Here Comes Spring!
Freshness of a Breeze
Don’t we just long to throw open our windows that have been shut for so long and usher in the freshness of a spring breeze! What a lovely time to do a bit of spring cleaning. Perhaps the carpets can get a shampoo, or a paint touch up can be applied here or there. Perhaps even a whole house deep cleaning becomes appealing! But what about our closets?
Freshening Our Closets and What is in Them
Order in our closets can really improve our lives, bringing peace of heart and mind. We may find a mix of old and new clothing. Some items could be donated or discarded: those that are quite worn, those that no longer fit us, and those that we don’t consider flattering. How we dress expresses our dignity as persons and also enriches the lives of those around us with beauty. Having a true understanding of style can help us brighten and freshen our wardrobe effectively without undo expense.
Some Helpful Guidelines
Yari Taylor spoke at a recent Art of Living for Women session held in Downers Grove Illinois entitled Basics of Style. Yari’s mother was in the fashion business, and Yari got involved at a young age and even ran her own boutique for a time. Here are some of Yari’s tips:
Looking your best takes time and effort, but it is an act of love, love for others and love for yourself.
You can choose styles that enhance the most attractive features of your figure and minimize those that are less so. Use light or bright colors, or lively patterns to attract attention to the features most attractive; use darker colors and no pattern or duller patterns for features you wish to diminish.
What is your personal style? Fashion and style are not the same! Style is how we wear fashion. You can be stylish at any age, with any body type, and with your own personal taste in clothing. Take your time to discover what works best for you, perhaps with the help of a friend or two. You may notice people with a similar body type to yours that look smashing… that may help you determine the style that fits you best.
Tip of the Month: Freshen up your bedroom with a
change of comforter and a new pillowcase!
DIY Closet Deodorizing Sprays
In an 4oz. glass spray bottle combine the ingredients for each recipe:
Closet Be Clean
1.5 ounces distillevd water
1.5 ounces witch hazel
4-ounce spray bottle
15 drops Bergamot essential oil
10 Purify essential oil blend
Refresh and Renew
1.5 ounces distilled water
1.5 ounces witch hazel
4-ounce spray bottle
15 drops Spearmint essential oil
15 drops Grapefruit essential oil
(Avoid spraying clothes, spray it in the corners of the closet or in the areas where there are no clothes hanging)
Welcome Home
1.5 ounces distilled water
1.5 ounces witch hazel
4-ounce spray bottle
15 drops Lavender essential oil
15 drops Lemon essential oil
DIY Closet Diffuser
To keep your space smelling fresh, you can also make felted bead deodorizing diffusers to hang in the closet. Just place 4-6 drops of essential oils per the recipes above on the felted beads, and hang in the upper corner of the closet.
Members' Corner: Meet Julie White
To find out what is happening in another part of the country, this month we interview another member of Art of Living for Women and Home Unlimited, Julie White.
HU: Tell us about the place you call home?
JW: I live in the suburbs of Chicago, with my family of ten in a typical suburban neighborhood home. One advantage of our house is that it comes with built-in character formation—everyone must wait in line for their 5-minute bathroom rotation. Patience in action! With the variety of ages, we all learn quickly to close doors without a sound or it’s your turn to walk the baby! Self-Control in action! There is always someone younger than you sitting next to you at the table who needs help serving themselves or needs their meat cut! Service in action!
Yes, we have a busy household, and there are no shortages of opportunities to grow in virtue daily. We do not have a large yard but we do have a garden and a sandbox outside. They are excited for Spring because they each have their own plot of land in the yard where they grow and tend different plants—strawberries, zinnias, hollyhocks, roses, basil, corn, etc.
HU: Tell us about your role with Art of Living for Women.
JW: I am currently part of a local Steering Committee for Art of Living for Women. I have been involved with this organization for about four years.
HU: What do you like most about AOLW? Why do you find this important?
JW: I love to promote the goals of AOLW because I long to teach women how to choose the most important goals in life. The world offers women many grand choices these days but not all of them are going to bring them joy or a deep understanding of their life’s purpose.
HU: And how did you acquire this expertise?
JW: I have a Masters in Education, am certified to teach high school Chemistry, and have a middle school teaching endorsement. I have been homeschooling my elementary-age children since the pandemic and I enjoy every minute of it!
Most importantly, I am a stay-at-home mom and I revel in the day-to-day formation that I can hand-pick for my children. Any expertise I have in home management comes from my wonderful mother, who also chose to stay home and hand-raise her nine children. The self-sacrificial time she poured into our personal growth is nothing short of heroic, and I owe everything to her and my father. They made it their goal to surround their family with everything true, good, and beautiful, and that helped cultivate a joy-filled home and a vision of what is truly important in life. My husband’s support is also essential in achieving these ideals in our own home.
HU: Would you please tell us about your most recent seminar?
JW: Our most recent seminar was called Basics of Style. Our speaker, Yari Taylor, is a professional image consultant, and she wowed our audience with the inspiration to put our best foot forward in how we present ourselves to the world on a daily basis with simple wardrobe tips and beauty tricks. She helped us understand not only how to look great every day but why we should make the effort —out of respect for ourselves and the people around us.
HU: Do you have a favorite memory from one of your seminars?
JW: My favorite memory from our seminars is a series we held on caring for the elderly. We learned about the importance of serving the elderly with dignity and love, along with specific techniques in home care. We laughed and cried our way through the series, and grew closer through living various difficult, but beautiful, stages in life. I learned what an honor it is to help our loved ones age gracefully.
HU: Have you witnessed the impact AOLW seminars have on women in your area?
JW: AOLW offers women a practical, real-life, joyful, and purposeful alternative to the Instagram-perfect world. It is easy for women to fall prey to the peer-approval social media offers if they follow the current trendiest life script, but that is not where women will find joy or purpose. AOLW honors the true nature of women and teaches us how to set and achieve life goals that will help us and those around us gain peace and excellence.
HU: Please tell us what you have in store for your next seminar.
JW: Our next AOLW series, beginning in April, is focused on Creative Cooperation in the Home. Our speakers will present theoretical and practical tips for engaging our children in various aspects of the home’s culture to foster growth in the human virtues. We will focus on helping women come up with a do-now plan for bringing out the best in each member of their family.
HU: Thank you, Julie! It has been a delight to hear about your work for Art of Living for Women in Chicago. What you are doing is truly inspiring!
