Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

  • Spa Style & Self Care Reflections, Rituals and Resources for Joyful Living

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  • About Spanista

    Ginny Shiverdecker, Creator of Spanista is Spa Wellness Enthusiast, Adventurer Seeker and Brand Builder.
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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Good News Monday: Straight No Chaser Inspires Holiday Spirit shares the good time we enjoyed by devoting last Friday evening to this concert. It totally infused Spanista with the holiday spirit. I remember seeing the first video of these 10 guys while they were at Indiana University seeking to break out with their upbeat medley of the ’12 Days of Christmas’ back in 2008. Do you know it? If not, do check it out here. If you have seen it and become fans, you appreciate Straight No Chaser’s (SNC) unique a cappella style of entertainment.  This is not your grandmothers male a cappella group in blue blazers!

It is impressive to see the success of the same great midwest guys seven yearsGood-News-Monday:-Straight-No-Chaser-Inspires-Holiday-Spirit-3.jpegPINIMAGE later. Straight No Chaser has emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fan base, numerous national TV appearances and proven success with CD releases. They released their newest album ‘The New Old Fashioned’ in October 2015, their fifth album release through Atlantic Records. Of course that puts them on the road again to the thrill of their adoring fans.

This Straight No Chaser experience is called The New Old Fashioned Tour ( as you would expect) and is pure positive spirit, and an ever so enjoyable way to spend a few hours escaping into their music world. It was the opening night of their tour. As this was my first time seeing them I did not really know what to expect so to my delight I found the scripting of the show to be very well done with loads of great humor sprinkled throughout keeping you laughing.

It was also our first concert at The Raymond F. Kravis Center for The Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. People I know attend events here say it is designed well and enhances any event. We found that to be true.  A classy but relaxed setting with loads of conveniences to enjoy. Before the event we went to a nearby lifestyle center called ‘City Place’ where we took in the holiday atmosphere. Just when we walked into the center it started to snow (yes this is Florida so even fake snow has a magical effect and met with a huge Christmas tree adorned in white lights. We sat down to our before show dinner alfresco at Il Bellagio right by the huge Christmas tree. As we were right in the center of things near the open air stage the people watching was spectacular – after all this is famous Palm Beach! There were many international looking couples and loads of happy families enjoying the train rides and waiting for the outdoor entertainment to begin. We enjoyed a great dinner and wine and then took a short walk to the Kravis Center for the Concert.

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Good News Monday: Straight No Chaser Inspires Holiday Spirit is a concert I would recommend to anyone looking for a classy upbeat music experience because these guys are the real deal with a captivating sound of unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that moves you in many ways. Spanista suggests starting the season by treating yourself to a concert of any kind.  It is a great act of Self  Care and will kick the holiday into high gear. BTW, the tour going on through February so check out dates on Ticketmaster.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

 

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Friday Wellness Tip: Glassbaby Charms Light The Way to personal enjoyment in the most stylish and caring way.  Today I opened an email from Glassbaby  to find the most inspiring ‘Holiday Look Book’. Like you, my Spanista mailbox can overflow with promotions but Glassbaby is one of the messages I look forward to opening because it always lifts my heart. To me, Glassbaby is the perfect intersection of Art and Self-Care to create Light that leads us back to our humanity. It is the symbol of self-awareness, self-reflection and hope. I am so taken by Glassbaby’s hand blown tea candle holders, I collect them to enjoy throughout the year. I find the ritual of lighting candles is reassuring during this difficult times of unrest around the world.

Glassbaby is founded on platform of purpose that to me Lights The World with Goodness. The creatively focused team is so thoughtful about how they name each candle, how they combine them into stories and design opportunities to for NGO’s to do good works in the community in meaningful ways, it moves me to tears.

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I was first introduced to this brand and imaginative privately held artisan business when I was on a business trip in Seattle visiting Nordstrom’s corporate leaders. A lovely lady I had just met wanted to show me around the city. When we were driving through a quaint neighborhood she stopped suddenly at a small warehouse which looked like it has just been renovated.  This is of course is the trend in many enlightened cool cities that are fostering dedicated urban areas for Creative Culture to flourish.

Upon entering the Glassbaby warehouse one experiences the full glory of a high-end glass creators studio. The mood transformed from the feeling of a very chilly and rainy grey day outside to one of  warm energy infused with a rainbow of color. The focal point in the studio is the huge blaze of Light so intense you take in its power but are forced to look away but yet you are drawn back to see this Light.

