This Nov Use Purple to Inspire You

Purple is my November color, symbol of creativity and higher wisdom. Those who respond to purple may have an artistic or dramatic flair. Some wear it, because they intuitively know it balances thinking and calms hyperactivity. Purple can help you too. Use it to give you a sense of connection and to soothe your spirit.

Post Updated 10/31/2024

Gaze at the mandala below. It suggests the continuous circle of life. If you desire completion, continuity, or a new beginning, envision a purple mandala. Place a purple drawing or representation of a mandala in your home meditation area. Then, while you mediate, know that purple energy supports you in each moment as thoughts and feelings freely flow through you.

Use the Crown Chakra to Integrate Mind Body Spirit  

Lavender is a calming essential oil made from flowers that are purple. It's a traditional remedy for insomnia or restlessness at night. It also works to heal scratches, burns, headaches, and worry. 

When you have trouble falling asleep, imagine a field of Lavender flowers. Sprinkle a few drops of Lavender essential oil on your pillow or tip of your nose. It helps you drift softly off to dreamland.

In the color spectrum, purple has the shortest wavelength and vibrates at the highest frequency. Purple paint is a blend of relaxed, cool blue with excitable, hot red. 

Purple is often associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambition. Purple also signifies wealth, wisdom, dignity, grandeur, devotion, independence, and magic. In some cultures, purple symbolizes mourning, decadence, and the supernatural.

Want to put more purple into daily living? Wear an Amethyst ring or bracelet to feel protected and serene. Place purple crystals in your work or home environment to feel less pressure about deadlines and reduce stress.

Place purple orchids or any purple flowering plant beside your computer, tablet, or reading area to take note of its beauty, relieve eye strain, and give you a fresh perspective. 

Put purple in your life when you are learning to integrate new skills. Use purple pencils, markers, or other drawing material to encourage your imagination to work in practical ways.

Purple is the color of the crown chakra, the energy center that supports trust, devotion, inspiration, and wisdom. Focus on the area at the top of the head and envision purple. It can help you to feel unity within yourself, with others, and with the Universe.

November is a good time for purple. The color conveys grateful energy. Think of purple's rich color before you start a project or are at a gathering. It will help you view your experiences as building blocks to greater understanding and knowledge. 

Purple is a helpful Thanksgiving color, one that reminds us to count our blessings. Perhaps its ability to inspire will motivate us to serve red cabbage, radicchio, eggplant, or purple grapes at a festive meal this season.

Red Cabbage, Japanese Eggplant, Radicchio

Before you go, take a moment to visualize your favorite shade of purple and imagine it helping you feel inspired and whole. 

Then, please comment by scrolling down below and posting your comment in the space provided. 

I'd love to know about your relationship to purple. For me, it's a unifying color that makes me feel happy, peaceful, and alive. How does purple make you feel? 

Do you wear shades of purple often and for what reasons? Did my blog post and illustrations help you in some way? Please comment below. Refrain from putting links in your comment, as it won't be published at all.

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Spring Colors Delight and Entice

Tucson is bursting with bright wildflowers, and that reminds me of sun, fun, and the sweetness and joy of springtime. See the gorgeous flowers in this post? Rain has helped create them, and that makes me so happy!

Post Updated 3/20/2026

Look below at the vibrant yellow blossoms. See the Palo Verde Tree that I spotted in my neighborhood. Aren't the blossoms spectacular? 

I adore colorful spring bouquets, especially those that include daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. 

Close your eyes, and envision the delightful sunshine yellow, dusty pink, and delicate rose of springtime blooms and imagine the aroma of sweet flower scents floating into the air. 

When I think of spring, I think of my childhood family garden. In spring, the purple and lavender hydrangeas would beckon to me with their eye-catching colors. What’s your favorite springtime flower and why do you think you appreciate it so much? Do you associate memories and colors to spring?

Spring has always been one of my favorite seasons. By Easter time, women have replaced dark winter hued clothes with spring tones of pale green, soft pink, baby blue, lavender, peach, and creamy yellow. Many men have gotten with the "spring" color program too. They find these shades joyful, soothing, and nurturing as well. 

I like to wear pastel colors interspersed with deeper shades throughout the year, because of their soothing effect on me. What special color or colors do you like to don in the spring? Do you have a new spring dress, shirt, pair of shoes, or hat? Please comment below.

This spring take advantage of milder temps to participate in springtime activities with your family, friends, or by yourself. 

Go on a picnic, plant a home garden, and enjoy fresh spring colors. These activities are free, fun, and relaxing. In fact, think of warmer weather as an invitation to drink that morning cup of Joe outdoors. 

Think about your favorite springtime color.

Recall a spring color memory that you cherish. Envision it now.

Which spring flower is a fav?

What spring color refreshes you and why do you think that’s so?

     Before you go, please take a moment to post a comment in the space provided.

I appreciate every comment, but will not be able to publish it if it contains any links.

Thanks for understanding.

