Seven Elegant Lessons: July

Don't wait for a fairy godmother to fix your problems

Elegance is the hallmark of an Aristocrat. It pervades every moment, every word, every gesture. But in the hustle of our day to day lives, it is easy to forget that we must have elegance in the little things as well as the large.

There is nothing elegant about the hassle of preventable disasters. Just as a stitch in time, saves nine; so does a bit of forward planning prevent foreseeable waste of time, energy and money. Here are seven applications of the idea of forward thinking in various aspects of a life. Think about where else it can apply to yours.

~ Create a meal plan for the upcoming week. Write out what you will have for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Keep in mind time commitments, when you can make a whole batch of something to eat for several days, and any special occasions. Create a grocery list based on this menu and only this menu. Benefit: healthier meals are planned when not staring blankly into the cupboard or refrigerator. Money is saved by not purchasing unnecessary thing.

~ If you are a student, print out monthly calendars for your semester. Input the dates of tests, quizzes, and projects from your classes syllabi. As you plan out vacations and activities with friends, you can see at a glance when you'll need to schedule time for study.

~ As you begin to run out of shampoo, conditioner, etc, put it on a to-buy list. Don't wait until the bottle is empty to buy more. Benefit: Not having to forgo your product because you don't have time to go to the store.

~ If you know you will have big expenses in the future, set aside as much money now as possible, rather than pay it lumpsum at the time. Benefit: There won't be such a sizable blow to your bank account.

~ If a button falls off of your shirt, or a hemline drops on your skirt, repair it now. Too many times I have just hung the piece of clothing in my closet and then wondered later why I have nothing to wear because all my clothes were falling apart. Benefit: avoid embarrassment and lack of clothes, by repairing things now.

~ Another for students, start preparing for finals two or three weeks ahead, especially for classes that require a lot of memorization. Plan out what you need to know, do a little bit each day for two weeks before. Benefit: Not cramming for the final.

What forward thinking planning do you do to prevent future problems?

Seven Elegant Lessons: June

Don't be sleeping like these ladies

Elegance is the hallmark of an Aristocrat. It pervades every movement, every word, every gesture. But in the hustle of our day to day lives, it is easy to forget that we must have elegance in the little things as well as the large.

As the sun approaches the Summer Equinox, it rises earlier and earlier each day. The Aristocrat should take this cue from the sun and learn how to rise awake and refreshed each morning. Here are seven lessons to be applied throughout the year  to wake early and begin your day.

~ Keep your curtains, your blinds and, if possible, your windows open. The natural light from the rising sun signals better and more healthily to your brain that it is time to wake.

~ If you wake before your alarm and do not have an hour and a half before it goes off, get up. The sleep you'll sink back into won't be restful, won't complete a full circadian rhythm and will leave your sluggish and groggy. Use the extra time as a gift to read in bed, write in your journal, go for a walk, or take an extra long shower.

~ Do NOT hit the snooze button. I repeat, DO NOT hit the snooze button. You won't be any more rested and will feel stressed for the rest of the day.

~ Keep a glass of water (or water bottle) next to your bed. A great deal of the sluggishness in the morning is actually dehydration. Taking a few sips (or gulps) of water does wonders to jump start your morning.

~ Before jumping in the shower or starting your day, take ten minutes to have some morning exercise, stretching, or  moving routine. Do a few wall push ups. Bend over to touch your toes and just hang for a moment. Do a few sun salutations. A few moves of Tai Chi. The moving banishes the last of that sleepy grogginess and gets your blood flowing.

~ Make your bed every morning. Every. Morning. A made bed is always more inviting than an unmade bed and it makes the room look so much neater.

~ Try not to turn the computer on during your morning. You may intend to check just your blog, but the next half hour is lost and your breakfast dissolves into a banana scarfed on the run.

What are your morning routines?

Seven Lessons in Elegance: May

Elegance is the hallmark of an Aristocrat. It pervades every movement, every word, every gesture. But in the hustle of our day to day lives, it is easy to forget that we must have elegance in the little things as well as the large.

May is traditionally the true threshold of spring. March may house the Vernal Equinox, but only May can be said to be truly free of winter's grasp. May these little lessons help remind you of the beauty of spring.

1. Take a walk around your neighborhood or city and notice the flowering trees and gardens that are blooming now.

2. If you see someone gardening, especially in a public place, thank them for helping the beautify the world.

3. Take your lunch outside and find a pretty place to eat in the sun. Even better if you can turn it into a picnic with friends.

4. Open your windows for fresh air during the day.

5. Find Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" and listen to 'Spring.' The opening measures sound perfect for spring's exhilaration.

6. Rearrange a part, or all, of your room to get rid of clutter and produce a more open feel. I like to rearrange my room for each season.

7. Stretch each morning after getting out of bed for better energy. Your body wants to be moving more now.

What traditions or rituals do you have to welcome in spring?

Seven Lessons in Elegance: April

Elegance is the hallmark of an Aristocrat. It pervades every movement, every word, ever gesture. But in the hustle of our day to day lives it is easy to forget that we must have elegance in the little things as well as the large. So this is the first of a new series of monthly reminders: little habits to be aware of to make sure we remain elegant every day.

1. Take your seat elegantly. Do not fall, slouch or plop, but  sit with controlled grace.

2. As you walk, sit, or stand, try to raise the sternum of the chest for better posture. Do not throw your you shoulders back, but raise your spine. This improves breathing and circulation as well.

3. Turn off your computer at the end of each day. Do not leave it asleep, by the edge of the bed, but finish the day  completely.

4. Tidy your desk or work space before bed. Some chaos is necessary in the room and soul of any Aristocrat, but a cluttered desk only wearies the mind before the day's begun.

5.  Arranging your hangers evenly, despite the futility of the task, makes for a pleasing display in the closet. Measure one fingers width between hangers.

6.  Go through your unmatched socks and try to find their pairs. If they remain lonely at the end of the process, throw them away. Why clutter your life?

7.  Try to smile at people as you pass them on the street. Take note of who smiles back and who doesn't. It is a little ritual to bring a sense of community to our modern world.

Seven simple tasks. Seven little reminders. Rebellion and alternative lifestyle are found less in ones thoughts and more in the simple acts of day to day life.

What do you do to bring elegance to your life in little ways?