Friday-Wellness-Tip:-Glassbaby-Charms-Light-The-Way-3.jpegPINIMAGEIt is the Glass Blowers Furnace of Light. The Light that inspires creativity – with out the intense temperatures the glass cannot become molten so it can be blown with the spirit of life into the iconic shape that glass baby’s claim to fame. Experiencing the rainbow of colors of candle holders spread along table upon table that gleamed in the dim moody light rendered me speechless. I was immediately smitten. Do take a moment to check out the latest Glassbaby Holiday Look Book. I believe you will enjoy it.

Friday Wellness Tip: Glassbaby Charms Light The Way is a reminder of the power of a simple gesture like the of lighting a candle in style can bring us to positive moments of Self Care. Why not take a moment to light a candle or two this weekend? And consider it a practice every weekend throughout the winter solstice. It will warm your soul with Faith in these challenging times.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Good News Monday: Shopping That Is About More Than Sales highlights the long over due call to transform the concept of  “store” and the role it plays in satisfying our modern shopping needs in search of inspiration on multiple levels. For those of us who believe in Spanista’s point of view on the virtues of Smarter Retail Therapy, the physical shopping experience is part of the payoff we seek for Self-Care.

That is why I was excited to see in the New York Times Sunday Styles Section, a great article featuring Blake Mycoskie founder of Toms Shoes with the headline Shopping That Is About More Than Sales. I am sure you know the Toms brand because it is famous for the unique style of it shoes – modern, casual, comfortable and especially because with every pair you buy another pair is donated to a child in need in the developing world. He made the Buy One, Give One concept with a mission that has proven sustainable.

Good-News-Monday:-Shopping-That-Is-About-More-Than-Sales.jpegPINIMAGEToms appeals to me for many reasons. He broke the fashion mold, but ultimately I respect Blake Mycoskie for holding tight to the courage of his convictions. You can imagine the adversity he faced when he told potential business partners that he wanted to build a unique new business model around the concept of humanitarian design for the masses. And that people would love the idea of buying one and giving one away and expecting nothing in return.  That was in 2006. Today his dream manifests at The One for One Model.  Toms now makes a difference in the lives of his fans who have fallen in love with the brand while providing a bit of excitement and dignity to bare foot youngsters in far off places.

I follow Tom because we have a great deal in common.  Our focus on humanitarian design as a way to serve the families and community with lifestyle villages is genuine. It took vision and courage of BSB Design’s Chairman, Doug Sharp and his team to tackle an issue no one was able to find a successful solution for – that of creating fast, sustainable low cost housing for the developing world. And to embrace the deep desire to see service to humanity through a kaleidoscope of opportunity and shared passions for challenging the status quo.

Now Blake is once again challenging the status quo of the retail “store”. He resisted opening stores because he established powerful partner relationships to distribute his shoe and sunglass/eyewear collections that allowed him to bring his unique message and product to the world. Now to keep expanding his reach and keep the brand connection with customers vibrant he is interested in have direct contact. But the idea of a “store” stops him cold.

Blake’s vision for Tom’s direct to customer’s in person experience is one of a ‘community outpost’. An outpost seemed more of a meeting center, an area for information, almost a political rallying point. This is the place where things are happening.” Blake prevailed and the company opened its first Toms Outpost three years ago in the Venice section of Los Angeles. I have been there and loved it. You will find a backyard patio with seating, free Wi-Fi and events like morning yoga classes and movie nights. There is also a cafe serving cups of Toms coffee, a recent brand expansion. And , oh yes, grounded in distinct places around the room, traditional toms products.

As Blake explains it is creating a lifestyle for the brand. He now has seven outposts with more plans to expand them. Thank goodness Blake is helping to drive a movement to redefine the fashion retailing experience. What is emerging is retail store as community center, a welcoming environment that offers experiences in addition to products.

The richness of experience is what we crave today – to have the opportunity to participate in brands lifestyle with like-minded people. One common thread that bonds us is contributing to a greater purpose – Abod is passionate about democratizing housing in the developing world – we want people to come with us on our mission trips to see how their donation matters – they can build an AbodShelters with us and feel the satisfaction of building a home for a family in one day.

