Showing posts with label weekend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weekend. Show all posts

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Weekend Adventures: Creating Morning Bliss


This Sunday morning, I woke up feeling overwhelmed by the day ahead. I knew I had a lot of things in which I needed to get done today and anxiously wondered where I should even begin. So what did I do first? I laid in bed, spending a few more moments before reality was forced to strike. I lazily began to scroll down my Twitter Feed, where I came across an article from Mind Body Green titled; "5 Life-Changing Ways to Start Your Day."

 Now it is rare that I ever click on a link to an article on Twitter, but I clicked on this one. I knew that this article would serve as a reality check for just how much my "not so great" morning habits were impacting my day. 

To be honest, when I awake each morning and instinctively grab my phone, I get a subconscious feeling that this is not my best choice for starting my day. But because of habit, I have ignored it.  The article, however, did not:

So what happens when we fill this soft, vulnerable time with the loud sounds of the electronic world? And I'm not talking only about literal sound. I'm referring to the soundless chatter that emanates from scrolling through Facebook and absorbing the images and words of other people's lives; the silent cry of news stories that scream the latest tragic headlines onto your screen; the boiling up of feeling that churns from reading a friend's response to the email you sent last night; the rise and fall of self-esteem as you learn about news from work.

As we awake from our sleep, we are in our most vulnerable state. Therefore, by  beginning each day by scrolling through my Newsfeed on Facebook, for example,  whatever comments I am reading are the first words that break the silence between sleep and starting my day. 

From this day forward I plan to break the morning silence with feel good vibes. This is not some major declaration that I will rid myself of the smartphone. In fact, I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t check my email over breakfast. But what I do plan to do from now is begin each day with an energizing, "feel good" music playlist, rather than by reading a political rant on Facebook. 

The same effort can be made towards your morning commute. How do you spend your time headed to work? Is it by blasting angry talk radio? Or maybe you spend your morning drive by returning phone calls that you don't really want to return? Or perhaps you are you catching up with your bestie, while she tells you about her horrible date she had last night (I'm sure I have negatively impacted someone's morning with this phone call in the past. Sorry Jackie!) 

I thoroughly believe that music can create the most positive vibes towards your day. For nearly two years, I taught a 5am spinning class at the gym, and my class continued to come back each Monday (Yup, MONDAYS!) for the awakening, feel good music playlist.
And so I have created an energizing and blissful morning playlist for you to break the silence between sleep and your day

I have arranged the playlist, so that it doesn't "shock you." It begins with some calming/feel good type of music and then slowly heads into some faster, uplifting beats. From Hall and Oates to Nappy Roots to B.o.B, I think there is a little something on there for everyone. Not to mention, its includes two past Friday Favorites: Ashley Sofia and J.Lye, who are pretty fly. 

Spotify Playlist: Morning Drive
Account #1244030766 (Lindsay Opper)

Create a great weekend everyone! Below is a daily dose of inspiration in honor of starting your workweek with a good mindset tomorrow morning. 


Photo Courtesy of:Tory Stone


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Saturday, December 14, 2013

Weekend Adventures: Creatively Lu Community


Monday marks one month since the creation of Creatively Lu...

On the weekend prior to launching Creatively Lu, I attended a technology conference as a way to sharpen my blogging skills. During one of the workshops,  I learned the somewhat, frightening statistic that on average, it takes a daily blog over a year to reach 4,000 views each month.

 While, I was surprised to find that most daily blogs receive only a handful of views during the fist few months, I decided to set a Crazy, BIG goal...

I wanted to try and reach 4,000 blog views in my first month.I set this goal to ensure that Creatively Lu had created a community. in which blog readers were continued to come back each day to feel inspired. I wanted to make sure that the blog content was an authentic fit with readers. And so, I am happy to report...

We did it! We reached 4,000 views! 


I am so ecstatic that you guys have been enjoying the blog, you have been making the recipes, have empathized with the stories, are submitting in photos and quotes, saving money with Thrifty Thursday, and adding the Friday Favorites to your list of favorites. You guys couldn't rock more! And while I set out to help to inspire you all to create a beautiful life each day, the amount you all have affected my life is not even possible to put into words...which is rare for a blog writer.

