deep fabulous Archives - Rhymes with Fabulous

July 5, 2015

How To Be Happy

I spent today thinking about how to be happy. It started when I was getting a pedicure. I was blathering away in nonsensical Spanish, remarking apologetically about my gross feet. In my head, I was wondering how to say “square but round” in Spanish (turns out it doesn’t translate). That was when it occurred to me: I was happy. First, it was a breezy summer day. Second, I had gotten a free iced coffee. Third, my nails were being transformed from “Alpine-Climbing-Disaster-Neutral” to “Charged-up-Cherry-Pink”. Happiness is an instinct. These days, I am able to state my level of happiness with just a few seconds thought. It is caused and…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

July 1, 2015

Summer Breathing

Summer breathing is different in The Alps. First, summer breathing is different in general. It exists deep in the cosmos. The reaction is free from the weight of gravity. Spring fades into memory at the first warm inhalation. The past is left behind. Second, ‘The Alps’ itself is said as a breath, a sigh of relief into the sacred air. Things will be different here. A new season. Moreover, a new location. Most important, a new breath. It feels like dawn breaking into my body. I fall outside myself to struggle and rejoice as I breathe new air. Third, I’m caught in the headlights of foreign culture here. Language makes…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

June 17, 2015

Last Week of School

Some weeks have a theme. For example: 1. First-week-of-spring2. Snow-and-hot-chocolate-and-books3. Eat-Salad-and-don’t-be-fat4. Completing-important-life-errands5. Cherry-blossom-trees The theme of this week in this teacher’s life is: “Last-week-of-school” There is something special about the last week of school. Students are thoroughly and introspectively contemplating all you have taught them through the year while they happily study for their finals. They are so thankful and all bring you presents. Colleagues are absorbed with the academically-rewarding work of planning units for next year. There is an air of relaxation as the year peacefully winds to a close…. JUST KIDDING If you believe a word of that, it’s been too long since you set…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

June 15, 2015

How to Do a Walking Meditation

On Sundays, I like to do a ‘walking meditation’. I like the feeling of deliberate non-purpose, and I feel it best when I’m moving. My thoughts tumble through my surroundings like river stones, turning through the infinite landscape in quick somersaults, allowing me to smooth my edges and get ready for the week ahead. I’m amazed by where my mind goes undirected. There is something soothing about the way thoughts expand when they are not under pressure. Like clouds. How To Do a Walking Meditation First, let your mind go free. For example, I think about the people walking in front of me and how long they’ve known each other….

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

June 13, 2015

Eco Fashion

Deep in my latest social justice kick, I have turned my considerations from manicures to eco fashion clothing production. So, what does that have to do with me, you ask? Try the exercise below. First, go through your closet and check the labels on your clothing. Second, separate your various styles of black leggings stylish, graphic-print summer wear collection by country of origin. Third, look for a pattern. It will likely look something like this: The garment production industry is totally un-fabulous. In fact, environmental and social consequences of clothing production in this world are horrifying. For example, did you know it takes 200 tons of water to…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

June 10, 2015

Get Ready to Climb Mont Blanc

I have a new objective: to get ready to climb Mont Blanc this summer. It sounded like a great idea when “summer” was a vaguely defined pipe dream on the horizon of my thoughts. Now that “summer” has arrived and I am trotting off to climb the highest mountain in Western Europe in 10 days I’m a little bit terrified. I’ve had to remind myself (generally while I’m looking through expensive piles of waterproof outwear, envisioning the cushion an orange North Face Summit Series windbreaker will provide when I fall into a 1,000 foot crevasse) that being a little bit terrified is not a bad thing. It means I am…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

June 1, 2015

How to Get a Manicure

Any New Yorker worth her salt knows a thing or two about how to get a manicure. Unless you have been lurching around under a rock for the past week, I assume you have read the New York Times nail expose. “The Price of Nice Nails” and “Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers” hit a chord with me as a die-hard, manicure-loving New Yorker. The picture included in the article (see link) highlighting the staggering abundance of nail salons “in one New York City neighborhood” is actually a picture of MY New York City neighborhood. As I grew up I watched David’s Cookies shops and locksmiths and crackhouses where homeless people hung…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

May 28, 2015

The Baby Question (Part 2)

Any post about the pain of childbirth should start with the following sentence: Just back from the gynecologist! Ahhh…I love the internet. How was the doctor, you ask?! (If you haven’t changed the channel web browser internet setting by now. It was PAINFUL!! I went to have an IUD put in. (See “The Baby Question: Part 1” to get all caught up). How was the doctor, you ask?! (If you haven’t changed the channel web browser internet setting by now. It was PAINFUL!! I went to have an IUD put in. (See “The Baby Question: Part 1” to get all caught up). So the The Baby Question: Part 1 has been answered,…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

May 27, 2015

How to Improve Memory

Instead of ‘How to Improve Memory’, maybe the title of this post should be phrased as a question: How can I improve my memory? And, more importantly, why is my memory SO BAD?! Let’s work backwards through the above list of inquires. 1. Why is my memory so bad? Yesterday…sure, yesterday existed. I have no idea what I mindlessly searched around for on the internet important projects I completed at work. Or how much wine coffee almond milk I drank. Or what I saw on reality TV while I was out enjoying a healthy jog. The events of 48 hours ago might as well have taken place in another lifetime. What’s the…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

May 21, 2015

Know Your Limits

I made an important decision this morning: I’m canceling my hair appointment. Why?! You are dying to know!! Here it is: The idea of going to sit in a salon for 4 hours this afternoon after working from 6 AM-6 PM simply makes me want to cry and I’m not going. To you, this may sound like a relatively insignificant confession. One hair appointment. Sure, I may be a little scraggly looking “boho chic” looking, but that is the epitome of spring style! (Other ways to look “boho chic” include general refusal to plug in an iron for either hair or clothes and infrequent showering practices. We LOVE…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

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