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Secrets to Selecting Top Fashion Colors to Flatter You

This post reveals secrets to selecting top fashion colors to enhance appearance. 

This post has been updated on 12/02/2022.

Keep reading to discover how lifestyle and fashion bloggers, makeup artists, and color experts including me accentuate the positive in our natural complexions. 

It's easy to determine how to do it, and more economical than some may think to put into practice. 

Secrets to Selecting Top Fashion Colors to Flatter Us

 

VEIN TEST. Look at the underside of arms in natural daylight. If we have a pink or rosy undertone and blue tinted veins we have a cool skin undertone. 

If we have golden, apricot, or green tinted veins we have a warm skin undertone.

Does skin have a neutral undertone, one that is roughly the same color as the actual skin tone? This is fortunate in that a wide array of clothing colors, nail polish, makeup, and accessories will look well on us.

JEWELRY TEST. Another excellent way to determine skin undertone is to do the jewelry test. Hold a gold, then a silver necklace in place under the chin or fasten it around the neck. 

Does Silver, Platinum, White Gold, or Rose Gold light up our face? Then, we are a cool tone person. 

One example of how to select jewelry to align with our skin undertone appears in a blog post from Debbie, the Creative Lifestyle Blogger from Debbie Styles Life. 

She is a cool undertone person who loves silver jewelry and cool gray, which are perfect colors for her. See more about this post at Styling on a Running Errands Day.

If Yellow Gold, Copper, and Bronze metal jewelry looks better than silver tones, we are a warm tone person.

When both silver and gold jewelry both look fine, it's easy to see that we have neutral undertones.

NAIL BED TEST. A third way to determine our skin undertone is to take a peek at our nail bed.

If our nail bed is reddish, pink or blue toned then we fall into the cool tone category.

Does the nail bed tone tend to be more reddish-orange, reddish-blue, pinkish-blue, peachy or yellow-gold? We probably are in the warm tone group.

When we have a combination of both, we are in the neutral group.

SUN EXPOSURE TEST. The fourth way to show which undertone group we are in is to evaluate how our skin is affected by sun exposure.

If we're someone who burns and goes pink after being in the sun, we have cooler tones. 

Those who turn golden-brown are warmer skin toned.

People with neutral undertones can have mixed reactions to sun exposure.                               🌞

Now as promised, discover those colors that work like charms to flatter us.

Top hues for those with cool coloring undertones:

sea shades including cobalt blue, turquoise, teal

icy blues, royal blue, navy

white, cool gray, black, cool gray

greens, especially mint and grass green

frosty purples and pinks, lavender

berry reds including strawberry and raspberry

soft rose and hot pink

Best hues for those with warm coloring undertones:

rich, earthy shades of red

tan, beige, warm grays, off-white

rust and burnt oranges

mustard and citrus yellows

khaki and olive greens

chocolate browns

camel, gold, scarlet red

peach, coral, and red violet

Fabulous hues for people with neutral coloring undertones:

most colors are attractive on us
our stand out color is true red

softened sherbet shades, including muted raspberry, cream, lemon, and lavender

jewel tones smoky quartz, jade green, or rose quartz work

yet rich, bright, or neon colors may topple the balance in our complexion 

Want to know more about Choosing  Clothing Colors? 

Read Best Clothing Colors for Your Skin Tone.

See Wear Your Colors and Feel Great About Yourself.

Once you observe which colors look best on you, you'll be prepared to make wiser fashion decisions.

Be aware that colors work at the sensory level and bypass thinking. That's why there's no need to stress over choosing the "right" color. 

Use your intuition to help you select your clothes for the day. It will help you pick out those colors that make you feel and look great. 

Before you rush out to buy something new, please pause to take a few moments for a wardrobe inventory. 

Look for creative ways to transform that drab or unattractive outfit hanging in your closet into an updated functional version. 

Here are a few ideas to help you. Drape a colorful scarf (use one of your undertone colors) around the neckline of that 5 or 10 year old dress (maybe one you've rarely wore) to bring it back to life.

 Fasten a necklace in place or don a sweater or jacket in a hue that truly enlivens ho-hum outfits. It will perk you up as well.

Those garments you're ready to release may be just the thing to donate. Thinning out your collection of clothes allows you to really see what is functional and what is not.

Donating, recycling, or selling those things you no longer can use, is also eco-friendly. It reduces the amount of textiles that are dumped in a landfill. 

Another clever way to make a sustainable clothing choice is to update your wardrobe at an Op Shop, an Australian/NZ term for thrift store (short for Opportunity Shop).

Here is Leanne, the Vivacious Midlife Blogger at Cresting the Hill, in wonderful colors that enhance her skin undertone.

She invites you along on an adventure with
 3 Tips for Op Shop Novices-Becoming Sustainably Savvy.

When we feel happy in the clothing we wear, it translates to beauty dividends. Radiate your charm by selecting fashion colors that flatter you. 

Please visit my blog in the future; new posts appear on the first and fifteenth of the month. Please visit my website for healthy lifestyle tips as well.