So, in order to ensure that the Creatively Lu blog is all about you all, I encourage you to please continue to share! 


Have a great recipe for Make it Mondays or want a recipe for a certain food? Maybe you'd like a family favorite healthified?


 Want a specific type of food covered for December's Take Out Tuesday series, take the Take Out Survey!


Have a picture you'd like to submit for Wordless Wednesday, message Creatively Lu over on  the FB page.



Have an idea for a Thrifty Thursdays posts? Or maybe you want a specific beauty, style, deal, DIY project...
Have a favorite person, book, store, etc. you'd like to share for Friday Favorites, or maybe you would like to be a part of the series?



Do you know of a good weekend spot that you'd like to go to, or maybe you'd like a review of one. Whatever you'd like covered in Weekend Adventures, I want to hear from you!



So go ahead and "like" the Creatively Lu FB page and follow @Creatively Lu on TwitterPinterest, and Instagram. Just make sure you message me your entries somehow!



I thank you again for being a part of the Creatively Lu community and can't wait for many more months to come! I promise to aspire to create the best Creatively Lu blog each day.


And now for your weekend dose of inspiration...

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Weekend Adventures: Unwind Edition

Weekends during December  are often reserved for stressful holiday shopping, but it is even more  important during all this chaos to reserve a little "me" time. 

Sometimes unwinding can mean reserving a Sunday night to do nothing. Finding the time to slowly relish your mug of hot cocoa by sipping it slowly and lazily flipping through a magazine, enjoying your favorite novel, or maybe even just "pinning" on Pinterest like a BOSS.

 Pinterest
By "reserving" a spot in your house, or even at the local coffee shop or yoga class, where you know you can go to relax, you can consciously make an effort to take time out for you. Recently, I have begun taking baths for my me-time. And by lighting a special candle reserved for bath time, putting 10 drops of lavendar into the tub, and having a "go to" Pandora playlist, I can consciously create a little nest specific to relaxing.
Pinterest


So find an hour or so out of your weekend to do something that is relaxing for you, create your little relaxing nest, and get on with doing nothing. I have aso made you a Spotify "Unwind" playlist that you can access by "following" it on my Spotify account Lindsay Opper (1244030766).

Candle picture: courtesy of the Wellness Warrior. 
. Below is your weekend dose of inspiration. Create a great weekend everyone!

Photo Courtesy of the beautiful Tory Stone

*To follow the Creatively Lu posts daily,  "like" the FB page 
 Follow @Creatively Lu on InstagramPinterest, and Twitter.


Sunday, November 24, 2013

Weekend Adventures: Recap



These past few weekends I've tried a few things for the first time, like Paint Nite where I discovered that painting may not be my strong suit...



And in case I wasn't completely sure of my skill set, I received some supportive texts from my friends...

I like to think of myself as a creative, "crafty" person, but painting definitely isn't in my comfort zone. I think its important to try things you aren't very good at, if for nothing else but to provide a good laugh.  And speaking of laughs....



I really had my heart set on going to Improv Asylum last Saturday night. It is an improv club located in the North End of Boston that I have been to about a dozen times. When I called to order tickets, the show was sold out. Luckily, however, the ticket person suggested that I try their "sister club," Laugh Boston in the Seaport District. While I had no idea what it would be like, we decided to go to the show anyways.

Greg Proops from "Whose Line is it Anyway" was the headliner. I grew up watching the show and even took an Improv class while in college, so needless to say he was a big deal in my book. Let me tell you, he definitely delivered. My abs literally hurt the today from laughing so hard last night. 

On our way out of the show we ran into Greg and he was such a nice guy!  This was definitely the highlight of my week, except for maybe our encounter with Valet parking guy we met right after... 

How could he not be the man when he throws the bunny ears up in a picture? That's my kinda dude right there. I hope this weekend you were surrounded by good people, great times, and a few laughs.
See you all tomorrow!