Good News Monday: Shopping That Is About More Than Sales inspires Spanista in many ways – to continue to spread the word on how giving back can stimulate another level of Self- Care and Wellbeing; to realize the world is challenging the conventional retail shopping and something new and exciting is starting to emerge. It will be exciting to see what the Innovators will create that stimulate us who crave the enjoyment of shopping. Maybe they will even tap into the Self-Care Movement?  Thoughts?

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Friday Wellness Tip: Seek Sublime Moments is a message about a simple way to enrich the your everyday life. Spanista loves the world sublime! Its inherent power conjures up notions that elevates the soul!  Here is one of  the online dictionary definitions I gravitated to and want to share to help trigger your senses.
sub·lime/səˈblīm/
adjective
  1. of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
verb
  1. (of a solid substance) change directly into vapor when heated, typically forming a solid deposit again on cooling.
  2. elevate to a high degree of moral or spiritual purity or excellence.

Some moments in life are beyond beautiful—they are sublime. German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said we experience the sublime best when we become aware of our oneness withFriday-Wellness-Tip:-Seek-Sublime-Moments-1.jpegPINIMAGE Nature. Looking carefully at the world around me, I find the sublime.

Spanista asks: Can you trigger them on your own accord?  The Answer is:  Yes!

I begin by noticing colors and shapes pleasing to my eye. When a leaf catches my attention, I take a moment to stop and look more carefully. I notice delicate lines, the bold abstract color hues, sprinkles of gold dust, and flecks of green of it origins. When I take it in hand and look up to its source I gaze upon its magnificence, one unique leaf when shaped by nature in the a sunburst of reds, oranges and gold take my breath away. Mother natures splendor evokes feelings of elated joy and wonder. The leaves outer boundaries expand and I feel the presence of Spirit. This presence permeates the leaf, tree —and me. I experience the sublime Oneness I share with all life. It calls for a moment of reflective poetry:

William Wordsworth: “The Tables Turned”

Up! up! my friend, and quit your books, Or surely you’ll grow double. Up! up! my friend, and clear your looks; Why all this toil and trouble. . . .

Books! ’tis a dull and endless trifle: 5 Come, hear the woodland linnet, How sweet his music! on my life, There’s more of wisdom in it. . . .

One impulse from a vernal wood May teach you more of man, 10 Of moral evil and of good, Than all the sages can.

Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;

Our meddling intellect Misshapes the beauteous forms of things– 15 We murder to dissect.

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Friday Wellness Tip: Seek Sublime Moments can be created anywhere, anytime if you reach out to experience the abundance of nature – the free gifts of inspiration all around us hold great power to bring us sublime emotional wellbeing – feel the spirit as you soak up the sublime moment.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Self Care Blossoms Artistically During Divorce is a heart-felt story of someone who is dealing with the trauma of separation from a loved one and the devastating feelings that emerge from experiencing divorce.  Have you been through a divorce? Or know someone who is going through one? There really is such deep emotional pain that turns you inside out, makes you question your self-worth and takes away any joy from living for extended periods of time. I know this from my own personal roller coaster ride the experience was amicable but still painful..

Spanista prays you never have to go through it. Everyone going through a divorce takes on the emotional blows in their own way. Some turn to indulging behaviors like drinking and eating, others use their creative devices to express the many emotionally high and low moments that come and go. This is the case of a guy who was recently dumped. He was in dispar yet turned to irony by taking a symbol of  his relationship with his spouse and interpreting it over time. My brother- in-law sent me this guys visually dynamic series because he knew I would appreciate it as an artist and whole host of other reasons. His name is Rafael Mantesso. He created this amazing photo illustration series that speaks louder than words – Dogs is Mans Best Friend Indeed.

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Self Care Blossoms Artistically During Divorce is about sharing Rafael’s story with you because it is a fabulous example of spontaneous Self Care healing power. It is pure, clever and honest. The human psyche is extraordinary. In times of emotional trauma our instincts to survive kick in and our creative devices rise to the top to offer coping mechanisms to protect our emotional wellness. We just have to do something simple like pick up a pen and allow the feelings flow in a productive manner. Stay open to the flow of good in your life my friends no matter the circumstances because healing comes and joy returns – it is just covered up by a blanket of feelings. Finding you Self Care Way to channel them is a productive way forward.

Spanista hopes the response it is generating begins to heal him and help him feel his self-worth.

Salute to its creator.

 

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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