter, and the weather was mostly rainy instead of sunny.)

But, yes, there's even a tall clock tower.

And supposedly no interruptions, 

or distractions, 

because I have no classes right now.

But, really, I had nothing to show for the time I've had to do all this writing.

Nothing.

"Shame on You" say the nasty sisters in my head

But thankfully, they don't get the last word.

(What if we just cuddle up together?  It feels better to be not alone, doesn't it?)

I talked with a few of my close peoples about my fears, the email from my advisor, etc.  I found a way to respond to my advisor's email a few days later.

Sometimes I just need the right person to help me with a reality check, because reality is usually so much better than the world in my head.

I am really thankful for those who are close to me who understand this irrational headspace in which I find myself trapped.  I appreciate their ability to draw different pictures, tell different stories than the fear-riddled depictions I come up with in the midst of anxiety.

I showed up for the meeting my advisor scheduled with me.  I got the best pep talk and reality check of my academic year.  

Daily life is filled with ebbs and flows, the tides come in and go back out, the waves continually run up on the shore.  A large part of the sand is composed of shells slowly broken down by the movement of the ocean's waters.  

I know that life wears on me.  I know that last week, the tide feels like its high, and the shore feels much more like the rocky N. CA. Pacific coastline than the easy going Atlantic coast of SC and GA.  I am thankful that, for now, I feel like the tide has gone back out.

Missing Stories - Reflections from the Ohlone Greenway

Have you ever come across an apparently random, but definitely human made, sight?

The Bay Area's Ohlone Greenway runs through my apartment's property.  For those of you lucky enough to not know what this is, its a pedestrian & bicycle pathway that runs near the BART tracks from El Cerrito all the way down to North Oakland.  Needless to say, we get lots of foot traffic of all types right through our apartment property.

Because of our geographical situation, I've seen all kinds of things, and I often wonder about the back story.

This morning I was walking the Barley-Puppy on the Ohlone Greenway, and on the way back to the apartment we passed this neat arrangement of seemingly random items.

A broken scooter with the upright bar, handles, and wheels missing.

One wheel that definitely doesn't go with the scooter base.

Two shoes - mismatched - of the same variety; neon colors and cleats.

Stuff doesn't just fall into picturesque positions like this.

Someone arranged this junk.

That means, someone, at some point had all of these random items in their possession.

What is the story, or stories, of this half-rotted, broken scooter, a lone wheel, and two sad, mateless, neon, cleated shoes?

Happy Holiday Memories with Puppy and Hubby!

I'm tired.  As I think about my "Suzanne Saturday" post, I am finding that I don't have the energy for many words.  So, I'm going to share some of my Christmas memories with all of you through pictures.  Enjoy!

Christmas in Evanston, IL - north Chicagoland.  Barley puppy has to wear boots because the salt on the sidewalks burns the pads on his puppy-feet.  He really hated those boots.  But he loved helping to open his own Christmas present boxes that year!  Our tiny Christmas tree found its home in the (nonworking) fireplace with a gorgeous tree skirt my Wanda (stepmom) made me a few years ago!  I loved the way that little tree could light up the room!

Hubby and I traveled to Albany, NY in December 2011.  We had a Christmas celebration in NYC with my Dad and my Wanda.  We had the most fantastic day - went to the Empire State Building, saw the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, and drank great coffee!  After a long day of sight-seeing in the city, we collapsed while waiting for a table at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square!

Christmas in El Cerrito 2012!  We finally got a "real" size tree!  Hand-me-down Christmas decorations arrived, and we decorated our tiny Bay apartment in style!  We hosted a chocolate and wine party with friends.  We enjoyed a quiet day just the two of us and Barley-puppy that year.

Last Christmas, my mom & "baby" (half-)brother joined us in CA to celebrate!  So, of course, I took them across the Bay for the famous Street Car ride!  It was wonderful having them in our home for the first time for Christmas.  The trip was filled with good food, catching up, and lots of mom & daughter shopping!

Participate in the Comments!
What is one of your favorite holiday/ winter memories?