Find a Moment's Peace
What better way to ring in the New Year?
Spend time with your daughter, stretch your body, find balance as you color a mandala and set a healthy 2011 intention, planted with a guided relaxation.
Come and join us!
Sign up on line at Joy Yoga or telephone (713) 868-9642.
The recent engagement announcement of Prince William and Kate Middleton, made me stop and think. If I were in Kate’s shoes, how would it feel to become a real-life princess?
Living in England for fifteen years my family and I have a strong connection with things British. Castles and princesses go with the territory. Last week I had the opportunity to feel like a princess. Invited to speak for the Junior League at the enchanting River Oaks home of Terri and John Haven’s (Owners of Cal-A-Vie Spa and Resort) made me feel graceful, elegant– princess-like.
Creating healthy peace, comfort and joy all season long
The setting of my speaking venue was nothing short of magic. A crisp evening’s excitement in the air, we mingled on the terrace before entering into the 14th century chapel (imported from France) where Terri and I spoke about Creating a Holiday of Healthy Comfort and Joy. Terri lead with her personal stories and healthy tips from Cal-A-Vie’s chef and nutritionist. I talked about how to create more peace, comfort and joy through the season.
I was in California recently promoting my new book A Moment’s Peace. One of the highlights of my trip was the opportunity to spend the afternoon with a Zen Master.
Shifting gears
The sensation didn’t arrive in an instant. It was steady and gradual. The opportunity to unwind, to feel deeply relaxed and content– like sinking into a warm and soothing bath tub after a long tiring day. A feeling that made it’s way through me, traveling up from the soles of my feet, the back of my knees, hips, through my fingers, hands, arms, shoulders and neck all the way to the top of my head–one of those blissful sensations that I want to continue to savor and call back as I write this post. This afternoon with Master Miao Tsan and the people of the Vairocana Zen Monastery in Garden Grove, California (one neighborhood over from Disney Land) allowed me to shift gears from feeling pressured to keep up with life and step into a new world, one fresh with subtle but powerful awareness in the present moment.
Un-kinking the built up pressure
Arriving earlier than my scheduled 1:30 meeting, brought me the good fortune of a lunch invitation. After our silent meal of fragrant vegetables and rice Master Miao Tsan and I walked in the garden. Mindfully walking, we stopped each time we made conversation. I talked about my work, new project ideas, my life in Houston. He listened. It felt as if I was an un-kinked garden hose that now free from built up pressure was able to release and pour freely.
What a pleasure to donate my time to the Healthy Child Healthy World “Educate the Educator” Event.
CEO Christopher Gavigan shared the story of why he wrote his book Healthy Child Healthy World and talked about how to create a greener, cleaner, non-toxic world for your child. I fielded questions about how to create a healthier life for your family while Matthew Tejada, with Air Alliance Houston gave us an update on the Safe Chemicals Act that has been proposed in Congress.
Check out the video A Wake Up Story
San Diego is a beautiful place. It feels like one of those perfect places to live. Sun shine, temperament weather, clean, “not too big or too small” with the calming Pacific ocean as it’s backyard playground. Maybe one day I could live here too. But for today, I can relish my “day in the life of Jen Byard ”
My publisher, Bright Sky Press along with social media guru Kirtsy cooked up the idea for me to help a mom create peace and calm in their life in conjunction with my latest book, A Moment’s Peace: A Mom’s Guide to Creating Calm Amidst Chaos.
Jen submitted her name and entered the contest. And, just as life seems to sometimes have mysterious ways of finding solutions, I began to understand why Jen had won and could truly use a moment’s peace. Together Jen and I where about to craft ideas and remedies for more peace and calm amidst the life of a mom who was in the middle of transitioning between leaving a fifteen year career as the national director for Young Life to caring for three young boys (one with Down Syndrome) in her California home.
The day was here
The contest day had arrived. Jen picked me up from my hotel and as she got out of her car to greet me I felt as if I was hugging an old friend. Her natural warmth radiated out to me and made me feel as a “local” in an unfamiliar city. We drove off to one of her favorite cafe’s for lunch and I knew this was going to be tons of fun.
You know how it feels when you stumble upon something by chance– maybe it’s a great pair of jeans at a bargain price, or an adorable cafe that makes the most incredible cappuccino, or a go-to-resource for great information?
This is how I felt when I recently came across the site- Mother Nature Network (MNN). I also discovered one of their writers Jen Savadge who writes about green parenting, raising eco-friendly kids and she had this to say about Finding A Moment’s Peace
Check it out- they have loads of great information.
P.S. Haven’t been on vacation this summer? Need a virtual one? Check out Mother Nature Network’s slide show 8 of the Greatest Eco-Friendly Beaches 
Do you want to feel more calm, genuinely happy and radiate a natural healthy beauty?
Research shows that to make any change it takes 28 days to create a new behavior or habit.I am providing you with 28 days of daily inspirations to create more peace, joy and well-being in your life.
Sign up here and each day you will receive a daily inspiration. Let’s make this change together!
Though making your own home cleansers may sound daunting, the recipes are easy, surprisingly versatile, money-saving and good for the environment! Join me…
Read my recent post on Weil Baby Simply Beautiful: Natural Cleaning Alternatives to Household Chemicals
Here are my best five tips:
How to Clean Naturally–Get Back to Basics
If you prefer to have some help with “getting it all together” check out this Eco-Me Cleaning Kit
This week I was invited to write for the American Cancer Society’s Campaign Choose YOU.
Choose You is a movement created by the American Cancer Society that encourages women to put their own health first in the fight against cancer. The movement challenges women to make healthier choices, and supports them in their commitment to eat right, get active, quit smoking and get regular health checks.
The Choose You Movement shines a light on a hidden issue: that while one in three American women will get cancer in her lifetime, about 50% of cancer deaths could be prevented if more emphasis were placed on early detection and healthier lifestyles including maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise and avoiding tobacco.
In the constant struggle between family, work and self, we know how difficult it is to focus on oneself. To help change this, American Cancer Society has developed the Choose You Commitment. Powered by stickK, this online program provides tools and support to enable women to commit to and achieve their personal health and wellness goals. Research shows that individuals who receive support in making positive choices are up to 5 times more likely to maintain healthy habits. The Choose You Commitment provides this support.
This weekend I spent my Saturday afternoon at the HEB Healthy Baby and Woman Expo.
I talked to lots of mom’s about healthy living, got to hug several newborn babies and even had time to stop by the Alamo.
Larger HEB stores here in Texas are now carrying Healthy Mother Healthy Child: Creating Whole Families From the Inside Out , A Moment’s Peace: A Mom’s Guide to Creating Calm Amidst Chaos and Weil Baby products. Yeah!
Check out additional photos HEB Healthy Baby and Woman Expo
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