Dancing in Your Underwear Also Works November 10, 2009

Hi, dear. How are you? Had a long day, huh? You need a little treat that”ll help you wind down without expanding your waistline, blowing your budget or leaving you with a nasty hangover.

Don’t worry, that’s why A Joyous Riot is here. Next time you find yourself feeling a little stressed to the max, over it blah,  try these lovely remedies:

Knock back a few sips of tea. I’m a big fan of Yogi Tea. Not only does it come in a gang of fabulous flavors, it’s herbal and (mostly) caffeine free. AND each teabag has wonderful, inspiring message that kinda snaps you back to the reality that life is pretty darn good.

source: Yogi Tea

Lock yourself in your room. At least for a short time, and make it the  most peaceful room in your home. If you’re lucky that will be your bathroom, and it might perchance look like this:

source: housetohome

 Hey, while you’re in there why not soak in a nice, warm bath filled to the brim with bubbles. Not just any bubbles, ones that smell like your vision of heaven. I’m personally a fan of “Optimism” from Bath & Body Works. This stuff simply ROCKS! It’s like a citrusy bomb of happy that leaves my skin feeling silky and my spirit flying high. In a word: YUMMY.

source: Bath & Body Works

In the end, treating yourself to a bit of calm and happiness isn’t about what products you consume, it’s about making time for yourself to do those things that help you separate from the stressors and reconnect to yourself and your source of joy. So tell me, what’s your favorite stress-busting routine? Leave a comment and share.

Gray Day Wear November 9, 2009

The days are shorter, the weather’s turning gray and chilly. It can only mean one thing:  time to bring out the colorful, warm winter wear! Check out these lovely treats to inspire your cold weather fashion sense. From Wellies to coats to umbrellas, there’s a ton of affordable, fun options out there to make your dark winter days a bit more joyous.

source: Old Navy

source: REI

source: Umbrellas.net

It’s Best in the Morning November 8, 2009

As a lifelong member of the “up at the crack ‘o dawn” club, I have an abiding love for early morningtime. When the universe feels quiet and still, loved ones are sleeping soundly and the day stretches ahead, it’s easy to feel peaceful and joyous. I was recently chatting with a friend about early birds vs. late owls and told her some of the reasons I love being the former, so I thought I’d turn that into a list of 4 Joyous things about being a morning person.

1. Basking in the quiet. The early morning hours are a great time to simply BE. Breathe deep, practice being grateful, and take the time to hear the sounds of your home and your surroundings in those quiet hours before the rest of the world begins another busy day.
2. Pursuing your passions. If you love to paint, cook, blog or do anything creative, try practicing your craft at dawn! As you get into this habit, you’ll likely find you begin to wake up brimming with even more ideas.
3. Morning meditation. ‘Nuff said.
4. Getting (at least a portion of) those 60 minutes of daily exercise needed to maintain a healthy life. Whether it’s yoga, walking or kick-boxing, make it something you enjoy so you’re physically and emotionally fulfilled.

Morning People Unite!

Kindness ‘Round the Internet October 28, 2009

Ever feel like the Internet has become a big ole dumping ground for our most prurient desires and darkest thoughts? I won’t bother to detail the various kinds of trash content that can be found on the net – you know exactly what I mean and can form your own list. My mission, which you can read about here, is to expose the brighter places on the Internet – and believe me, there are TONS of them.  People teaching, learning and sharing with each other in ways that are truly inspiring.

My joyous Google Alerts recently brought me this little glimmer of joy; a lovely blog all about a young family consisting of a mom, dad and beautiful daughter adopted from China.  The post that caught my eye, however, goes beyond the beauty of this family and goes to a small, gracious, totally moving kindness from another blogger to help the family celebrate their baby girl’s birthday. I can’t do the story justice, so click here for the deets!

Is using the Internet for the purposes of good the next big thing? One can only hope.  Leave a comment and share your experiences of kindness from behind the keyboard.