One extra tip about fashion flattery is to read new posts in the coming months. I'll share additional elements that help you look and feel your best. 💓

I love to hear from you and appreciate 

comments. Word of caution: don't put links in comments, as they won't be published that way.

If you'd be so kind, spread the word about the this post. Your support makes us smile. 💖

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15 Healthy Ways to Nix Stress

Common sense and scientific research indicates that reducing your stress level makes you feel happier right now, and may protect your health in the long run. 

Updated 5/16/2023

A recent study of young adults (ages 17-30) shows life satisfaction prevents inflammation, builds resilience to inflection, and can motivate you to stay on track with your eating plan, exercise, and other elements of a healthy lifestyle. 

Another piece of good news is negative effects of stress can be kept in check or even reduced, no matter what age you are today.

I suggest you pace yourself and adopt one or two of the techniques listed below at a time. Each is valuable, and helps you get off to a good start in improving overall well-being.

15 Healthy Ways to Nix Stress

1. Develop or revisit a hobby today. Play an instrument, crochet, garden, line up a game of tennis or chess, sing in a chorus, or dance up a storm.

2. Incorporate relaxing activities into your weekly schedule. Reach out to a pal for a phone chat, meet your BFF and sip a cup of chamomile or lavender tea, or pamper yourself with a haircut, bubble bath, or pedicure.

3. Change your attitude about exercise. 

Instead of thinking of exercise as a drudge, think of it as a  health elixir. When you get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, it reduces stress, conditions your heart, lifts mood, prevents common diseases like high blood pressure, and helps you work  and play with more energy and joy. 

Make your conditioning routine a combination of strength training, stretching, and aerobic workouts.

Exercise keeps your body and mind strong, flexible, and energized!

Get moving by running, hiking, biking, walking, or window shopping. 

Line up an exercise partner to complete daily errands, walk outdoors in nature, or meet up at the gym or local Y, and combine a self-care practice with a social one.

4. Collect memorabilia that warms your heart, whether it’s stamps, pottery, coins, crystals, or CD’s, but don’t hoard. Delight in what you’re doing, without building up clutter.

5. Organize your belongings. See Organizing Rooms and Routines More Quickly and Effectively from Susan at Organized 31. An organized home prevents you from feeling overwhelmed, and eliminates stress of searching for misplaced items.

6. Focus on meeting your work needs, making progress on projects, and checking off that to-do list one check at a time. 

Say "no" to distractions and postpone things you do for others, until you've accomplished your goal for the day. 

Make yourself your first priority. When you accomplish what you set out to do, you wind up having more to give to others.

7. Carve out time to connect with your inner self. Prayer, meditation, 12 step programs, inspiring books, religious or spiritual activities, and devotional practices including chanting and tai chi help support, comfort, and calm you.

8. Attend the ballet, opera, or a poetry reading.  Dispel negative energy by taking in beauty, and possibly spark inspiration for your own creativity to bloom.

See an art film, visit a museum, art gallery, concert, or theater to enrich your life and release the cares of the day.

9. Cultivate self-compassion and give yourself a break. When you slip up or make errors in judgment, treat yourself as you would a beloved child. 

Soothe that vulnerable place inside you, admit that you're part of the human race, and give yourself unconditional love.

10. Write in a gratitude journal. Studies show the act of physically writing down what you’re grateful for, helps to solidify it in your mind. Build up a log of things you’re thankful for, and refer back to it, on days when you’re feeling low.

11. Spend social time with people who are kind, respectful, and have a positive outlook. Creating a nurturing, low-key home and social life makes you feel encouraged, loved, loving, and relaxed.

12. Prevent a financial crisis by making and keeping to a budget. Review often to stay financially solvent.

Start today to simplify spending, live within your means, and reduce the amount of financial responsibilities you take on so you'll sleep better at night. 

If you don’t know how or can’t do this alone, consult with a financial planner, organizational expert, or therapist. 

13. Visualize aquamarine and aqua to nip stress in the bud. Let these green-blue colors calm mind, body, and spirit, promote smooth communication, and relax eyes. 

Softly gaze at pictures of an ocean, river, or the horizon, or get out in nature to see aquamarine and aqua. Colors of the sky and sea help you feel more expansive and tranquil.

14. Recite affirmations. Affirmations are declarative statements confirming something is already a reality in your life. Affirm the ones below and see how fast that relaxes you.

    

15. Be good to yourself by sprucing up your home or apartment. It can be as simple as refinishing vintage finds or dusting off stuff from your attic or basement like an old mirror, bookcase, or lamp. 

Repurpose décor by painting it pale blue, soft green, or lavender. Being active and productive is healthy, and seeing these colors in your living space makes you both more relaxed and refreshed.

There are many ways to nix stress. Take as many of the ideas from this post as you like, but don't forget to comment. 

What stress reduction techniques work for you? 

What do you still need to work on?

What healthy habits help reduce stress for you? Please share.

Please no links in your comment as it won't be published that way. Thanks for understanding.

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