Quirk and Circumstance

REPLAY with a note from 9.29.2019: It's been over a year since I tried a two week Bright Line Eating challenge which literally changed the way I eat and how I think about food. It's extreme, but it works really well for me--a person with an addictive brain who finds moderation easier said than done. I will publish a new episode soon, with an update about how my food/eating journey is going and some tips on eating/food prep for those who are interested. (BTW, I don't have affiliate partners or advertisers, so any products, etc. that I discuss on the podcast are just my personal preference.)

Habit stacks are not as tasty as a stack of pancakes but can help a girl get her healthy habits in place. Learn more about how I applied James Clear's concept of "Habit Stacking" (from his book Atomic Habits) to my life. Intro/outro music is by The Tartu Pop and Rock Institute

Season 2, episode 204 This episode is all about books that we do not read at all. You know exactly what I’m talking about. That bookshelf of yours that is holding a book or two that you always think you’re going to read. I have hauled books like that on vacations with me. To the beach with me... We will dig into the weird and funny ways that we avoid reading, and here are some tips on how to overcome those obstacles (From Inc Mag). Music is by the Tartu Pop and Rock Institute

My guest is my sister, Caroline. She is a new mom and she loves YOGA, magic, and creating a beautiful life for herself through positive thinking and positive vibes. We decided to do a Light Sourcing Meditation every day for two weeks that was designed by Rebecca Campbell, author of Light in the New Black. https://rebeccacampbell.me/

I took two friends to the tarot card reader...here's what they had to say about their experiences. ***All fortunes should be consumed with a grain or two of salt. Show notes are at QuirkandCircumstance.com Music is by the Tartu Pop and Rock Institute

Season 2, Episode 201 I'm allergic to having my self-care & health activities gobble up all my free time. I roped in my friend Jeanette to see if PIYO was a quick and easy way to get/stay fit in minimal time, and with minimal expense. We tried it for two weeks.

Marie Kondo's book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up actually did change my life and how I think about my stuff--but I didn't realize it until I watched the Netflix show featuring Kondo recently and recognized how much I'd incorporated her methods into my lifestyle. My drawers look like cute little bento boxes when you open them, many years later. It got me thinking about what other books/ideas have had shaped me/changed my perspective. And what what about the books in my friends' lives? This Q & C episode includes five short segments with five people I adore, who generously shared their own life-changing book stories.

To celebrate the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, I asked my past podcast guests to join me for a "group" conference call reading with Bryn O'Connor, a channeler. If you've ever been curious about this kind of thing, take a listen. Also includes a couple of follow up conversations with 2 of the participants. For more about Bryn visit BrynReadings.com Bumper Music is by The Tartu Pop and Rock Institute

Holidays can be stressful. Go ahead and try some "adult" coloring. It works to calm and focus grown folks much like it does young folks. Enjoy this replay from the Quirk and Circumstance early-day archive...

Replay from the Quirk and Circumstance archive: Spilling the real T, with my friend Alice, is all about THANKS during this week of Thanksgiving.

Update on the one month online shopping detox.

I'm as guilty of hunching as the next lady and I'm totally aware that slouching is a communication with the world about who I am, how I feel about myself and how people should treat me. My friend Jennifer Robin, radio host extraordinaire (KVMR.org), joined me for a two week challenge in which we worked on our posture, tried "power posing" and dove deep into the personal reasons why we each hunch in the first place.

I noticed my clothes shopping was getting a bit weird and super out-of-proportion with what I actually needed… So I took the month to detox from clothing-shopping. Why? Because shoes (or any other clothing item) are not the boss of me. There are two weeks left in Oct….care to join me and refrain from shopping for the rest of the month? And if you decide to try the two-week no-shopping challenge, write me an email, or send me a voice memo to my email at getquirkywithit@gmail.com and let me know how it’s going. What’s easy? What’s hard? What kinds of feelings are coming up for you?

If you ask the internet, improv can do everything for all people. It can turn a shy person into a gregarious one or eliminate writer's block. I have a brave friend Ophelia who was scared and curious about improv so naturally, she chose improv for her two-week challenge and we dove in. Feet first. What we found was a safe playground with a deep pool for those who wanted to dive deep into character psychology. It was playful and meaningful and fun and scary. We both gave it thumbs up as far as weird and unusual activities go.

Episode 9 - My friend Juli and I embarked on a two-week letter writing challenge and she took it up a notch by going on a secret vacay that she revealed through letters, while she traveled.

In Part 2 of the Morning Pages challenge, we touched base on whether or not it's a worthwhile practice. And we both think it was. Is. You know... we want to keep it up. I also gave info about the song that is giving me LIFE right now... Call Me Mother, by RuPaul. And the show that is giving me LIFE, which is what made me think about RuPaul adopting me, is Pose. If you haven't seen it... PLEASE watch this show. OMG so good.

My friend Nicky and I took on a daily freewriting challenge called "Morning Pages" which is designed (by writer Julia Cameron) to spark creativity and supercharge your inspiration. I think this has been one of my faaaaaavorite challenges yet. Many Mahalos to Nicky -- yoga teacher, blogger, parent, creator of WildMeditations.com -- for joining me on this challenge. The song giving her lyyyyyyyyyyfe this week is Pocket Full of Shells by Mat McHugh. The intro and bumper music is by The Tartu Pop and Rock Institute

Featuring Keela Fowler (of eightyfivebeauty.com) and closing out the Living Like A Queen Challenge

Eightyfivebeauty Founder Keela Fowler and I discover that treating yourself like a royal isn't about having unlimited cash and jewels. It's about having unlimited tea and doing what you want with your time.

And by tea I mean "thanks." Alice and I wrote 10 letters-of-thanks to people who've made an impact on our lives. Was it hard to do? Yes and no.

My friend Nicole and I try gratitude listing for two weeks. Spoiler alert... we are both grateful we tried it.

Adult coloring is supposed to be good for you. Margarete and Cat try it for 15-20 mins/day for two weeks.

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